Articles by Adam Minichino
Hopper makes big impact on Caledonia softball team
CALEDONIA — Physical maturation only partially explains Cara Hopper’s improvement in the circle.
In eighth grade, Hopper was a “tiny” 85 pounds, but she already had dreams of playing softball in college, so she knew she needed to work hard to get better.
Now a junior, Hopper has benefited from working with a pitching coach and her father, Tony, and now has five pitches in her arsenal.
Columbus hosts Crappie USA event
This weekend will be about creating heritage for Marcus Honnell.
On Saturday, the 38-year-old Columbus resident will team with one of his three sons, Mason, 11, in the Crappie USA Tournament Super Event in Columbus. Marcus’ other two sons, Landon, 8, and Weston, 7, will fish with their grandfather in the Crappie Kids event, which also will be Saturday.
Pickens County boys celebrate third state title in a row
REFORM, Ala. — The Pickens County High School boys basketball team lost its best player to graduation.
The Tornadoes also had to replace a coach who led them to back-to-back state titles.
But change didn’t scare Patrick Plott, De’Marko Hall, and the rest of the Pickens County High program. Expectations didn’t faze the Tornadoes, either, so when thoughts turned to winning a third consecutive state championship in 2011-12, they accepted the challenge and didn’t let anything stop them.
Pickens Academy’s Dawkins signs with EMCC
CARROLLTON, Ala. — Corey Dawkins holds out her hand to illustrate just how tall she was when she started playing ball.
It might have been T-Ball, and she might have only been a few feet tall, but the small beginnings created a big love.
Victory Christian celebrates title
Kayla Taylor didn’t know what to expect from her senior season.
After watching eight seniors come up short in their quest to win an Alabama Christian Education Athletic Association Division I state title in 2011, Taylor hoped the Victory Christian Academy girls basketball team could return to the championship glory of 2010, when the Lady Eagles won a championship some thought was a year ahead of schedule.
Local punch carries ICC to state title
Jameika Hoskins and Shay Bonner have made the most of their chances to grow.
Now the sophomores want to help the Itawamba Community College women’s basketball team reach the game’s biggest stage.
TEAM concept crucial for Starkville Academy girls
One person’s TEAM is more than just another cliché when it comes to the Starkville Academy girls basketball team.
If you have been around coaches long enough, you probably have heard plenty of phrases and sayings they have used in an attempt to bring their squads together.
Veteran racer Schrader enjoys all aspects of sport
Ken Schrader is a jack of all trades.
Whether it is a Sprint Cup race, a trucks race, or an open wheel modified cars race, Ken Schrader can do it all. And after 40 years driving, Schrader isn’t about to wind things down.
Columbus High knocks off Heritage Academy in baseball
Tyler Blevins needs a new nickname.
After losing more than 20 pounds, a slimmed down Blevins no longer resembles the “Bubble” moniker that fans shouted out at him Saturday night.
Blevins’ effort in the eighth inning showed he might have a headstart on a new nickname of choice: Clutch.
Carroll, Lady Vols save best for last
CLINTON — Nora Kathryn Carroll saved her best for last.
In her first two games at the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools overall state tournament, the Starkville Academy junior guard had nine points and six rebounds.
SA girls one step away from overall title
CLINTON — As you wish.
Starkville Academy girls basketball coach Glenn Schmidt hoped her team would get off to a fast start Friday afternoon against Jackson Prep for two reasons.
Not only did Schmidt not want to twist and turn as the Lady Volunteers rallied in the second half from another double-digit deficit, but she also wanted to erase the memory of the last first quarter her team played against the Lady Patriots.
Anna Lea Little and her teammates were only too happy to oblige.
Prestridge, Lady Vols show strength
CLINTON — Anna Prestridge has been a part of a lot of fond memories as a member of the Starkville Academy girls basketball team.
There are also some things she would like to forget.
Leave it to coach Glenn Schmidt to remember one of those forgettable incidents and to bring it up one day before the team played in the semifinals of the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools overall state tournament.
Saraiva ready to take next step
CALEDONIA — Zia Saraiva doesn’t think she is a loud mouth.
It’s just that when she gets on the soccer field she usually doesn’t stop talking.
In some sports, Saraiva’s gift for gab could take away from her play and distract her team.
But the Caledonia High School girls soccer team has gotten used to Saraiva’s penchant for constant communication as a defender. In fact, her talkativeness helped anchor the Lady Confederates’ defense the past three seasons.
Proctor set tone for Columbus
Inexperience never was an excuse for Katie Proctor.
When she first joined the Columbus High School girls soccer team as a freshman, Proctor didn’t know any way else to play but to go all out. The score or the time remaining in the match didn’t matter because Proctor realized even as a ninth-grader it was up to her to set a pace she hoped others were going to follow.
Lady Vols two wins from title
CLINTON — One down, two to go.
Reality can make the high of even a first Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AAA state championship wear off pretty quickly.
Such was the predicament the Starkville Academy girls basketball team faced Wednesday in its first game at the MAIS overall state tournament at A.E. Wood Coliseum on the campus of Mississippi College.
FINDING A NEW HOBBY: Champion racer Zaiontz trades boat for sprint car
If it wasn’t for fishing, Bobby Zaiontz might not have realized he is a racer at heart.
Twenty-two years ago, Zaiontz was living in Columbus and working as a flag man for late model races at Columbus Speedway and all over the Southeast. In between racing weekends, he would go out on his bass boat with his latest purchases and try to make the most of his hobby.
That’s when his life changed.
MINICHINO COLUMN: Fanning-Otis loved teaching basketball
STARKVILLE — Sharon Fanning-Otis wasn’t one for euphemisms or pithy comments.
Instead, the veteran coach was more likely to use her postgame comments to the media to break down the finer points of the game and highlight where her team excelled or fell short.
True to her nature, Fanning-Otis was a teacher. She remained that way even in her next-to-last game as Mississippi State University women’s basketball coach, a humbling 76-40 loss to the University of Kentucky.
Starkville Academy girls win opener at overall state tournament
CLINTON — The Starkville Academy girls basketball team outscored Bowling Green (La.) Academy 18-2 in the fourth quarter Wednesday to rally for a 45-35 victory in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools overall state tournament at A.E. Wood Coliseum on the campus of Mississippi College.
With the win, Starkville Academy (36-5), the Class AAA champion, will play the winner of the Mt/ Salus Christian Academy-Jackson Prep game at 1 p.m. Friday in the semifinals.
NATURAL BORN LEADER: Prestridge makes Starkville Academy go
STARKVILLE — It’s only natural for the Starkville Academy girls basketball team to look to Anna Prestridge to be a leader.
Many of the Lady Volunteers might not know it, but Prestridge grew up with a basketball in her hands and has played point guard all her life, so it isn’t surprising she transitioned into that role at Starkville Academy.
