Ewings, Grant will represent state in All-Star game

Kelsei Ewings thought she would use her chance to play in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star girls basketball game as a final chance to attract the attention of college coaches.

But the West Point High School standout’s decision late last month to give a verbal commitment to play basketball at the University of North Carolina A&T changed how she is approaching her opportunity to play with some of the state’s top players.

Healthy Braddock making impact for Heritage Academy baseball

Austin Braddock is a technician when it comes to the game of baseball.

Sophomores help EMCC men get back to Kansas

SCOOBA — The hype was tempting.

Mark White heard people talk all season about how his East Mississippi Community College men’s basketball team had the potential to get back to the NJCAA Championship for a second year in a row.

But a season-ending injury to Joe McCoy, the team’s second-leading scorer, in the first part of the season clouded that equation.

Curry plays key role in helping PCHS boys win second title

REFORM, Ala. — The letter “i” isn’t a singular entity to Deion Curry.

Even though Deion’s father used the letter to make sure his son’s name would be the same as NFL football legend Deion Sanders, Curry didn’t allow individual trappings to distract him.

His focus — winning a second state title — was absolute, and it didn’t waver. Curry proved it on the biggest stage and lived up to his nickname.

Pickens County relishes chance to win three in a row

REFORM, Ala. — Russ Wallace delivered a much shorter message Friday in his return to Pickens County High School.

The boys basketball coach admitted he was tired after spending a week in Birmingham, Ala., working with his team to win a second state title in a row. But that didn’t mean Wallace was going to shy away from a challenge.

In fact, he embraced the idea of his Tornadoes winning a third state championship in as many years.

MSU women already looking to next season

The work has only started.

That’s the approach Sharon Fanning-Otis took a day after her Mississippi State women’s basketball saw its season end Friday in a 69-55 loss to Vanderbilt in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference tournament at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

Sanders leads New Hope past Caledonia

There would be something wrong if D.J. Sanders didn’t smile when she was on the softball field.

Regardless of whether she is at shortstop or in the circle, the New Hope High School freshman plays the game with joy.

New Hope soccer signees helped build tradition

The New Hope High School girls soccer team’s success is attracting attention.

Coming off the program’s best season, goalkeeper Brandi Brantley, defender Anna Holley, and midfielder Bridget Tedford signed scholarships Wednesday to play soccer at the next level.

Brantley and Tedford will continue their soccer careers at Hinds Community College, while Holley will play at Itawamba C.C.

Starkville’s Morgan going to Hinds C.C.

STARKVILLE — Injuries never are good news, especially for high school seniors.

Those setbacks are even more upsetting when they come right before the start of your final sports season and make you wonder if you will get a chance to do what you love with your friends.

Govero has left legacy at MSU

STARKVILLE — The student turned teacher has left a model for her teammates to follow.

At 9 tonight, Mary Kathryn Govero will try to extend her career at least one more game when she leads the 11th-seeded Mississippi State women’s basketball team against sixth-seeded Auburn (15-14) in the first round of the Southeastern Conference tournament in Nashville, Tenn.

Defense has fueled Pickens County

REFORM, Ala. — The defense hasn’t rested this season for the Pickens County High School boys basketball team.

Whether it has been with steals or with pressure that forces opponents into mistakes, the Tornadoes have lived up their billing and created a whirlwind of destruction on both ends of the floor.

MSU women learning to share wealth

The Mississippi State women’s basketball team is at its best when it shares the basketball.

That probably could be said for any team, but that interconnectedness on offense hasn’t been there consistently this season for the Lady Bulldogs.

The first 8 minutes, 14 seconds Thursday night offered a glimpse of what could be to come next season.

New Hope rallies in seventh to beat Amory

February high school baseball games never follow a script.

It adds to the unpredictability of the action when your team doesn’t give up.

The New Hope High School baseball team showed Friday night that that trait could serve it very well this season.

New Hope’s Ryals signs to kick at Southwest Miss.

Tanner Ryals always thought football would be something he did to help him prepare for soccer.

Four years later, football will help him pay for his education.

On Friday, the New Hope High School senior kicker signed a scholarship to play football at Southwest Mississippi Community College.

Johnson delivers down stretch for MSU women

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — “Scooby” decided to get scrappy at the right time Thursday night for the Mississippi State women’s basketball team.

Diamber Johnson responded to the pleas from her coach to demand the basketball in a big way, scoring her team’s final 11 points in a 68-55 victory against the University of Alabama before a crowd of 2,114 at Foster Auditorium.

Lessons learned have helped Johnson mature

STARKVILLE — The 2010-11 season has been a learning experience for Diamber Johnson.

A year ago, she started five games and played a key role off the bench in a historic season that saw the Mississippi State women’s basketball team advance to the first Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament in program history.

Ward throws no-hitter in Patriots’ opener

WEST POINT — The Heritage Academy baseball team would love to see Hunter Ward battle like he did in the bottom of the fifth inning Tuesday afternoon.

If Ward can do that, the Patriots just might have found another arm to add to what could be a deep pitching staff filled with potential.

Chemistry, defense keys to Pickens County’s run

REFORM, Ala. — The reminders are everywhere.

The 2010 state championship banner greets everyone as they enter Tornado Alley at Pickens County High School.

If you find your way back to coach Russ Wallace’s office, you’re bound to spot the screen saver that features members of the 2009-10 boys basketball team celebrating its Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 2A state title.

Acker played dual role for Pickens Academy

CARROLLTON, Ala. — Scorers usually fit into one mold.

While others will be asked to rebound and to focus on defense, scorers typically concentrate on filling it up and finding ways to get open and break defenses down.

But Jacob Acker is different.

MSU women want results not praise

STARKVILLE — Mary Kathryn Govero would like to thank all of the Southeastern Conference coaches for their kind words.

While the senior guard was pleased Thursday to learn another coach was certain Mississippi State would would win more games this season, the praise felt empty.

It meant little to Govero because it came after another loss.