Bost finds stroke to lead MSU to win

STARKVILLE — It’s a ritual that provided foreshadowing Dee Bost was only too happy to provide.

Mired in a shooting slump the past six games, Bost has been taking extra shots in practice in an attempt to rediscover his stroke.

After a hot-shooting first half Saturday in which he hit three 3-pointers and scored 14 points, Bost couldn’t help hoist a few more from distance before the start of the second half.

Rematch critical for MSU women’s basketball team

One game isn’t going to make the Mississippi State women’s basketball team’s season.

But another favorable result today like the one the Lady Bulldogs earned Thursday night should go a long way to helping them receive a valuable reward.

Thanks to a 55-53 victory at South Carolina, MSU (16-9, 7-5 Southeastern Conference) jumped from a four-way tie for fifth place to third place in the SEC standings.

Fast-paced game in truck, too

STARKVILLE — If you think the action on the court is fast, try keeping up with Eric Posman and Dave Burchett.

Between waves of the left hand and snapping of the fingers, the producer-director tandem that worked the Jan. 30 LSU-Mississippi State men’s basketball at Humphrey Coliseum are equal parts conductor and traffic cop.

The way they pulled it off with the help of associate director Jil Gossard-Cook and a host of talented crew members who took care of graphics, the clock and score, audio, replays, and everything else was a whirlwind to watch and a treat to enjoy.

‘Talent’ has story to tell to viewers

STARKVILLE — Technology has changed the way fans get their sports.

From e-mail, to digital images, to high definition television, to the Internet, it’s easier and faster to get any information you need.

The onslaught of gadgets can be imposing for veteran broadcasters who came up without iPods or BlackBerrys, but as much as the devices Dave Baker uses to do his job have changed one thing remains the same: There’s a story to tell.

Townsel all smiles after leading Starkville to win

TUPELO — Don’t let the smile fool you. Edward Townsel is an assassin.

The Starkville High School senior guard has quickness reminiscent of Monta Ellis to blow by even the nimblest of defenders. He has the hops of an Energizer bunny who has just sucked down a Red Bull energy drink.

Most importantly, his accuracy compares to a carnival marksman, only his daggers are jump shots and pinpoint passes to teammates for layups or dunks.

Capuano, Muller bring passion for sports to telecasts

STARKVILLE — There’s no doubt Cara Capuano and Robin Muller love sports.

Capuano grew up the daughter of a sports fan. Some of her earliest memories involve sports — watching pitcher Fernando Valenzuela with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981 and attending the AFC Championship Game between the Los Angeles Raiders and the Seattle Seahawks on Jan. 8, 1984, in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum with her father when she was 10 years old.

Home-court advantage on line for area teams

Home-court advantage for the MHSAA North State tournament will be on the line tonight when the area’s Class 6A and 5A girls and boys basketball teams take the court for their district tournament finals. In Class 6A, the Starkville High girls will take on South Panola at 6 p.m. in the District 4 final at Tupelo High. The Columbus High boys will face Starkville at 7:30 p.m. in the nightcap. In Class 5A, the New Hope High girls will take on West Point at 6 p.m. at Saltillo High. The New Hope boys will face Oxford at 7:30 p.m. in the second game.

Columbus baseball banquet rescheduled for Tuesday

The Columbus High School baseball team First-Pitch Banquet has been rescheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the school’s cafeteria.

Former Columbus High, Itawamba Community College, and Mississippi State football standout Tyson Lee will be the guest speaker.

Inclement weather that is expected this weekend has forced the cancellation of the alumni game, which was to be played at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Adams leaves Caledonia for job in Louisiana

Sam Adams never intended to leave Caledonia High School in a rush.

But when an opportunity came open last week to join his wife and children in Louisiana, he couldn’t say no.

Heritage Academy’s Mims will play soccer at ICC

Jessee Mims realized a goal Wednesday morning that had been more than five years in the making.

Her dream blossomed in eighth grade when she started to play soccer. Not only did she fall in love with the sport, but her parents also took the sport.

Flesher hopes to be at full strength for MSU softball

STARKVILLE — Misty Flesher doesn’t like to sit still.

She also doesn’t like to do nothing, so imagine her predicament when she encountered more pain in her shoulder at the start of the 2009 season and ultimately was forced to shut it down after only appearing in four games.

MSU women will look for separation

STARKVILLE — Now is the time for separation.

Eleven years ago, the Mississippi State women’s basketball was 4-5 and right in the middle of the Southeastern Conference pack with five league games remaining.

Mississippi State’s Grimes returns from injury in style

STARKVILLE — Tysheka Grimes nearly returned to the lineup in style Sunday afternoon.

After missing the past 10 games with a plantar fasciitis tear in her right foot, the senior guard/forward drained a 3-pointer with 33 seconds remaining in the first overtime against the University of Florida. The trey gave the Lady Bulldogs a 69-68 lead, only to see Florida’s Lonnika Thompson answer with a 3-pointer of her own.

MSU’s Alexis Rack made two free throws with seven seconds left to play to help send the game to a second overtime, where Florida eventually outlasted the Lady Bulldogs 82-80.

Noxubee County answers call for district win

CALEDONIA — Turn it up.

Faced with elimination and the end of their seasons Tuesday night, the Noxubee County High School basketball teams answered the call.

The challenge Thursday will be to ratchet up their pressure defense and their execution another notch to prolong their seasons.

Daquarius Mallard had a game-high 25 points to lead third-seeded Noxubee County to an 86-58 victory against sixth-seeded Caledonia in the MHSAA Class 4, Region 4, District 4 Tournament at Caledonia High School.

Local basketball teams set for districts

The second season begins tonight.

It’s time for the area basketball teams to put the ups and downs of the regular season behind them and to take care of business.

James emerges as vocal leader for ICCE

STEENS — New role, no problem.

A year ago, Justin James was the young gun in an Immanuel Christian boys basketball starting lineup with four seniors.

It was natural for James to defer to his more experienced teammates and let them take the leadership role.

Kalonda contributing for Lady Bulldogs

STARKVILLE — Rima Kalonda isn’t as smooth as Armelie Lumanu.

Kalonda also doesn’t have the silky shooting touch or the shot-blocker’s reach of Chanel Mokango.

But just because Kalonda has different strengths than her Mississippi State women’s basketball teammates doesn’t mean she isn’t playing a key role in the team’s success.

Bramlett set to assault record book

STARKVILLE — The numbers are staggering.

For three seasons, Chelsea Bramlett has laid waste to Mississippi State softball records.

As a junior last season, Bramlett established new single-season marks for batting average (.486) and stolen bases (54). In the process, she became the school’s career leader in each category (.438, 146) to add to the fact she already is MSU’s leader in stolen bases percentage (.913), stolen bases per game (0.82), and runs per game (0.92).

It’s scary to think even more marks — including NCAA records — could fall this year.

West Lowndes gets significant win by beating Columbus

The West Lowndes High School boys basketball team earned even more legitimacy — at least in Lowndes County — on Friday night.

Now the Panthers’ challenge is to back up what they earned from a season sweep of Columbus in their district tournament later this week.

Demetrius Malone scored a game-high 25 points and Clemmie Hairston’s layup in overtime provided the go-ahead points that allowed West Lowndes to defeat Columbus 61-57.

Lee to be speaker at Columbus baseball banquet

The Columbus High School baseball team First-Pitch Banquet will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the school’s cafeteria.

Former Columbus High, Itawamba Community College, and Mississippi State football standout Tyson Lee will be the guest speaker.

“We use it to kick off the season, establish some alumni support, and get them back involved in the program,” Columbus High coach Jeff Cook said. “It’s a good way to come out and see the players we have and, of course, listen to Tyson, who is a fine speaker. It’s a good way to get the season started.”