MSU Lady Bulldogs ease to win against Alabama

STARKVILLE — Some nights you just have to try something else.

As shooters go, Alexis Rack has the right mind-set. She takes the court with a swagger and hands at ready to launch daggers from any spot on the court.

Usually, the Mississippi State senior prefers to fire away from 3-point range, and those attempts often spark the Lady Bulldogs.

But nights like Thursday — when even the easiest look at the basket proves frustrating — have come few and far between this season.

Karriem doesn’t pass on chance at history

A chance to make history was too much to pass up for Khiry Karriem.

That’s why the Itawamba Community College standout decided Wednesday to sign a National Letter of Intent to play football for Georgia State.

The Panthers, under the leadership of former University of Alabama, Georgia Tech, and Kentucky coach and ESPN analyst Bill Curry, will kick off their inaugural season later this year. The team will play its home games in the Georgia Dome, the home of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.

EMCC’s Autrey decides to play football at UAB

Billy Autrey knew he was going to have to make a decision.

Unfortunately, that choice was going to spell the end for one sport and the continuation of another.

Autrey’s decision Wednesday to sign a National Letter of Intent to play football at the University of Alabama at Birmingham signified the realization of a dream.

Following a strong freshman season on the offensive line at East Mississippi Community College, the former Columbus High standout will have an opportunity to realize his goal of competing at the Division I level.

NHHS’ Hollivay, Petty, Roberts sign

Three student-athletes who are familiar with success in high school will try to reach similar levels in college.

Ryan Hollivay, Kelli Petty, and Blake Roberts signed scholarships Wednesday to continue their athletic careers at the next level.

CHS’ Jackson, Knox going to EMCC

When Bubba Davis has established the Columbus High School football program as a winner, he can look back on the 2009 season and thank Chris Jackson and Rickey Knox.

Hill, Triplett want to make most of opportunities

Brandon Hill is ready to take the next step.

If Hill would have had a pair of pads and clearance Wednesday, he would have hit the Mississippi State football practice fields to begin his career as a Bulldogs.

Aberdeen sends six on to college

ABERDEEN — It would difficult to imagine any coach beaming brighter than Chris Duncan did Wednesday.

Duncan’s delight in seeing six of his players sign scholarships to play football in college stems from how far the Aberdeen High School football program has come in a short amount of time.

SA’s Goodwin, Miles will play soccer at ICC

STARKVILLE — The connection will continue.

Mike Sullivan hopes the bond that Roy Miles and Will Goodwin pays equally valuable dividends for his Itawamba Community College men’s soccer team as it has for the Starkville Academy team.

MSU women will try to add to resume

STARKVILLE — Results mean more than the name of the opponents in February.

Mississippi State women’s basketball coach Sharon Fanning-Otis has stressed to her players that it takes communication, focus, and determination to achieve those results.

Bett eager to take advantage of second chance with MSU

STARKVILLE — Catina Bett will have to wait a little longer for her second chance.

In the meantime, the transfer from the University of Kentucky continues to get herself back into shape, to build relationships with her new teammates, and to get to know Mississippi State women’s basketball coach Sharon Fanning-Otis.

Minor rebounds from slow start to be force

CARROLLTON, Ala. — Callie Minor didn’t know what was going on.

Minor wanted only the best for her senior season at Pickens Academy, so it was natural for her to expect a lot from herself.

MSU Lady Bulldogs fall to Kentucky

STARKVILLE — The final 8 minutes, 2 seconds were Victoria Dunlap’s time to shine.

With Mississippi State within one point and in position to steal the momentum back, Dunlap made sure she did her part — and then some — to push the University of Kentucky women’s basketball team to victory.

Dunlap had team highs of 19 points and 12 rebounds Sunday afternoon to lead Kentucky to a 69-59 victory before a crowd of 1,385 at Humphrey Coliseum.

MSU, Kentucky women riding waves of momentum

STARKVILLE —The fleeting nature of momentum makes Southeastern Conference women’s basketball exciting.

Mississippi State’s game against Kentucky at 2 p.m. today at Humphrey Coliseum is an ideal example.

MSU (14-7, 5-3 SEC) and Kentucky (17-3, 5-2) would love a few days or an overmatched opponent as their next scheduled game so they could savor the victories they earned Thursday against ranked opponents (No. 9 Georgia, No. 18 LSU).

Rack helps MSU upset No. 9 Georgia

STARKVILLE — The push is on to make the NCAA tournament.

For the first 37 minutes Thursday night, the Mississippi State women’s basketball team looked like a team that was connected, alert, and focused on realizing that goal.

More importantly, MSU played with the aggressiveness and the attacking mind-set it will need to get there.

Alexis Rack had a game-high 34 points as MSU played one of its best first halves of the season en route to a 74-66 victory against No. 9 Georgia before a crowd of 1,071 at Humphrey Coliseum.

MSU’s Cohen anxious to start practice

The optimism is palpable.

A nationally ranked recruiting class has second-year Mississippi State baseball coach John Cohen anxious to start practice this afternoon, weather permitting.

But Cohen knows that he, his coaches, and MSU fans might have to temper their optimism at times this season because even though the Bulldogs have added a talented group of newcomers, many of those players, particularly the pitchers, are freshmen.

MSMS soccer team prepares for second round

Don’t underestimate the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science boys soccer team.

If you do, you could find yourself sitting on the sidelines and watching the Blue Wave advance in the North Half State playoffs.

MSMS (6-1) took the first step on its postseason journey Tuesday with a 2-1 victory against Forest in the opening round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 1A/2A/3A North Half State tournament.

The victory pushed MSMS into a second-round game at 1 p.m. Saturday at Corinth.

Stansbury, MSU men could hit marks at Arkansas

STARKVILLE — Rick Stansbury hasn’t spent a lot of time mulling over the history that could be made tonight.

In fact, the Mississippi State men’s basketball coach didn’t know about one mark that could be eclipsed and another that could be reached at 8 tonight (ESPN2) when MSU takes on Arkansas at Bud Walton Arena.

NCAA investigation into Sidney’s eligibility could be nearing end

The NCAA’s investigation into the eligibility of Mississippi State freshman forward Renardo Sidney could be nearing an end.

On Wednesday, MSU received a revised and final statement of facts about the Sidney case from the NCAA’s Amateurism Fact-Finding Committee. The committee met Monday to review the NCAA’s first statement of facts, MSU’s response to the statement, and the NCAA’s reply to MSU.

Earnest to play baseball at ICC

HAMILTON — Dylan Earnest wants an opportunity to play baseball at the highest level in college.

Living in Northeast Mississippi, Earnest is fortunate to have an asset like the Itawamba Community College baseball program. The Indians won the state title last season and have finished among the nation’s top five in the last two NJCAA polls.

Troupe hopes to play on defense at ICC

HAMILTON — Latedrick Troupe has earned the reputation for being a playmaker.

Most of the highlights the Hamilton High School senior has delivered have come on offense or on special teams.

Troupe hopes to change that in the fall and make some noise on defense.