MSU women aim for 11-0 start today against Maine

STARKVILLE — Johnnie Harris’ voice drops almost to a whisper.

Columbus ready for annual Joe Horne Christmas Classic

The learning continues for the Columbus High School boys basketball team.

There has been plenty of practice on free-throw shooting lately, too, since the team’s last game, a 58-53 loss to Starkville on Saturday in Starkville.

Massey wants to build ‘premier’ Division III program at The W

You can feel the energy when Gray Massey talks about wanting to be a part of “something special” and creating a “standard” for the new women’s soccer program at the Mississippi University for Women.

Vivians continues to raise her level of play

STARKVILLE — Oregon women’s basketball coach Kelly Graves sees something in Mississippi State he hopes his players can develop this season.

“They’re playing with a little more swagger,” Graves said. “I think last year they didn’t know how good they could be. Right now, they know.”

McCowan dominates on, off court for No. 5 MSU

STARKVILLE — You can feel the intensity when Teaira McCowan fixes her gaze on you.

Mississippi State women’s basketball coach Vic Schaefer has talked about that focus in McCowan’s first three seasons in Starkville. The veteran coach has said his 6-foot-7 junior center usually rises to the occasion when she senses a challenge or she is going up against another strong post player.

No. 9 Oregon poses huge challenge for No. 5 MSU

STARKVILLE — Kelly Graves knows the challenge Vic Schaefer faced when he took over the Mississippi State women’s basketball program.

Danberry hopes to help MSU set tone on defense

STARKVILLE — Vic Schaefer has made it clear he doesn’t need a loss to get his attention.

The Mississippi State women’s basketball coach is equally transparent when it comes to the expectations he has for his team’s defense. Every game, Schaefer routinely barks out instructions for his players — usually his guards — to get up closer to their players and to apply ball pressure. The commands are designed to help the Bulldogs set the tone on defense and make life miserable for their opponents.

Seals gaining confidence for West Lowndes girls

Takeea Bozeman knows what Marvaysha Seals can do on the basketball court.

Among the many skills Seals possesses, Bozeman has confidence in Seals’ shooting ability. That’s why the West Lowndes High School girls basketball coach talked with Seals at the beginning of the season and encouraged her to shoot the ball. She didn’t want Seals, a 5-foot-5 sophomore guard, to be a ball hog. Instead, she wanted Seals to believe in herself and to realize she could be a primary scorer who could help her teammates improve if she accepted her role.

MSU’s grass roots efforts continue to build following

STARKVILLE

John Cohen scanned the Humphrey Coliseum basketball court as he talked and liked what he saw.

The Mississippi State Director of Athletics had just watched coach Vic Schaefer’s women’s basketball team improve to 9-0 with an 86-48 victory against Little Rock. As he talked about the grass roots work Schaefer, his coaches, his players, and the school have done to raise the profile of the program, the MSU players were mingling with friends and fans after the game. Pictures and selfies were being taken. Hugs and handshakes were being shared. Conversations about the latest game, exams, and the upcoming game against Oregon were happening.

William leads Bulldogs on, off court

STARKVILLE — Nothing Morgan William does surprises Vic Schaefer.

Tasked with running the Mississippi State women’s basketball program, William has responded with quiet confidence in her first three seasons. No job has been too big for the 5-foot-5 standout from Birmingham, Alabama. Whether it has been pressuring the ball, finding her teammates for open shots, or scoring a career-high 41 points in a giant effort against Baylor in the Elite Eight, William has done it all without calling attention to herself and leading by example.

Starkville Academy boys defeat CCA

Bruce Allsup has seen success from one season bleed into another.

The Starkville Academy boys basketball coach watched with great interest in the fall as the school’s football team overcame a loss to Indianola Academy in the third week of the season and marched to the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Class AAA State title game. The Volunteers completed the journey with a 21-14 victory in overtime at Jackson Academy to win the program’s seventh state championship.

Smith working to improve CMSD facilities

The holiday season typically is a busy time of the year for Sammy Smith.

For many years, Smith spent the first few weeks of December putting the finishing touches on Columbus High School’s Joe Horne Christmas Classic to make sure the annual basketball tournament remained one of the state’s premier attractions.

Personnel changes affect stability of CMSD athletics

Rusty Greene worked as athletic director for six years for the Columbus Municipal School District.

A 1981 graduate of Stephen D. Lee High, Greene has lived in Columbus his whole life. He grew up in East Columbus, so he was part of Caldwell High before his family moved to north Columbus and he switched to Lee High. He admits no one wants Columbus High to succeed more than he does.

Former coach, grandfather believe MSU is right fit for Danberry

Ashley Nance knows all about Jordan Danberry’s exploits on the basketball court.

Nance, the girls basketball coach at Conway (Ark.) High School, had a front-row seat to watch Danberry win back-to-back Gatorade Player of the Year honors in the state of Arkansas. She also saw Danberry play a pivotal role in leading Conway High to two state championship game appearances.

Caledonia’s Logan wins top award from MJGA

The 2017 season was a banner year for Hunter Logan.

In addition to winning the individual championship at the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 4A Championship and leading the Caledonia High School boys golf team to its second-consecutive state title, Logan won the 16- to 18-year-old division (Division A) of the Mississippi Boys and Girls Junior Amateur in July at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point.

On Friday, Logan topped of his season when he was named the Mississippi Junior Golf Association’s boys overall and Division A Player of the Year. It is Logan’s first honor.

Danberry set to join No. 6 MSU

STARKVILLE — Teams don’t often get to add elite talents to their rosters.

In April 2015, Roshunda Johnson, a four-star recruit out of Little Rock, Arkansas, opted to transfer from Oklahoma State to Mississippi State.

Acker leads Patriots past Panthers

It’s easy to conjure images of Charles Barkley when you see Eli Acker leading a fast break.

At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, Acker probably has a half an inch at least on the former Auburn great and NBA All-Star. Acker also is significantly lighter than Barkley was in his hey day when he was affectionately known as the “Round Mound of Rebound.”

Schaefer confident No. 6 MSU’s defense will improve

STARKVILLE — Vic Schaefer isn’t worrying about the numbers.

If you have been around the Mississippi State women’s basketball coach long enough, though, you know he loves statistics. He has a habit of highlighting numbers of interest on his team’s statistical breakdowns. Schaefer also has a habit of circling and squaring good and bad stats after every game before he talks to members of the media.

Stevenson takes new mind-set for New Hope

It’s all about a mind-set for Tyler Stevenson.

At 6-foot-7 1/2, 180 pounds, the New Hope High School swingman has the athleticism, length, and quickness to be one of the top players in the state of Mississippi.

Carlyle, Falcons preparing for Yellow Jackets, annual tournament

Columbus High School boys basketball coach Anthony Carlyle hasn’t shied away from competition this season.

A busy pre-Christmas schedule has seen Columbus play a game at Quitman High School, face nationally ranked Memphis East at the MLK Classic in Hamilton, Tennessee, take on Hazel Green (Ala.) and Madison Prep (La.) at the fifth-annual Lighthouse Thanksgiving Classic in Corinth, and play Curie (Ill.) in the Marshall County Hoopfest in Benton, Kentucky.