MSU women take a break following busy stretch

All of the numbers look good to Vic Schaefer.

That’s why it’s easy for the Mississippi State women’s basketball coach to make a great choice regardless of whether he picks No. 14 or No. 19. The way Schaefer sees it, No. 19 is the better number because it is a direct reflection of No. 14.

“If you’re No. 19, you have won all 14 (games),” Schaefer said Tuesday. “To have gotten it in two years and 14 games is pretty incredible.”

Minichino Column: Joe Horne Classic sees continued growth

Sammy Smith can’t escape at this time of the year.

Prep Players of Week: Thomas, Johnson help New Hope to fast start

The body language is different this season for Shemar Johnson and Terryonte Thomas.

Columbus boys show potential in win against Marion (Ark.)

The Columbus High School boys basketball team showed Friday night how good it can be.

Jay Jay Swanigan had 14 points to lead a group of 11 Falcons that scored in a 63-39 victory against Marion (Ark.) on Friday night in the final game of day one of the 18th-annual Joe Horne Columbus Christmas Invitational at Columbus High.

Holman trying to impress ‘habits’ on new group

“Lady Trojan habits” helped make Laura Lee Holman the softball and basketball player she was at New Hope High School.

Holman used hard work, a will to win, and relentless energy to earn an opportunity to play Division I basketball at Troy.

Jones shows potential in Starkville’s 1-1 weekend

Potential is written all over Kelsey Jones.

At 6-foot-2, the Starkville High School sophomore center has nimble footwork, a good shooting touch around the basket, and a solid understanding of angles and how to position herself to give her the best chance to make a shot.

Okorie helps fuel fast start for MSU women’s basketball team

STARKVILLE — It’s scary to think how good Chinwe Okorie can be if she is growing every day.

Smith wants Columbus boys to continue to grow

Sammy Smith knows the expectations are there this season for the Columbus High School boys basketball team.

Part of the anticipation for the Falcons revolves around the fact Smith has a long, athletic team with plenty of size. Those physical qualities make Smith excited for his team, too.

MSU women match program’s best start

STARKVILLE — Savannah Carter looks ready for business.

Decked out in her home white jersey, Carter’s arms are crossed across her chest and her gaze is fixed forward in the picture that adorns the cover of the Mississippi State women’s basketball team’s 2014-15 media guide.

Whittle, Ledbetter have helped Heritage Academy start 4-0

Cameron Whittle and Michael Ledbetter don’t have to consult each other or rack their brains to find the answer.

When Whittle and Ledbetter are asked to remember the last time the Heritage Academy boys soccer team started a season 4-0, both players don’t recall a time when it has happened. In fact, Whittle said he doesn’t think it has happened — until this season.

Victories against Washington School, Magnolia Heights, Starkville Academy, and Hillcrest Christian have Heritage Academy in unchartered waters as it prepares for the holiday break. Heritage Academy capped the opening month of the season Friday by scoring four goals in the second half to beat Hillcrest Christian 4-1.

MSU women face in-state rival Southern Mississippi

STARKVILLE — The frustration was evident in Vic Schaefer’s voice and in his body language.

MSU women rally past Louisiana Tech

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State women’s basketball team needs Dominique Dillingham on the court.

At 5-foot-9, Dillingham is far from the biggest Bulldog. She probably also wouldn’t win a competition for the fastest or the quickest player on the team.

James leads Bulldogs against Louisiana Tech

STARKVILLE — Jerica James learned accountability as a sophomore.

Noxubee County comes together down stretch to win title

STARKVILLE — Tyrone Shorter was frustrated.

The Noxubee County High School football coach couldn’t help think his team had let one slip away from a rival. After all, Noxubee County led West Point 19-14 at halftime and appeared to be positioned for a victory in one of its biggest games of the year.

Davis has career day to lead Baylor past Ole Miss

OXFORD — Nina Davis smiled and shook her head.

The Baylor sophomore forward never imagined she could have this much fun on a basketball court. It made it even more satisfying that a career-best effort came on her 20th birthday nearly 90 minutes from home and with plenty of friends and family on hand to watch.

Davis scored a career-high 43 points and grabbed nine rebounds Sunday to lead No. 11 Baylor to a 96-54 victory against Ole Miss before a crowd of 2,338 at Tad Smith Coliseum.

Mulkey focused on keeping Baylor at top

Kim Mulkey’s resume includes nearly everything any player and/or coach could want.

Mulkey won two national championships as a player at Louisiana Tech (1981, 1982) and won gold medals as a member of the United States’ team in the 1983 Pan American Games and at the 1984 Olympics.

Four Caledonia boys soccer players going to Northwest Mississippi

CALEDONIA — Robert Mims set it all in motion.

By the time it officially ended Friday morning, Northwest Mississippi Community College had gained four members of the Caledonia High School soccer program.

Caledonia girls players sign with colleges

CALEDONIA — Hope Burton and Zoe Saraiva are different soccer players than their sisters.

Caledonia High School girls soccer coach Jason Forrester is confident of that. In fact, he laughed when he was told Burton and Saraiva probably would like that their coach said that about them.

Chain will go to Washington to swim in Junior Nationals

Chris Chain didn’t even consider checking the qualifying times for the Speedo Winter Junior National Championships.

Ladd Chain was just like his father. Instead of looking at the short-course (yards) standards for the winter meet, Ladd first examined the long-course (meters) times and saw he had just missed qualifying for the meet.

Noxubee County beats St. Stanislaus for third state title

STARKVILLE — Timorrius Conner heard the talk all week.

The Noxubee County High School junior quarterback couldn’t avoid it. After all, St. Stanislaus, the opponent in the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A state title game, had scored 651 points and had eclipsed the 40-point mark 11 times. Sophomore quarterback Myles Brennan led the high-scoring attack with 5,502 passing yards and 61 touchdowns.

Conner shrugged all of those numbers off. Coming off a sophomore season in which he threw four touchdowns and had 12 interceptions, Conner never was one to dwell on numbers.