Articles by Adam Minichino
New Hope softball escapes quicksand at Warren Central
The New Hope High School slow-pitch softball team couldn’t have allowed itself to sink in the quicksand Saturday.
After suffering a 10-run loss to Warren Central in Game 1 of the best-of-three Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A/6A North State playoff series, New Hope could have thought things weren’t meant to be and started to look forward to a long nap on a four-hour bus ride back to Columbus.
New Hope battles hard in loss to region leader Oxford
OXFORD — Kris Pickle was frank earlier this week when he said his New Hope High School football team has nothing to lose when it faced Oxford in a pivotal Class 5A, Region 1 game.
Columbus, Heritage Academy will try to get back on track
The playoffs are still within reach for the Columbus High School and the Heritage Academy football teams.
That’s the message Columbus coach Randal Montgomery and Heritage Academy coach Barrett Donahoe want their teams to heed at 7 tonight as they prepare to face Greenville and Leake Academy, respectively, in Mississippi High School Activities Association and Mississippi Association of Independent Schools action.
Drungo, Jr. left long legacy
George Irby always knew Elbert Drungo Jr. could make an impact without saying a word.
MSU women look to blend new with old for NCAA tournament berth
STARKVILLE — Jerica James has appreciated the meaning of the word responsibility ever since she was a freshman.
New Hope faces ultimate challenge in powerhouse Oxford
Kris Pickle understands not many people would have predicted his New Hope High School football team to be undefeated entering the ninth week of the 2014 season.
Hamilton’s Heard learning to use vision to complement speed
HAMILTON — Sprinters have one goal in mind: Get to their destination as quickly as possible.
Sometimes, though, the quickest — or easiest — route to paydirt isn’t a straight line. You often see that in football, when running backs, blessed with the speed to burn or to juke, stretch plays east and west in an effort to get to the corner. If they get there, all they need to do is hit the accelerator and dance down the sidelines to the end zone.
Heritage Academy can’t convert key chances against Pillow Academy
The game was there for the taking.
Despite allowing a back-breaking touchdown in the final minute of the second quarter that dropped it in a 21-point hole at halftime, the Heritage Academy football team found a spark in the third quarter.
Columbus running out of time in region race
It might not be the time for absolutes, but the Columbus High School football team needs to start winning games in Class 6A, Region 2 if it is going to advance to the playoffs.
Pickle, New Hope want to stay focused
Don’t look ahead.
You can hear the caution in Kris Pickle’s voice. It’s natural for Pickle to be cautiously optimistic about how his New Hope High School football team has started the season. New Hope improved to 6-0 and 2-0 in Class 5A, Region 1 last Friday with a 53-35 victory against Center Hill. The victory helped push New Hope to No. 4 in The Associated Press Class 5A rankings. The win also extended the Trojans’ best start to a season in at least 20 years.
MSU’s Okorie working to improve touch, offensive skills
STARKVILLE — Chinwe Okorie has gone from sitting and watching to being able to do everything the rest of her teammates on the Mississippi State women’s basketball can do.
Columbus Christian on track to play for district title
STEENS — Greg Watkins feels like he is in a similar position.
A year ago, his Columbus Christian Academy football team was poised to win its first district championship in 11-man football. All it had to do was beat Deer Creek Academy at home. Unfortunately, Columbus Christian couldn’t realize its goal in a 28-26 loss that featured five lead changes and two ties.
Noxubee County looks to continue region success
MACON — Tyrone Shorter likes the direction the Noxubee County High School football team is going.
Heritage Academy ready for stretch run
The marathon has become a little more crowded at the front of the pack.
MSU women will embrace expectations for season
STARKVILLE — Expectations are nothing new at Mississippi State this year.
Before the 2014 season started, Dan Mullen and the MSU football team were besieged with questions about how they were going to handle the expectations they faced this season.
So far, so good on that front.
Vic Schaefer hopes his team will handle the expectations that it will face as it prepares for the 2014-15 season.
Lovato fits in well as assistant on Shaefer’s staff
STARKVILLE — Don’t get in Elena Lovato’s way.
Odds are she has somewhere she needs to go and she is focused on getting there the quickest way possible. That’s why you probably will see a spark from underneath her sneakers or shoes as she walks through a door and walks with a purpose or strides past you on her way to that destination. Whether it’s talking to a recruit or moving around the basketball court, there is no time for idle movement because there are things to accomplish and a program to build at Mississippi State.
