Community band launches new concert year

The Starkville-Mississippi State University Community Band begins its seventh year Jan. 11 with registration and a rehearsal on campus.

Eagle Scouts urged to register for network

Scouting officials are trying to identify all Eagle Scouts in North Mississippi as part of the 100th anniversary of Boy Scouts of America.

Chambless, area players on MAC All-State teams

Nineteen local prep football players and one coach were honored earlier this week when the Mississippi Association of Coaches announced its All-State teams.

Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A state champion West Point and Class 3A runner-up Aberdeen led the way with five players recognized.

West Point High’s Chris Chambless was chosen MAC Coach of the Year for guiding the Green Wave (14-1) past Wayne County 35-14 on Saturday for the school’s sixth state title.

McGuire leads Central Academy to victory

MACON –– Ferris McGuire poured in a game-high 26 points Thursday night to lead the Central Academy boys basketball team past Russell Christian 53-48.

Central Academy (2-4) trailed 33-26 at halftime before outscoring Russell Christian 13-4 in the third quarter and 14-11 in the fourth.

McGuire was followed in scoring by Chris Newman with nine points, Cole Newman with six and Rowdy Rigdon with five.

Heritage Academy boys, girls beat Hamilton

HAMILTON –– Tyler White poued in 18 points Tuesday to lead the Heritage Academy boys basketball team past Hamilton High School 56-45.

Will West scored 12 points and Hunter Brown scored 11 for Heritage Academy (5-3).

n Heritage Academy 63, Hamilton 21 (G): At Hamilton, Christibeth Nelson scored 13 points to help the Lady Patriots beat the Lady Lions.

Joanna West scored 10 points and Madison Ford scored nine for Heritage Academy (4-7).

Aberdeen girls beat Starkville at the buzzer

ABERDEEN — The Aberdeen and Starkville high school basketball teams split a varsity doubleheader here Tuesday evening in the Roy E. Hazzle Gymnasium.

In a marquee matchup that was supposed to feature two unbeaten girls teams led by a pair of high-profile scorers, Aberdeen’s Dayana McGee came up with a clutch rebound and Regina Barker popped in a buzzer-beating layup to steal the spotlight from their more celebrated teammate and give the Lady Bulldogs a 64-62 triumph — their sixth straight win of the season.

The nightcap didn’t bode as well for the recently re-stocked Bulldogs, however, as Aberdeen stalled in the third quarter and dropped a 67-49 decision to the Yellow Jackets in coach Roy Hazzle’s first game in the newly named gymnasium.

EMCC caps season with bowl victory

BILOXI —The East Mississippi Community College football team’s historical season continued Sunday with a 27-24 win against Arizona Western College in the second-annual Mississippi Bowl at Biloxi Stadium.

The win allowed the Lions, ranked No. 5, to cap off head coach Buddy Stephens second season with a school record 11 wins to go win one loss.

EMCC, which won its first state championship last month by beating Gulf Coast 75-71, made the school’s first bowl appearance since a 1963 visit to the Hospitality Bowl in Gulfport.

Mississippi Bowl matches rising programs

SCOOBA – Today’s Mississippi Bowl in Biloxi figures to be a formidable matchup of two of the nation’s rising junior college football programs. 

Paired together from opposite sides of the cournty, the No. 5 East Mississippi Community College Lions (10-1) will meet the sixth-ranked Matadors of Arizona Western College (9-1).

Kickoff for the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s second-annual junior college bowl event is set for 2 p.m. at Biloxi Indian Stadium. 

Brandon helps Trojans remain unbeaten at 9-0

Johnathan Brandon scored 20 points Saturday to help the New Hope High School boys basketball team beat Madison Central 65-45 at home and remain undefeated.

Hank Washington scored 12 points and Jeremy Byrd, Davis Lee and Raymond Walters scored eight points each for New Hope (9-0).

The next game for New Hope is against Kosciusko at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Ackerman Tournament.

Artists’ works featured in Starkville’s one-of-a-kind artists’ showcase

A collection of works by local artists will be showcased in the Greater Starkville Development Partnership Gallery at 200 Main St. through the month of December.

Rainwater program explores Christmas sky lore Friday

On Friday, Dec.11, at 7 p.m., the Rainwater Astronomical Association will present a revised version of its traditional program for the Christmas season.

Shaw is promoted to research vice president at MSU

A veteran Mississippi State University faculty member and research scientist is being named vice president for research and economic development at the land-grant institution.

Third quarter propels Aberdeen girls, Noxubee boys

ABERDEEN— The third quarter proved to be the difference here Tuesday evening, as Aberdeen and Noxubee County high schools split a varsity basketball doubleheader.

Leading 30-27 at halftime, the unbeaten Lady Bulldogs (5-0) outscored Noxubee County 25-15 in the third period en route to a 74-63 win against the Tigerettes (4-2).

In the boys game, Aberdeen (1-4) had a surprising 35-26 halftime lead against Noxubee (5-2), but the Tigers lit the board for 38 third-quarter points in what turned out to be an 84-62 win for coach T.J. Billups.

Aberdeen proves offense, defense determine games

BOONEVILLE — The Booneville High School football team had all of the so-called advantages entering Friday’s Class 3A North State championship football game.

The Blue Devils (13-0) were playing at home against a team with two losses and were coached by legendary Jim Drewry, a 50-year coaching veteran who is the winningest high school coach in Mississippi history with 346 career wins, three state titles (1990, 1999, and 2000) and a 7-0 record in North State title games at Booneville.

Individually, the Blue Devils featured a quarterback who had thrown for more than 2,200 yards and 18 touchdowns and had completed 52 percent of his passes, a running back who had gained more than 1,200 yards and scored 22 touchdowns, and a pair of receivers who had combined for 1,940 receiving yards and 13 scores.

Aberdeen to play for Class 3A state championship

For the third consecutive week, an unbeaten team stands in the way of the Aberdeen High School football team’s quest for its first state championship.

A week ago, unbeaten Charleston (13-0) was eliminated in a Class 3A quarterfinal contest at Aberdeen. On Friday, the Bulldogs handed home standing Booneville (13-0) its first blemish in the North Half finals.

At 11 a.m. Saturday, coach Chris Duncan’s Bulldogs will go head-to-head with Tylertown (14-0), a 28-18 winner against Morton in Friday’s South State finals.

Lamar County, Pickens County lose in semifinals

ASHLAND, Ala. –– The Lamar County High School football team came up short Friday in its quest to set a school record for wins in a season.

Lamar County had its season come to an end with a 38-7 loss to Clay County in the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 2A state playoffs.

Lamar County (13-1) finished one win shy of setting a school record for most wins in a season that it set in 1984 and equaled in 1992 and this season.

Michael Feldman’s ‘Whad’Ya Know?’ to broadcast live from Columbus

Michael Feldman brings his popular public radio show to Rent Auditorium in Columbus for a live broadcast Saturday, Dec. 12. This will be Feldman’s first trip to enjoy the Southern hospitality of the Golden Triangle region.

Christmas Festival brings Bethlehem to life

Bright, colorful paper and fancy bows might add to the glitz and glamour associated with the holiday season. But if you were able to take your family back over 2,000 years to the streets of Bethlehem, the true reason for the season could be found.

Veteran professor named head of MSU forestry

A 24-year-veteran faculty member is the new head of the Mississippi State University’s forestry department.

Andrew Ezell will assume his new duties Dec. 1, leading the only four-year forestry degree program in the state.

‘Edam-up’ Christmas at MSU’s cheese store

The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station Sales Store located on Mississippi State University’s campus offers several ways to help with the gift list, as well as the Christmas feast — with cheese and other holiday specialties.