Starkville Academy golf team looks to avoid hiccup

STARKVILLE — Clay Stringer can feel it. 

But Starkville Academy’s golfers must avoid another late hiccup to win a state championship.

Today’s Mississippi Association of Independent School Class AAA state tournament at Jackson Country Club will tell if Stringer’s senior-driven squad can close on a championship level after finishing four points from the top at North State.

Last week at Colonial Country Club’s Deerfield course, the Volunteers missed out on a chance for a second-straight North State championship.

Starkville Academy golf team looks to avoid a hiccup

Starkville Academy’s golfers must avoid another late hiccup to win a state championship. Today’s Mississippi Association of Independent School Class AAA state tournament at Jackson Country Club will tell if Stringer’s senior-driven squad can close on a championship level after finishing four points from the top at North State.

Starkville Academy rebuilding process begins under Terrill

STARKVILLE — The football building blocks are being laid at Starkville Academy. 

Jeff Terrill’s return to the prep ranks for the first time since 1993 brought him to a rebuilding project that has a dubious number hanging over the last two seasons.

Fifteen straight losses and a winless 2009 campaign did more than evoke a coaching change — players defected.

Ole Miss wins slugfest

STARKVILLE — Middle inning madness and potent Ole Miss offense clinched its weekend Southeastern Conference series with Mississippi State following a 12-10 win Saturday at Dudy Noble Field.

Ole Miss (32-13, 13-7 SEC) was powered by a nine-run spree that spanned the fifth and sixth innings, while Mississippi State (20-22, 5-15) took advantage of a shaky outing from Ole Miss No. 2 pitcher Aaron Barrett.

The Bulldogs, however, were dealt with a two-run gap in the bottom of the ninth and for the second-straight game had its own miscues in the field contribute to its demise.

Starkville eliminated by Madison Central

STARKVILLE — After his team lost by the mercy rule in its postseason opener, Starkville coach Danny Carlisle thought the Yellow Jackets would respond with elimination staring them in the face.

Instead the Jackets managed just two hits Friday in an 11-1 loss to Madison Central to be eliminated from the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A state playoffs.

The scrappiness that saw Starkville make a fourth-inning rally on Thursday wasn’t there Friday as the Jackets were baffled by Madisson Central pitcher L.J. Hollins.

Osby leaves, Smith signs with Bulldogs

STARKVILLE –– Friday brought mixed news for the Mississippi State men’s basketball program. 

MSU confirmed junior forward Romero Osby will transfer from the school his father attended, which will put the team at 13 scholarship players for next season. 

Following Osby’s announcement, Mississippi State got its first 2011 verbal commitment from Jackson Callaway guard Marquavius “Deville” Smith.

MSU looks to get back into race for SEC Tournament

STARKVILLE — With three chances lost at Alabama, the Mississippi State baseball team hopes to avoid another disappointing weekend against a division opponent and claw back into the race for a Southeastern Conference tournament spot. 

Last weekend’s rain-affected series against the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Ala., saw the Bulldogs squander leads with single-inning meltdowns. The Bulldogs had a seven-run lead evaporate in Game 2 before losing a 4-1 lead in Game 3. 

Mississippi State coach John Cohen admits the team is frustrated with the nature of the losses, but as he explained Thursday, the Bulldogs (20-20, 5-13 SEC) have gone through the growing pains of playing the most freshmen in the conference.

Starkville loses to have back to the wall

MADISON — The Madison Central baseball team scored 11 runs in two innings and had a mammoth day at the plate Thursday to beat Starkville 16-6 to open the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A state playoffs.

Madison Central leadoff hitter Josh Crowder ended the game with a two-run, walk-off homer in the fifth inning to give the Jaguars a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

Starkville used four pitchers, walking nine batters against one of the best lineups in the state. 

Starkville baseball faces difficult matchup

STARKVILLE — Danny Carlisle has an interesting approach to the Starkville High School baseball team’s opening-round playoff series against Madison Central.

The Jaguars (24-2) play host to the Yellow Jackets (14-7) at 7 tonight in the first game of the best-of-three Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A series.

Evaluations begin with spring practice at Starkville

STARKVILLE — This time last year, Jamie Mitchell was leading one of the top football programs in the state. 

But much like he’s shown with resurrection projects at South Tippah, Olive Branch and Itawamba Agricultural, diving into a new situation yields results. 

He expects the same at Starkville High School— his latest project and coveted job from 10 years ago. 

MSU’s Bost, Johnson declare for NBA draft

STARKVILLE — Mondays have been newsworthy days for Mississippi State athletics this year.

Greg Byrne’s announcement of his decision to leave for the University of Arizona came on a Monday, as did men’s basketball coach Rick Stansbury’s selection to turn down Clemson’s offer to become its new coach remain at MSU.

This week, that theme was continued when MSU guards Dee Bost and Ravern Johnson opted enter the NBA draft.

Jackets’ Perkins will play in Florida

There are plenty of questions surrounding the status of Rashad Perkins.

But Chipola College (Fla.) men’s basketball coach Jake Headrick is certain about one thing.

The first-year Chipola coach confirmed Monday night that Perkins, The Commercial Dispatch Large Schools Boys Basketball Player of the Year, Mississippi’s Mr. Basketball, and Southern Mississippi signee will play for the junior college for the 2010-11 school year.

MSU’s Dixon, Chaney drafted

STARKVILLE –– Anthony Dixon waited longer than he wanted to on the final day of the NFL draft, but the crossed fingers, prayers and nervous energy turned to joy in the sixth round.

A life-long San Francisco 49ers fan, Dixon grew up hoping to grace the same field as his favorite player, Jerry Rice, once did.

Saturday, San Francisco drafted the Mississippi State record-setter with the 173rd overall pick, bolstering a backfield that already has Pro Bowler Frank Gore and former Alabama running back Glen Coffee.

McKenzie to serve at MSU’s interim AD

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State announced Friday senior associate athletic director Duncan McKenzie will serve as interim athletic director while the school continues its search for a long term replacement for Greg Byrne.

McKenzie also serves as the athletic department’s chief financial officer.

He is a former football letterman, starring for MSU as a tight end from 1974-78. He played in the Sun Bowl his freshman season.

Winning state title helps Carter earn honor

STARKVILLE — Greg Carter thought being the only team in the state to end the season with a win would feel different after years of playoff disappointment.

The euphoria from winning the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A state title gave the Starkville High School boys basketball coach a myriad emotions. The victory lifted a burden from Carter’s shoulders and certified his tenure at the school with a tradition-setting run that finally provided the hardware to prove it. 

But if returning to the court after failing to accomplish all you set out for is difficult, getting over the jubilation of being the best team in the state has proven just as laborious.

Perkins carried torch for Starkville

STARKVILLE — If there was a more dominant, exciting, and pivotal player than Starkville High’s Rashad Perkins in The Commercial Dispatch coverage area, it might be his alley-oop launcher Edward Townsel. 

What put Perkins over the top in The Dispatch’s voting process was his performance in the Class 6A state semifinals and final, where he averaged 23 points and 14 rebounds. 

He set the tone with a Herculean effort of 25 points, 14 rebounds, 13 blocked shots and five steals against Biloxi. The future Southern Miss Eagle didn’t suffer any lag against Rodney Hood and Meridian. 

New Hope’s Holman honored for district title run

Laura Lee Holman entered her first year in charge of the New Hope High School girls basketball team by setting the bar at a milestone that hadn’t been reached in 18 years. 

As a former Lady Trojan, she never experienced the joy of lifting a district championship trophye. Many players came before her and finished their New Hope basketball careers in the same fashion. 

The goal, in all likelihood, was the same New Hope coaches before Holman had set.

Ewings was dynamic weapon for West Point

WEST POINT — Sometimes, toughness is ingrained in a player. 

Growing up in a large family of boys and as a self-proclaimed “country girl,” West Point High School point guard Kelsei Ewings has turned what usually is a disadvantage into a weapon.

At 5-foot-5, Ewings is used to being one of the shortest players on the court. But while height typically is coveted at every position, Ewings’ blend of speed, vision, shooting, and grit has given West Point coach Jemmye Ann Helms a dynamic weapon the past three years. 

Ewings averaged 22 points, five assists, four rebounds, and five steals a game this season, leading the Lady Wave to a 17-7 record and a spot in the first round of the Class 5A North Half State playoffs, where they lost to Yazoo City. 

MSU baseball team travels to Alabama

STARKVILLE — Two weeks ago, Mississippi State baseball coach John Cohen could see the effects of a sluggish conference start beginning to take a toll on his team. 

Cohen made it a point for the coaching staff to analyze every aspect of the Bulldogs’ week –– from batting practice to bullpen routines to overall energy and enthusiasm. 

During a critical home stretch and in danger of falling behind the eight ball in the race to make the Southeastern Conference Tournament, Cohen sat down with his players and doled out individual assignments and critiques on “effort level and things that we hadn’t been doing a good job of,” Mississippi State senior first baseman Connor Powers said.

Dixon’s strong season puts him in position to be picked

STARKVILLE — While most NFL draft prospects head to specialized pre-combine training destinations, Anthony Dixon didn’t see a reason to leave home.

After re-writing Mississippi State’s rushing records, the Bulldogs’ heralded running back chose to do his pre-draft testing with MSU strength coach Matt Balis.