SHS’ Day anchors back line

STARKVILLE — Already part of a strong sophomore class, Price Day earned the captain’s arm band and made it his mission to make the Starkville High School boys soccer team the best defensive team in the area.

Shoemaker strong in goal for Yellow Jackets

STARKVILLE — Raevonne Shoemaker likes being an individual and standing out, so it makes sense she plays goalkeeper.

The Starkville High junior started all of the Lady Jackets’ games this season and has been a fixture in Anna Albritton’s lineup for several years. It started when she was a seventh-grader, having to beat out two seniors and a junior to earn the starting job.

SEC will try to stop slide

If current NCAA tournament bracket forecasts pan out, the Southeastern Conference will continue its shift down the national pecking order.

Reserves important for MSU in tourney

STARKVILLE — When options are few, you just have to go with what you’ve got.

The Mississippi State men’s basketball team has played without solid depth in the post and at point guard this season, but has managed a Southeastern Conference Western Division title and a first-round bye in the conference tournament.

Luckily, the team has avoided injuries, and hope starting point guard Dee Bost’s hip pointer doesn’t affect his status or play this weekend.

Stansbury, MSU will try to find answers

STARKVILLE — Rick Stansbury doesn’t believe showing his Mississippi State men’s basketball team the game film of its loss to the University of Tennessee on Saturday will help it prepare for the Southeastern Conference Tournament. But the veteran coach hasn’t been able to get the deflating defeat off his mind.

Kentucky’s Cousins, Wall top candidates for SEC Player of Year

Although the Southeastern Conference tournament begins Thursday, SEC Player of the Year ballots have been submitted to the league, which is why coaches had to answer plenty of “who’d you vote for?” questions Monday on the weekly teleconference.

Perkins spearheads Starkville’s title march

STARKVILLE — Rashad Perkins didn’t want to take too much credit for Starkville High School’s run to the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A state title, but it’s hard to deny his impact.

Perkins had 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 blocked shots against Biloxi in the state semifinals before scoring 25 points and grabbing 14 rebounds in the state final against Meridian.

For his accomplishments, Perkins is The Commercial Dispatch Prep Player of the Week.

MSU to appeal Sidney decision

STARKVILLE — The lengthy saga and NCAA investigation surrounding the eligibility of Mississippi State freshman Renardo Sidney reached a conclusion Friday after the NCAA decided to suspend him for nine games next season and make him repay $11,800 in “impermissible benefits” received before enrolling at MSU.

However, MSU officials will appeal the decision.

Starkville captures elusive state title

JACKSON — Finally.

After returning home with state championship disappointment in four other trips with Greg Carter as the coach, the Starkville High School boys basketball teaam rode forward Rashad Perkins’ 25 points and 14 rebounds to win the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A state title Saturday.

Starkville won the elusive state championship by beating Meridian 57-51 at Mississippi Coliseum.

MSU’s Sidney loses year of eligibility, will miss games next year; State to appeal

The lengthy saga and NCAA investigation surrounding the eligibility of Mississippi State University freshman Renardo Sidney has come to ruling after the NCAA reached a decision to bench him for nine basketball games next season and make him repay $11,800.

MSU’s Sidney loses year of eligibility, will miss games next year; State to appeal

The lengthy saga and NCAA investigation surrounding the eligibility of Mississippi State University freshman Renardo Sidney has come to ruling after the NCAA reached a decision to bench him for nine basketball games next season and make him repay $11,800.

MSU hosts Tennessee with NCAA implications

STARKVILLE — When Jarvis Varnado and Barry Stewart sat together Monday and spoke about Senior Night, they didn’t think their already slim chances of making the NCAA tournament would be even slimmer.

Following Wednesday’s 89-80 loss at Auburn, the Mississippi State Bulldogs (21-9, 9-6 Southeastern Conference) enter Senior Night on Saturday looking to pull an upset on their home court against No. 16 Tennessee. 

MSU baseball team dealing with adversity

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball coach John Cohen didn’t know when his team would face its first bout of adversity, though he knew it was coming after a 4-0 start. 

This past weekend’s three-game sweep at the hands of the Southeastern Louisiana Lions left the Mississippi State Bulldogs at 4-3 heading into this weekend’s BankFirst Baseball Challenge at Dudy Noble Field.

The Bulldogs topped it off last Sunday with a 6-5 loss in which they had a two-run lead. That followed Saturday’s 8-5 loss when they commit five errors. 

Starkville plays for state title

STARKVILLE — Three months have passed since the Starkville High School boys basketball team rallied to beat the Meridian Wildcats.

Whether or not that game at Meridian really matters now is up for debate.

Starkville will play Meridian in a rematch Saturday in the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A state championship game and there are some interesting story lines. Among them, the teams have arguably two of the highest-rated players (Starkville’s Rashad Perkins and Meridian’s Rodney Hood) in Mississippi.

Starkville coach gets another shot at title

STARKVILLE — Starkville High School’s run to the state championship game is head coach Greg Carter’s first since 2003 and with as much that’s changed since then he hopes his evolution as a coach translates into a title.

Back in 2003, Starkville lost the championship game to Vicksburgl. As exciting as making it to the championship game was for Carter, getting back to the final game seemed possible, if not probable, especially after qualifying for three more state tournaments the next six years.

Starkville sophomores develop into contributors

STARKVILLE — There’s something about a big stage that can rattle a young player at the moment when he or she needs to be focused most.

The Starkville High School boys basketball team has five sophomores that head coach Greg Carter hopes don’t get wide-eyed when the Yellow Jackets play Biloxi on Wednesday in the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A semifinals of the state tournament at Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.

MSU men look to stay on right side of bubble at Auburn

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State men’s basketball team’s prospects of making the NCAA tournament are looking brighter and brighter.

But one misstep at 7 tonight against Auburn University (WCBI) could ruin those good feelings.

Once two games off the top in the Southeastern Conference’s Western Division, the Bulldogs were losing grip on their postseason hopes coming off four straight road losses.

Starkville needs to be forgetful to have title run

Having watched the Starkville High School boys basketball team provide the best prep basketball entertainment I’ve witnessed in my three years as a reporter and editor, I know the magnitude of today’s work and the storylines that have made this year’s team what it is.

Two games away from erasing the state championship frustrations, the Yellow Jackets’ best approach to making history is to forget what happened in the past. Nevermind what you’ve heard.

It’s the only way. Your opponent will do the same.

MSU moves on without Sidney in its plans

STARKVILLE — While Mississippi State men’s basketball fans wonder what’s up with freshman forward Renardo Sidney, head coach Rick Stansbury isn’t worrying about his gem recruit helping the team this season.

It makes sense, seeing as the Bulldogs (21-8, 9-5 Southeastern Conference) have clinched the SEC West and are on the bubble to make the NCAA tournament, according to NCAA bracket experts. 

Sidney wasn’t on the bench for the team’s game against Alabama, but the yet-to-be-reinstated player’s attorney, Don Jackson, said he was sick and did not attend. 

Starkville seeks elusive title

STARKVILLE — Four empty state tournament trips to Jackson since 2000 have created high expectations and an ever-present shadow behind Starkville High School’s boys basketball team. 

Starkville players hear the nay-sayers in the classroom and in the community.

“It’ll stop in Jackson” and “You guys will choke when you get to Jackson” get tossed around as if the Yellow Jackets have no support from the people who show up and watch them dunk, throw alley oops off the backboard, and, lest not forget, win at home.