Williams hits game-winner as Columbus tops New Hope at Trojan Classic

Columbus High School boys’ basketball coach Gary Griffin has been encouraging point guard Kaderius Williams to take more shots.

Columbus girls use fast start to rout New Hope

Columbus High School senior Briona Green has had two things on her mind during Christmas holidays — family and basketball.

Weatherspoon’s dagger against Vanderbilt highlights best games of year

As Ben Howland has slowly built the Mississippi State men’s basketball program, it has become apparent that Quinndary Weatherspoon will be a key building block.

Starkville boys learning to play defense like Carter wants

Tupelo High School boys basketball coach Jeff Norwood had that sinking feeling Monday night.

The second half of his team’s game against Starkville had just started. At halftime, Starkville led 18-14. As the score would indicate, efficient offense hadn’t been plentiful.

Columbus boys basketball team’s title top prep story

When Luther Riley took over the Columbus High School boys basketball program, he said the Falcons would be title contenders right away.

It turned out to be an accurate prediction.

In his first and only season on the bench, Riley earned The Dispatch’s All-Area Coach of the Year honors after leading the Falcons to their first Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A State championship in boys basketball.

Chambless keeps it simple in title march

Coaching football isn’t complicated for Chris Chambless.

While many coaches lay awake at night coming up with an extra formation or a set of plays that will give their team a competitive advantage, Chambless has kept it simple for the West Point High School football team.

Hill helps transform Columbus football

The original goal for Kylin Hill was to carry the Columbus High School football team to new levels of success.

As an added bonus, Hill will leave school as one of the state’s best running backs.

Murphy fuels West Point’s run to eighth title

WEST POINT — Marcus Murphy is considered a “self-starter.”

When it comes to the weight room, practice field, or on game nights, the West Point High School junior always finds a way to make himself better.

One day after West Point won the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A State championship, Murphy tweeted he was headed back to the weight room to start work on an even bigger senior season.

Stapleton return in MSU’s rout of Southern Mississippi

JACKSON — Xavian Stapleton spent a few hours Monday night acknowledging well-wishers on Twitter.

After not playing competitive basketball for 18 months, the Mississippi State sophomore guard wanted to savor his return to the court for as long as possible.

Stapleton scored eight points, had a rebound, a blocked shot, and two steals in 11 minutes as part of the MSU men’s basketball team’s 86-44 victory against Southern Mississippi in the inaugural Capital City Showdown before a MSU-dominant crowd of 4,031 at Mississippi Coliseum.

EMCC’s Johnson signs with Florida Atlantic

De’Andre Johnson stayed true to his Florida roots Wednesday morning.

The East Mississippi Community College quarterback made official a return to his home state when he signed a scholarship offer with Florida Atlantic and new coach Lane Kiffin.

Walters column: Stephens, EMCC eagerly anticipate 2017 season

When the question was first asked, this writer really didn’t pay any attention.

Bell leads New Hope in come-from-behind win over West Lowndes

For New Hope senior JaQuante Bell, it was a matter of slowing things down.

Richardson leads No. 5 MSU women past Southern Miss

HATTIESBURG — This road trip wasn’t as simple as packing clothes, collecting meal money, and boarding the bus for Breanna Richardson.

The Mississippi State senior forward participated in commencement ceremonies Friday night at Humphrey Coliseum. Richardson and MSU women’s basketball coach Vic Schaefer pulled in to Hattiesburg around 12:30 Saturday morning.

Defense comes up big for West Point

West Point High School football players one after another said the same thing in the preseason interviews in August.

The buzz words were “pride” and “tradition.” The phrases included “long time coming” and “ready to win state.”

EMCC football team finishes No. 2 in nation

The East Mississippi Community College football team almost climbed back to the top of the junior college mountain this season.

Instead, the Lions finished second nationally in the final National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) rankings released Monday. It is EMCC’s first final ranking of No. 2.

Under Buddy Stephens, EMCC won the NJCAA national championship in 2011, 2013, and 2014. The Lions have finished in the top 10 in seven of Stephens’ nine seasons as coach at the school.

EMCC wins Mississippi Bowl

PERKINSTON — The East Mississippi Community College football team only had one thing it could control Sunday.

No. 3 EMCC took care of its business Sunday with a 27-17 victory against No. 13 Kilgore (Texas) College 27-17 in the Mississippi Bowl on a blustery, overcast, damp Sunday afternoon at Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C.’s A.L. May Stadium.

The victory helped EMCC win its fourth Mississippi Bowl and likely secured it a No. 2 ranking when the final National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) poll is released today.

Johnson, Pounds earn top honors in bowl win

PERKINSTON — East Mississippi Community College quarterback De’Andre Johnson grabbed some more hardware going out the door.

Johnson earned Most Valuable Player honors in EMCC’s 27-17 victory against Kilgore (Texas) College on Sunday afternoon in the Mississippi Bowl at Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C.’s A.L. May Stadium.

West Point’s defense dominates in title effort

STARKVILLE –Dominate.

The West Point High School football team’s defense did just that Saturday, limiting Laurel to 98 yards in a 29-8 victory in the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 5A State championship game at a rain-soaked Davis Wade Stadium on the campus of Mississippi State University.

No. 3 EMCC will try to close season with bowl win

The East Mississippi Community College football team will have to settle for dominance in the state of Mississippi.

Cut out of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national championship picture, No. 3 EMCC will fight for a top-three finish when it plays No. 13 Kilgore (Texas) College at 2 p.m. today in the Mississippi Bowl at Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C.’s A.L. May Stadium in Perkinston.

Leonard gearing up for last game at EMCC

SCOOBA — Whether it has been in high school, senior college football or junior college football, former Starkville High standout Raphael Leonard has been all about making plays.

Leonard earned his name as an All-State wide receiver at Starkville High. A brief stint followed at Florida Atlantic. Now, he is racking up the honors as a standout wide receiver at East Mississippi Community College.