Love for game fueled Schmidt’s passion

Glenn Schmidt always believed a career in coaching would be fulfilling.

Turns out her 39-year coaching career was that and then some.

After 13 seasons at Starkville Academy, Schmidt informed the Board of Trustees at the school last week she was retiring and wouldn’t return as girls basketball coach and athletic director.

Starkville High’s Williams leads team to state semifinals

STARKVILLE — Starkville High School girls basketball coach Kristie Williams received some encouraging words from a captain Monday afternoon.

“Eryka (Williams) told me she only had two games left as a Lady Jacket,” Kristie Williams said. “She said she wanted to make sure she played her very best in those two games.”

If recent play is a foreshadowing, Eryka Williams should be able to deliver on that promise.

Area teams resume state tournament play

State basketball championships will again be handed out this weekend and it appears some area teams have their sights sets on grabbing some gold.

MSU women secure third seed for SEC tournament

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State women’s basketball team will be in the “survive-and-advance” part of the schedule when it returns to the court.

No. 16 MSU will be the third seed Friday night when it plays Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, or Georgia in the Southeastern Conference tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.

Starkville girls earn revenge on way back to Jackson

STARKVILLE — Starkville High School girls’ basketball coach Kristie Williams rarely felt better after a loss.

West Lowndes boys roll in playoff opener

If nothing else, playing a game at the Mississippi Coliseum taught the West Lowndes boys’ basketball team one thing last season.

West Lowndes girls begin playoffs with win over Ethel

West Lowndes High School girls’ basketball coach Danny Crawford feels like his team should be judged on its last month of play.

MSU softball team completes weekend sweep

STARKVILLE — Freshman Emily Heimberger had high expectations for her first weekend as part of the Mississippi State softball program.

Those expectations were exceeded Thursday night when a near-capacity crowd filled the new $6.4-million Nusz Park.

The weekend got better and better with Heimberger’s help.

Heimberger had a multiple-hit and multiple-RBI performance Sunday in MSU’s 7-1 victory against Houston on the final day of the Bulldog Kickoff Classic.

MSU finished the four-day event 5-0. It is MSU’s third-straight 5-0 start.

MSU softball team opens new park in style

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State sophomore pitcher Holly Ward knew the enormous expectation of becoming the first player to pitch in the new Nusz Park.

Ward didn’t disappoint.

Firing a one-hitter and her first career shutout, Ward looked brilliant in MSU’s 6-0 victory against Georgia Southern on Thursday in the opening game of the Bulldog Kickoff Classic and the 2016 regular season.

MSU shooting for first regional at new home

The games count for real now.

For the past two decades, the Mississippi State softball team has been a model of consistency. On an annual basis, the team has won more games than it lost and, more often than not, has made postseason play. It has earned a few national rankings, but it hasn’t reached elite status in the Southeastern Conference.

New Hope rolls past West Point to complete region play

WEST POINT — New Hope High School senior basketball player Willie Ousley brings a high level of energy to the court.

New Hope boys beat Oxford

New Hope High School senior Carlos Brooks liked the mind-set of his team Friday night.

“We knew we had to be mentally tough to win this game,” Brooks said. “The first time we played (Oxford). We simply weren’t tough enough. We knew that would be the key to having a better outcome.”

The Trojans had a better attitude and a much better 3-point shooting touch in a 72-65 victory in a Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A, Region 2 boys basketball game at Trojan Gym.

Oak Hill Academy boys beat Columbus Christian for district title

WEST POINT — Oak Hill Academy basketball coach Brian Middleton made a couple of suggestions at halftime Saturday night.

Those suggestions included guarding harder, forcing some turnovers, and getting the transition game going.

In the second half, the Raiders down their coach’s wish list and knocked each item off with perfection.

Oak Hill Academy erased a halftime deficit with a near-flawless effort on defense to post a 54-46 victory against Columbus Christian Academy in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AA, District 2 tournament championship game.

Starkville Academy’s Wood signs with Mississippi Gulf Coast

STARKVILLE — When Starkville Academy senior Carter Wood was ready to pick a college, he had a large support group to consult.

Wood played three varsity seasons under coach Jeff Terrill, who had previously coached in the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges at Itawamba Community College. Wood also knew he would have the love and support of parents, Bart and Rebecca Anne Wood.

Player of Week: Career night by Jackson helps New Hope break losing streak

New Hope High School senior basketball player Heratio Jackson felt like his game had been off lately.

Area teams to play in FedExForum

During a successful basketball career at Ridgeland High School and West Point High School, senior point guard A.J. McFarland has always believed in playing one game at a time.

Tough schedule will help Stuedeman usher in new $6M stadium

In her first news conference of the season, Mississippi State softball fifth-year head coach Vann Stuedeman threw out an interesting statistic.

Stuedeman pointed out that last season Southeastern Conference rival Kentucky won 17 percent of its conference games and still played in a super regional.

Stuedeman said Kentucky finished 4-20 in league play but a top 30 Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) was enough to help the Wildcats earn an invitation to the NCAA tournament. From there, Kentucky won a regional at South Bend, Indiana, before falling to Florida in a Super Regional in Gainesville, Florida.

Columbus gains momentum, sweeps West Point

Columbus High School first-year boys basketball coach Luther Riley expected some early season adversity.

He also hoped his team would be clicking on a high level when the calendar turned to February.

If Tuesday night was any indication, the Falcons might be on their way. Columbus scored the game’s first 15 points and cruised to a 70-45 victory against West Point at the Falcon Lair.

Plenty of enticing matchups as prep basketball seasons enters home stretch

Several teams in our coverage area could contend for a state championship as we enter the final four weeks of the prep basketball regular season.

We should have a large group of participants headed to Jackson from the Mississippi High School Activities Association’s six classifications.

In the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools, the Heritage Academy and Starkville Academy boys are ranked among the best in the state. We also know the Starkville Academy girls, both teams at Oak Hill Academy, and the boys team at Columbus Christian Academy have a chance to advance, too.

Caledonia boys win double overtime thriller at Noxubee County

MACON — Caledonia High School senior Coby Coleman likes his team’s chances when the defensive switch is thrown.