Starkville girls beat Columbus for third time to take region crown

STARKVILLE — Starkville High School girls basketball coach Kristie Williams commonly refers to the season as a marathon instead of a sprint.

Friday night had to feel like two marathons.

For the third time this season, Starkville was taken to the brink by archrival Columbus. Again, the Lady Jackets survived.

Starkville boys win region title

STARKVILLE — Starkville High School senior Josh Skinner breaks down the formula for the boys basketball team’s success at home this season as a three-step process.

“It starts with being excited and ready at the tip,” Skinner said. “Then all five guys on the floor play some great defense. Everybody is active and we get some easy steals and get the other team rattled a little bit.”

MSU softball squeezes past Southeastern Louisiana

STARKVILLE — In the sixth inning, Cassady Knudsen found herself in a tight spot.

Prep basketball playoffs resume tonight

Columbus High School boys basketball coach Sammy Smith knows his team can deliver a better effort than it gave Tuesday night in the opening round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A, Region 3 tournament.

MSU softball faces Southeastern Louisiana, Penn State

A challenging non-conference schedule has helped pave the way for the Mississippi State softball team to make three straight NCAA regional tournament appearances.

Fast start pushes Starkville boys past Columbus

STARKVILLE — Early in the second quarter, Starkville High School senior Raphael Leonard leaped through the air, snagged a loose basketball, and threw it over his back to a waiting teammate. Seconds later, the improbable save led to an easy basket.

Leonard made several similar catches in a standout career at wide receiver for the school’s football team. On Tuesday night, he was clearing a baseline instead of a goal line, but his effort epitomized the grit and determination of all of his teammates.

A lightning-fast start carried Starkville past Columbus 62-49 in an opening-round game of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A, Region 3 tournament being at Starkville High.

Jones sparks Starkville High girls

STARKVILLE — Starkville High School sophomore center Kelsey Jones knew her team needed a lift Tuesday night.

Jones stepped up and provided it.

Scoring nine points in a five-minute stretch of the fourth quarter, Jones helped Starkville work its way past Madison Central 47-28 in an opening-round game of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A, Region 3 tournament Tuesday night at Starkville High.

Columbus High girls roll to victory to set up meeting with Starkville

STARKVILLE — Columbus High School girls basketball coach Yvonne Hairston knew her team was capable of winning its opening game in the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A, Region 3 tournament.

Still, there is no way she could have envisioned victory happening the way it did.

Down three points in the final minute of the second half, Columbus went on a 27-0 run to defeat Northwest Rankin 69-39 in the tournament’s opening game Tuesday at the Starkville High.

Walters Column: Mitchell building Starkville football into annual contender

Last Wednesday, Starkville High School football coach Jamie Mitchell looked like a tired man.

MSU softball slips past Louisiana Tech

STARKVILLE –Mississippi State third baseman Caroline Seitz joked that she might wear Katie Anne Bailey’s batting helmet and swing her bat for the rest of the weekend.

Starkville Academy’s McGee going to Meridian C.C.

STARKVILLE — When Jody Britt took over the Starkville Academy baseball program two years ago, he knew a talented junior class would help the Volunteers turn the corner.

After a season together, a talented senior class is ready to carry Starkville Academy to an elite level in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools. At the same time, these Volunteers are preparing for the next level.

Strong pitching leads MSU softball to 4-0 start

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State softball coach Vann Stuedeman has made her name nationally known as a pitching expert.

When Stuedeman was hired four seasons ago to revitalize the program, it was easy to assume going to the next level would involve getting a game-changing pitcher.

Starkville Academy’s Arnold signs with Gulf Coast C.C.

STARKVILLE — Starkville Academy baseball player Harper Arnold knows a good opportunity when he sees it.

EMCC, ICC add football signees

Minutes after East Mississippi Community College won the Mississippi Bowl and captured its third National Junior College Athletic Association national championship in football, coach Buddy Stephens was looking ahead to the 2015 season.

MSU softball wins season opener

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State softball players feel like they will be a part of a much better offensive team this season.

So far, so good.

Six more signees add to Noxubee County tradition

MACON — Some coaches stop coaching their players after the final game of their senior seasons.

Noxubee County High School coach Tyrone Shorter isn’t like some coaches.

Division I signees lead Starkville signing group

STARKVILLE — Starkville High School senior wide receiver Raphael Leonard said there were a number of reasons for choosing to play senior college ball at Florida Atlantic.

West Point girls, New Hope boys split doubleheader

Early in the fourth quarter, New Hope High School senior Jaylon Bardley and his teammates had seen enough.

“We knew we had to pick it up or we were going to lose the game,” Bardley said. “On defense, we were bad for a long time. We didn’t play with the defensive intensity we needed to until the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, we were really good.”

Blowing open a tight game in the final six minutes, the New Hope boys basketball team defeated West Point 72-57 in a Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A, Region 2 matchup Tuesday night in Columbus.

MSU softball primed for another run at postseason

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State fourth-year softball coach Vann Stuedeman had little trouble praising the left side of her infield a season ago.

Stuedeman felt like third baseman Caroline Seitz and shortstop Kayla Winkfield combined to form “the best left side of the infield” in the Southeastern Conference.

New Hope basketball teams fall at Saltillo

SALTILLO — New Hope High School boys basketball coach Drew McBrayer surveyed his scorebook before reviewing his team’s latest performance Friday night.