Columbus earns two wins vs. West Oktibbeha

MABEN — The Columbus High School boys basketball team led for less than two minutes of its game Tuesday night against West Oktibbeha.

The Falcons made sure to lead when it counted the most.

A steal and fast-break layup by C.J. Scott helped Columbus rally past West Oktibbeha 53-51 in double overtime at Morgan Gym. In the first game, the Columbus High girls rolled to a 77-34 victory.

Fans give their thoughts on the intense rivalry between MSU and Ole Miss

STARKVILLE — Jack and Mary Lott weren’t about to let a little rain spoil their party.

The Lotts have attended the past 15 football games between the University of Mississippi and Mississippi State.

Fans give their thoughts on the intense rivalry between MSU and Ole Miss

STARKVILLE — Jack and Mary Lott weren’t about to let a little rain spoil their party.

The Lotts have attended the past 15 football games between the University of Mississippi and Mississippi State.

Things end on sour note for Nutt

STARKVILLE — Houston Nutt didn’t want his career as head football coach at the University of Mississippi end this way.

There couldn’t have been a bigger understatement.

Nutt’s Rebels were outmanned from the opening kickoff Saturday in a 31-3 loss to archrival Mississippi State in the final Southeastern Conference regular-season game for both teams at Davis Wade Stadium.

Smith, defense push Starkville on to Jackson

RIDGELAND — Johnny Smith was “Johnny on the spot” Friday night for the Starkville High School football team.

Smith scored the first two touchdowns of his high school career to help Starkville beat Ridgeland 28-7 in the Class 5A North State championship game at Titan Stadium.

Defense has been stabilizing force for Starkville

STARKVILLE — When the Class 5A North State title game is in the balance, it is a safe bet the Starkville High School defense will be on the scene.

Starkville (11-2) will ride a nine-game win streak into its game against Region 2 rival Ridgeland (10-3) at 7 p.m. Friday (WMSV 91.1 FM). It also will try to duplicate a feat it accomplished Oct. 7 when it defeated Ridgeland 26-23 in the regular season. That victory helped Starkville clinch first place in the region.

Starkville Academy sweeps Oak Hill Academy

STARKVILLE — On a night when the Starkville Academy girls basketball team was searching for its offense, its defense came through in the nick of time.

Starkville Academy, the state’s top-ranked Class AAA academy team by The Clarion-Ledger, survived a scare Monday night, defeating Oak Hill Academy 45-36 in overtime.

In the nightcap, the Starkville Academy boys completed the sweep with a 66-48 victory.

Offensive line has made progress for Starkville

STARKVILLE — While any high school football game can present its twists and turns, Starkville High School coach Jamie Mitchell can always take solace in the fact his offensive line is going to come ready to play.

As the Yellow Jackets have molded themselves into a state title contender, the offensive line may be the most underrated part of the squad. Line play again proved a key Friday night in a 20-14 Class 5A North State second-round playoff win against longtime rival West Point.

Starkville capitalizes on turnovers to eliminate West Point

STARKVILLE – A new Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A state champion will be crowned this season.

Starkville High made sure of that Friday night.

Behind a gutsy fourth-quarter scoring drive, Starkville knocked off two-time defending state champion West Point 20-14 in a hard-fought, bitterly contested second-round playoff game before a crowd of 5,000 at Starkville’s Yellow Jacket Field.

West Point will try to duplicate effort

The West Point High School football team may have played its most complete game of the regular season Sept. 9 when it defeated Starkville 33-12.

The Green Wave will attempt to duplicate that feat at 7 tonight when the teams meet again in the second round of the Class 5A North State playoffs at Starkville’s Yellow Jacket Field.

Pickens County ready to face defending state champion

Things are quickly turning serious for the Pickens County High School football team.

It has won two postseason playoff games. Now, the community is stoked, as is the team, as Pickens County prepares to play host to defending Class 1A state champion Sweet Water at 7 tonight in an Alabama High School Activities Association Class 1A third-round playoff game at Sweet Water.

EMCC will go west for title game

It’s more than 1,700 miles from Scooba to Yuma, Ariz.

But the East Mississippi Community College football team would make that trip today if it could.

Columbus-Starkville split in basketball

STARKVILLE — The Starkville High School boys basketball team began the season as the undisputed top-ranked team.

The Yellow Jackets aren’t backing down from that position.

Starkville scored the game’s first 12 points and cruised to a 100-54 non-region win against Columbus on Tuesday night at the Bee Hive.

EMCC’s dream matchup nearly set

The dream matchup is almost a reality.

When the final NJCAA top 20 of the regular season was released Monday morning, there were no major surprises. For a second straight week, the East Mississippi Community College football team was ranked second in the nation, while No. 1 Arizona Western College also made it back-to-back weeks in the top spot.

Starkville soccer sweeps Columbus

Starkville High School soccer players Alex and Christine Mazzola are playing together for the final time this season.

The sisters really want to go out with bang, too.

Curry plays key role for Pickens County defense

REFORM, Ala. — If defense wins championships the Pickens County High School football team has a great shot at capturing the Alabama High School Activities Association Class 1A state championship this season.

EMCC beats MGCCC for MACJC state title

SCOOBA — East Mississippi Community College sophomore wide receiver Lacoltan Bester threw a birthday party with 4,000 friends in attendance Saturday afternoon.

Bester also was the master of his ceremonies who made sure everyone will remember his 20th birthday for a lifetime. The Scooba native caught three touchdown passes to help No. 2 EMCC defeat No. 5 Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. 42-17 in the MACJC state championship game at Sullivan-Windham Field.

Defense delivers for Lions in state title game

SCOOBA — West Point native Justin Cox knows a thing or two about winning state championships.

Cox played on each of the past two Class 5A state championship teams at West Point High School. On Saturday, Cox and his defensive teammates were hard at work for the No. 2 East Mississippi Community College football team.

Washington School shuts out Starkville Academy in title game

CLINTON — The Starkville Academy football team’s Cinderella season had a cruel ending Friday afternoon.

Starkville Academy never could get untracked as Washington School rolled to a 20-0 victory in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AAA, Division II state championship at Robinson-Hale Stadium on the campus of Mississippi College.

EMCC, MGCCC to renew rivalry Saturday

National television has turned the Baltimore Ravens-Pittsburgh Steelers rivalry into one of the best in the NFL.

Each senior college football season ends with multiple rivalry games, such as Mississippi State-the University of Mississippi, the University of Alabama-Auburn, Oregon-Oregon State, and Georgia-Georgia Tech.

The Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges is developing quite the rivalry of its own.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, No. 2 East Mississippi Community College (10-0) and No. 5 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (9-1) will play the latest installment of what has turned into an intense and passionate rivalry. In this meeting, the MACJC state championship will be decided at Sullivan-Windham Field on the EMCC campus.