Mississippi State softball wins first three games at NFCA Leadoff Classic

On Friday, Samantha Ricketts got her first win as head coach of the Mississippi State softball team. On Saturday, she got two more.

Prep basketball: Starkville High boys come back to edge Noxubee County in Macon thriller

The Yellow Jackets fought through the absence of senior guard Forte Prater (hip flexor), came back from 12 points down and shocked the Tigers in Friday’s game in Macon.

Mississippi State softball shuts out Missouri State in season opener at NFCA Leadoff Classic

Fa Leilua’s two-run double was the key blow in a four-run third inning that helped the Bulldogs blank the Bears.

Prep basketball: New Hope boys pull away from rival Caledonia in fourth quarter

The Trojans knocked down six 3s in the final quarter — including four on consecutive offensive possessions — to gain the separation they needed.

Prep basketball roundup: Columbus Christian Academy boys, girls win district tournament

The Rams boys beat Kemper Academy to achieve the feat, while the girls beat Hebron Christian for the title.

A look at Mississippi State softball’s opening weekend in the NFCA Leadoff Classic

Samantha Ricketts’ first weekend as head coach includes an exhibition matchup with the U.S. Women’s National Team on Friday evening.

National Signing Day: Four Columbus High seniors sign to play in college

Defensive backs Christopher Johnson and Kameron Jenkins and offensive linemen Deveon Boykins and Gerald Wells all signed Wednesday.

National Signing Day: Five Heritage Academy seniors sign to play college football

In addition to Eli Acker (Ole Miss) and Jared Long (Central Arkansas), more than half of the Patriots’ seniors have signed to colleges. “We were blessed with a great group of kids,” coach Sean Harrison said. “Seven signings shows you why we went 14-0.”

National Signing Day: West Lowndes receiver Jherquaveus Sanders signs to Jones College

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound wideout will be eligible to sign with a Division I program after just one season in Ellisville.

National Signing Day roundup: Starkville High, West Point, Noxubee County send off big senior classes

From Mississippi State to East Mississippi Community College and everywhere in between, these 31 players will spread out around the Magnolia State as they continue their careers.

Mississippi State softball’s Mia Davidson, Fa Leilua named D1Softball preseason all-Americans

Both players earned second-team honors from the publication.

Prep basketball roundup: Aniya Saddler scores 28 as Columbus girls beat Noxubee County

Saddler added seven steals and grabbed five rebounds for the Falcons in their final regular-season game.

Prep basketball: Jherquaveus Sanders leads fourth-quarter run as West Lowndes boys pull away from Ethel

The Panthers girls also beat Ethel on Tuesday and are one win away from an undefeated regular season.

Going all in: 18 months after legalization, sports betting brings big bucks to Mississippi

Don Coleman is in the wrong Philadelphia.

The devoted fan of the Philadelphia Eagles is seated in the middle of the Sportsbook at Timeout Lounge at the Golden Moon Hotel and Casino in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Two weeks prior, in Tunica, he bet on a playoff game between the Eagles and the Seattle Seahawks. Now he’s back for more.

Caledonia seniors Claire Benson, Clara Allen sign to play soccer together at Meridian Community College

CALEDONIA — Thomas Blake knew expectations were high when he took over the Caledonia soccer programs this year.

Prep basketball: RL Mattix scores 30 to help New Hope boys sweep Columbus

As soon as RL Mattix buried a 3-pointer from the left wing to put the New Hope boys basketball team up 16 points against Columbus, he jogged into the backcourt to high-five freshman LJ Hackman.

Mississippi State softball notebook: Star power of Mia Davidson, Fa Leilua highlights Samantha Ricketts’ first year

“We push each other, and it’s pretty cool just to have someone like that making you want to be better,” Leilua said.

Prep basketball roundup: Jared Long leads Heritage Academy boys over Bayou Academy

Heritage Academy will be the No. 1 seed in its district tournament in Meridian next week.

‘The spoke of the wheel’: How Abby Jenkins grew into her role as EMCC’s athletic academic advisor

Winning national awards and setting school records in the process, Jenkins called herself “the facilitator of the chaos” that ensues among teachers, coaches and student-athletes in Scooba.

Starkville athletic director Dr. Cheyenne Trussell to depart after school year, take same position in Meridian

Trussell, who graduated from Meridian High in 1979, worked as executive director of student services and activities for the Hattiesburg Public School District before coming to Starkville in 2017.