n 1. NEW HOPE BASEBALL TEAM WINS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: New Hope High School repeated as Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A state champion. The Trojans finished 32-4 thanks to an 8-1 mark in the playoffs. Josh Stillman, The Dispatch’s Large Schools co-Player of the Year, fired a one-hitter as New Hope defeated West Jones 11-0 in Game 3 of the best-of-three state championship series. For coach Lee Boyd and New Hope, it was a second-straight baseball state title, and seventh overall.
n 2. NEW HOPE GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM REACHES STATE TOURNAMENT: New Hope returned to the Mississippi Coliseum and the overall state tournament for the first time since 1985. The season ended for Coach Laura Lee Holman’s squad in a 50-48 loss to South Jones in the semifinals of the MHSAA Class 5A state tournament. Led by D.J. Sanders, The Dispatch’s Large Schools co-Player of the Year, New Hope finished 26-3.
n 3. NOXUBEE COUNTY FOOTBALL TEAM WINS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Coach Tyrone Shorter and the Tigers captured the MHSAA Class 4A championship for the second time in three seasons. Playing in the first state championship weekend in Starkville, Noxubee County had no problems, rolling to a 48-27 victory against St. Stanislaus. Noxubee County again played one of the state’s most difficult schedules and finished with 11-straight wins. Led by Jeffery Simmons, The Dispatch’s Large Schools Defensive Player of the Year, the Tigers won the school’s third state championship.
n 4. COLUMBUS ENJOYS HISTORIC BASEBALL SEASON: While Columbus saw its quest for the MHSAA Class 6A state championship end with a second-round playoff series loss to Tupelo, the Falcons still enjoyed the best season in school history. In his final season as coach of the Falcons, Jeffrey Cook led Columbus to a 23-8 record. Columbus defeated Olive Branch and Clinton in its first two playoff series wins in school history. Led by Trace Lee, The Dispatch’s Large Schools co-Player of the Year, Columbus lost to Tupelo 7-6 and 3-1 to see its season end.
n 5. STARKVILLE VOLLEYBALL TEAM ENJOYS HISTORIC SEASON: Starkville made history in falling two matches shy of a MHSAA Class III state championship. Coach Lauren Love’s sixth team won two playoff matches (Clinton and Northwest Rankin) for the first time in program history. Led by senior outside hitter Khris Carr, the Lady Jackets finished 22-11.
n 6. STARKVILLE FOOTBALL TEAM GRABS HEADLINES: For the better part of two months, Starkville was ranked as the state’s best. Also earning top-10 honors by national publications, the Yellow Jackets opened the season with routs of Noxubee County, Oxford, and West Point to ascend to the state’s top ranking. Coach Jamie Mitchell’s fifth SHS squad couldn’t duplicate the magic of the 2012 state championship squad, falling to South Panola in the Class 6A North State championship. However, Starkville won its first 13 games with a prolific offense led by Brady Davis, The Dispatch’s Large Schools Offensive Player of the Year.
n 7. NEW HOPE GIRLS SOCCER TEAM REACHES FIRST STATE FINAL: The best season in program history for the New Hope fell one win shy of a state championship, as New Hope lost to West Jones 2-0 in the Class 5A state championship match in Clinton. Coach Mary Nagy led the Lady Trojans to an 11-3-1 finish. It was New Hope’s first appearance in the state championship match.
n 8. WEST LOWNDES BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM RETURNS TO THE BIG HOUSE: Coach Roosevelt Bridges helped guide West Lowndes to the Mississippi Coliseum for the first time since 2009. The Panthers struggled once they were there, though, falling 64-31 to Shaw. However, a young squad bounced back from a 0-7 start to make the final four in MHSAA Class 1A competition.
n 9. STARKVILLE ACADEMY FOOTBALL TEAM COMPETES FOR STATE TITLE: Coach Jeff Terrill’s final season as coach at Starkville Academy might have been his best. Starkville Academy (11-2) dropped a 37-12 decision to Oak Forest Academy in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AAA, Division II state championship game in Clinton. On its way to a second appearance in the state championship in three seasons, Starkville Academy ended a two-year slide to archrival Heritage Academy. It also beat Jackson Academy for the first time.
n 10. REALIGNMENT AGAIN TAKES CENTER STAGE: Once again this fall included the latest realignments being released for MHSAA and MAIS member institutions. The changes will take effect for the 2015-16 school year. In the MHSAA, Columbus and Starkville are separated after two years as region rivals. Columbus returns to Class 6A, Region 1, where it will face Southaven, Tupelo, and South Panola. Starkville remains in the Jackson-area heavy Class 6A, Region 2. In the MAIS, four classifications will see competition for the first time. Starkville Academy and Heritage Academy will compete in a four-team Class AAA region with Winston Academy and Leake Academy.
— Scott Walters
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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