1. COLLEGE SOFTBALL: Mississippi State 4, Alabama 3 (April 13): The Bulldogs rallied with four runs in the bottom half of the 10th inning to win the weekend Southeastern Conference series 2-1. Record crowds were on hand for Super Bulldog Weekend as MSU earned its first two wins against a top-five team at home. Down 3-0 in the 10th, MSU rallied for four runs to take the victory.
2. PREP BOYS BASKETBALL: New Hope 70, Columbus 69 (Dec. 20): In a game still being talked about, the final matchup of the Joe Horne Columbus Christmas Invitational was an instant classic. Demyis Mayberry hit two free throws with eight seconds left in regulation to lift the Trojans to victory before one of the largest crowds in the 18-year history of the event. Shemar Johnson led all scorers in the back-and-forth affair with 21 points for New Hope.
3. COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Mississippi State 38, Auburn 23 (Oct. 11): Mississippi State had its sights set on becoming the No. 1 ranked team in football for the first time in program history after knocking off Southeastern Conference Western Division rival Auburn at Davis Wade Stadium. MSU built a 21-0 lead before hanging on against Auburn, which advanced to the national championship game a season ago. The victory was MSU’s third straight against a top-10 opponent and catapulted the Bulldogs to No. 1 in the nation days later.
4. PREP FOOTBALL: West Point 33, Noxubee County 19 (Sept. 19): The area’s most compelling prep football game took place early in the season at Hamblin Stadium on the campus of West Point High School. The West Point defense pitched a second-half shutout as the Green Wave erased a 19-14 halftime deficit. Senior Quincy Starks scored two touchdowns to help hand Noxubee County its final defeat of the season.
5. PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL: South Jones 50, New Hope 48 (March 10): In a heart-breaking defeat, New Hope fell short in the semifinal round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A state tournament. In its first appearance in the Big House, New Hope rallied late to force a tie. Kalen Phillips scored the game-winner for the Lady Braves with 10.4 seconds left in regulation. New Hope had a chance to tie fall short as the horn sounded.
6. WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Mississippi State 74, Southern Mississippi 66 (March 24): Mississippi State needed a pair of extra periods to become second team in program history to win two games in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. Breanna Richardson scored a team-high 20 points, while Martha Alwal posted her 11th double-double of the season with 17 points and 15 rebounds. The victory completed a two-game season sweep for the Bulldogs.
7. PREP BASEBALL: Columbus 6, Madison Central 5 (March 21): The Falcons needed nine innings to pull out this Class 6A, Region 3 thriller at Sammy Fletcher Field. Columbus needed a three-run rally in the home half of the sixth inning to force the extra frames. Chris McCullough had three hits and two RBIs, including the game-tying hit in the sixth inning.
8. MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Mississippi State 76, Ole Miss 72 (Jan. 11): In the biggest win of the Rick Ray era, the Bulldogs knocked off the Rebels in a SEC game the Humphrey Coliseum. MSU built an 11-point lead in the second half and held on for its fifth-straight home win in the series. Craig Sword didn’t score from the field but hit 15 of 18 free throws for a team-high 15 points.
9. PREP BASEBALL: New Hope 3, Oxford 2 (May 16): The Trojans repeated as MHSAA Class 5A North State champions with this victory against their region rivals. Taylor Stafford had the game-winning hit as New Hope atoned for its last regular-season loss. Oxford had the bases loaded and one out in the seventh but couldn’t bring home the equalizer as pitcher J.C. Redden closed the door.
10. PREP FOOTBALL: Starkville 56, Clinton 46 (Nov. 7): The Yellow Jackets completed an undefeated regular season with this thrilling MHSAA Class 6A, Region 2 road win. Starkville racked up 650 yards of offense in the victory. Quarterback Brady Davis threw for 322 yards and five touchdowns to lead the state’s top-ranked team as it won a back-and-forth affair.
— Scott Walters
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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