The Mississippi High School Activities Association crowned a dozen state basketball champions this week at Ole Miss. It was the first time that the state basketball championships were held on a college campus.
Girls winners were Pine Grove, Ripley, Calhoun City, Columbus, Senatobia and Olive Branch. Boys champs crowned were Ingomar, Coahoma Co., St. Andrews, Greenwood, Jackson Callaway and Starkville.
– Dale McKee
LADY CHARGERS FALL TO KOSY
The Choctaw County softball team was defeated by 4A power Kosciusko 17-1.
The Lady Chargers were held to four hits. Caden Miles had a triple and scored Choctaw County's run. Alexis Patterson, a seventh grader, had two hits and Molly Thomas one. Campbell Blaine led Kosciusko with a single and double, three RBIs and two runs scored.
Choctaw County will play a doubleheader at East Webster Friday beginning at 1 p.m.
— Laurence Hilliard
JACKSON/PERRY TAKE HONORS
For the third year in a row, Mississippi State has swept the 2020 C Spire Gillom and Howell Awards, presented to the best male and female collegiate basketball player in the state. Freshman Rickea Jackson and sophomore Reggie Perry received this year's awards.
MSU has swept the awards five times now, including last season when Teaira McCowan and Quinndary Weatherspoon received the trophies and in 2018 when Victoria Vivians and Weatherspoon won. State also swept the awards in 2009 and 2010 when Jarvis Varnado and Alexis Rack both went back-to-back.
Jackson, a Second Team All-SEC selection, extended the Bulldogs' streak of Gillom Award winners to six consecutive years after McCowan's selection last season and Vivians claiming the previous four trophies before that.
Perry, a SEC Player of the Year candidate, kept the Howell Trophy in Starkville for the third consecutive season which matches the program's longest streak accomplished by Jamont Gordon (2008) and Jarvis Varnado (2009-2010). Quinndary Weatherspoon (2018-2019) had won the previous two Howell Trophies for the Bulldogs.
— Josh Lively
TELANO SPARKS HCC SPLIT
Former Choctaw County High School standout Austin Telano ganged out a double and two singles to lead the Holmes Community College Bulldogs to a 5-4 win in the nightcap of their doubleheader split with visiting Nunez Community College on Saturday.
Telano also had two hits in game one of the day, which saw hCC fall 4-3.
The Bulldogs were 7-5 on the season going into a scheduled home doubleheader against Crowley’s Ridge on Monday. HCC was then set to visit East Central Community College for a 2 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday.
— Austin Bishop
REBS ON A ROLL
Ole Miss baseball is off to its best season in 20 seasons under Mike Bianco. Ole Miss (14-1) entered the week with a 14-game winning streak, the longest since the 1964 team won 17 straight. That is also the school record for consecutive wins.
After a short two-day excursion to UL-Monroe, the Rebels return home to host LSU in their first SEC action of the season.
— Dale McKee
CCHS GOLF CANCELLED
Golf matches for the Choctaw County boys and girls teams scheduled for last Thursday at Elm Lake Golf Course in Columbus were canceled due to rain. The next scheduled match will be Monday at Dogwood Golf Course in Grenada.
— Laurence Hilliard
STATE’S GINN OUT
Mississippi State (9-4) will play a top 5 team in Texas Tech at Biloxi in a two-game series before returning home to host Arkansas in their SEC opener this weekend. The Bulldogs did get some bad news in that pitcher J.T. Ginn will miss the season as he will undergo Tommy John Surgery. For a little bit the Bulldogs will also be without last year’s leading hitter in Tanner Allen, who has a broken hand.
— Dale McKee
NO BASEBALL FOR GCS
“Weather permitting” has become the operable term for spring sports in Mississippi this year.
It wasn't permitting for Grace Christian baseball last week, with games against Hebron Christian, Columbus Christian and Winona Christian wiped out by rain.
Coach Charlie Agnew said an attempt will be made to make up the games with Hebron Christian and Victory Christian. Winona Christian probably will not be rescheduled.
Following Spring Break, the Eagles will return to action with games Monday at Kemper Academy, Tuesday at New Summit in Jackson and Thursday at home against Victory Christian of Columbus.
— Laurence Hilliard
NOMADIC BASEBALL TECHSTERS
Louisiana Tech baseball will play a home series at Smith Wills Stadium this weekend as the Bulldogs will host Middle Tennessee. Tech’s baseball stadium was destroyed last April, and the Bulldogs will have to play at different venues this spring. Meridian native Lane Burroughs, who played at Meridian Community College and Mississippi College and has been an assistant USM and MSU, is the head coach.
— Dale McKee
LADY BULLDOGS DROP PAIR
The Holmes Community College Lady Bulldogs fell twice here today to Marion Military, 5-1 and 6-4.
Holmes fell to 3-7 on the season. The Lady Bulldogs will play at Southwest Tennessee Community College on March 16 in a 2 p.m. doubleheader.
In game one, Katie Dana got the start. She went four innings and gave up three runs on four hits with one strikeout. Jessica Mitchell went two innings and gave up two runs on two hits with two walks. Shelby Lindsay led the Lady Bulldogs with two hits. Shawanda Gray added triple.
In game two, Malita Chaffier got the start. She went 2/3 of an inning and gave up four runs on six hits. Mitchell came in the game and went 5 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on three hits with one strikeout and two walks.
Summer Jordan and Teagun Barnes each had two hits with Barnes adding a double.
— School Reports
