Undefeated Starkville defeats No. 1 Provine in Columbus Classic

By MATTHEW STEVENS

sdnsports@bellsouth.net

COLUMBUS – The two most important plays of the night by Starkville senior Rashad Perkins will not go down in the scorebook but they can not be ignored.
With the Yellowjackets up by one and needing a defensive stop, Provine star forward Jalen Courtney got the ball in the lane with five seconds left but Perkins skied higher than he had for any dunk attempt all night to block the shot out of bounds.
Provine coach Luther Riley was left screaming and gesturing for a goaltending call that never came.
“I got it going up, it wasn’t a goaltend,” Perkins said with a smile. “I was way out and then had to just came in.”
With 2.1 seconds left on the clock and Provine scrambling to call a play without any timeouts, Perkins stole the inbounds pass to seal the 81-79 victory over the top-ranked team in the state.
“I anticipated that (pass),” Perkins said. “That’s a big win and another hurdle we got over for our goal which is a state championship.”
Perkins finished the night with 18 points but it was those two defensive plays that Starkville head coach Greg Carter pointed out first.
“You got Rashad where the last trip down the floor where we have to get a stop he comes up with a monster block and then gets the steal,” Carter said. “What more can you ask for out of a kid?”
The most frustrating matchup for the Rams (9-1) was trying to stay in front of senior point guard Edward Townsel as he blistered the Provine defense for a team-high 21 points.
“What happens is the scouting report says not only is he a deadly shooter but he’s a playmaker and we didn’t contain him at all,” Riley said. “He’s a good guard and he did it to us tonight. He told me he wasn’t going to play well tonight before the game.”
Starkville opened the game ready for their opportunity to dethrone Provine from the No.1 spot in the state of Mississippi by opening the game on a 19-3 run that included deep 3-pointers by Perkins, Townsel, junior Jaquez Johnson and Jacolby Mobley.
“Everybody was so sky high and ready to play that adrenaline was following so we may have played above over heads because everything we threw up went in,” Carter said. “Every move we made was the right move. Whatever we did was right in those first few minutes.”
Riley spent nearly the whole game pacing the sidelines back and forth muttering to himself every time a Yellowjackets (10-0) player would hit an open jump shot in a first quarter where Starkville finished with a 26-9 lead.
“They shot the ball exceptionally well from not only two people who we know are going to shoot but from everybody,” Riley said. “We played two minutes of Provine basketball out of 32 and only lost by two.”
With Starkville up 72-60, Provine led a comeback charge with 11-0 run that ended with a jumper by Rams junior guard Jarvis Summers to make it 75-74 with 2:30 left. Summers, who’s rated by several scouting services as the best junior two-guard in Mississippi, ended the night with a game-high 25 points.
“We’ve been talking about as team how we don’t know where we are yet,” Carter said. “We know where are now.”
A 3-pointer by Provine junior Jarren Mallory tied the score with 58 seconds left in the game but a free throw by Johnson gave the Yellowjackets the lead for good.
Courtney finished with 21 points but the LSU signee was held to one basket throughout the final 14 minutes of play.
Starkville will take the holidays off and won’t play another game until Dec. 28 in the Hattiesburg Christmas Classic where they may be ranked number one in the state.

SHS soccer matches vs. Caledonia called off

SDN Staff Reports

Starkville High’s soccer matches with Caledonia have been postponed due to field conditions not being suitable for play.
Rain over the last few days have made for a soggy mess at Yellowjacket Stadium and Lady Jackets coach Anna Albritton said her Lady Jackets and Brian Bennett’s Yellowjackets would have to wait for another chance to get on the field.
Bennett’s matchup would have seen him coach against a former player in Caledonia assistant coach Louis Alexander, who played for Bennett while the two were at East Mississippi Community College. Alexander, originally from  Kentish Town, North London, Eng., prepped at Caledonia and scored seven goals in two season as a central midfielder at EMCC.

Starkville High swept both matchups last season at Yellowjacket Stadium.
The game has not been rescheduled.

Lady Volunteers dive into crucial weekend

By DAVID MILLER
sdnsports@bellsouth.net

Kim Murrell/For the Daily News Anna Prestridge has led the Lady Volunteers offense from the point guard spot this season.

The Starkville Academy Lady Volunteers have a chance to go two games over .500 in conference play but hope to avoid falling behind the eight ball this weekend.
The Lady Vols (9-7, 2-2) play back-to-back matches against Magnolia Heights and Clarksdale Lee today and Saturday, with the first coming on the road in Senatobia.
Basically, SA can help itself with a win and improve its position in North AAA with a pair of wins this weekend.
The Lady Vols’ run of form has seen them go two weeks without winning consecutive games, but SA head coach Glenn Schmidt is pleased with the team’s progression through what’s been a challenging schedule.
“Our record, I’m pleased with where we are,” Schmidt said. “We’ve beaten some teams that, having beaten Pillow will give us confidence down the stretch. Playing (Jackson) Prep and East Rankin close, we’ve done some good things in ball games.”
What’s been lacking is consistent attempts from the free throw line and other ways to score. Schmidt is keen to see more aggressive play and rebounding to help create more second-chance buckets and trips to the line.
The Lady Vols’ size across the board can be a liability against bigger teams, with just one player (reserve forward Julianne Jackson) listed at 5-foot-9 or higher.

“It’s no surprise when you look at us, we’ve got to find a couple of more ways to score,” Schmidt said. “We need to get to free throw line. To get there, you have to be aggressive on the boards and people will foul you. It’s on both ends. We’ve got to continue to extend our defense a little bit, too.”
Schmidt said the team’s focus on rebounding affects shot selection, which she said is one of the bright spots of the team. With an attention to second-chance looks, the team takes shots that could lead to those chances and players being in better position for a rebound.
Due to MAIS’ goal of lowering the number of school days missed by athletes, teams are having to play back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday nights. Schmidt said the road/home combo this weekend will test her team but what it boils down to is just getting through it.
Last weekend, the Lady Vols beat Washington on the road before falling to Pillow Academy at home.
“We’ve seen from last weekend that it’s tough to play two big games like that in back to back nights,” Schmidt said. “We’ve just got to be able to adjust and go do it. It’s not ideal and it’s a challenge, but what are you going to do? The rest of the teams play that kind of schedule, so we just have to win these two ball games. We need to help ourselves this weekend.”
Magnolia Heights has lost three straight conference matches ahead of tonight’s match, and though the team has lost current Mississippi College forward Elizabeth Brooks, Schmidt believes her Lady Vols will face a focused and determined opponent looking to erase a tough run of form.
“They are always tough at home, just like we want to be when we’re at home,” Schmidt said of Magnolia Heights. “Honestly, our biggest challenge right now is learning to play on the road. They’ve lost three in a row and are going to be hungry, but you know what, so are we.”
Schmidt said she’s been encouraged by the level of commitment from the team’s players. She understands the Christmas break creates free time for most of the athletes’ friends and family.
“This isn’t a knock on kids who don’t play sports, but a lot of our players have friends who are enjoying themselves,” she said. “It’s hunting season, too, and I just want to say how much I appreciate these kids representing Starkville Academy when they could be doing something else. They work hard and sacrifice a lot for us.”

BOYS

Following last week’s 12-point loss to Pillow Academy, SA head coach Clay Stringer was pleased despite his team picking up its 12th loss of the season.
The reason was the second-half play and effort displayed in chipping away at Pillow’s lead.
“I was extremely proud of our effort tonight,” Stringer said of the Pillow match. “We played two very good teams back to back. Our effort and intensity was much better than it was at Thanksgiving. We just ran into a buzz saw at one point. But when we got through that spell we played really well.”
The Vols will face a Magnolia Heights team that has won just once in its last four games. The Chiefs are coming off a 61-46 loss to Madison Ridgeland Academy.
Fellow strugglers Lee are coming off losses last weekend to Jackson Academy (61-17) and Madison Ridgeland Academy (66-26).

Jackets on an even keel ahead of Jackson Provine matchup

By DAVID MILLER
sdnsports@bellsouth.net

Kim Murrell/For the Daily News Rashad Perkins and the Starkville High Yellowjackets face state power Jackson Provine Saturday at the Columbus Christmas Classic.

It’s business as usual for Greg Carter at this year’s Joe Horne Christmas Invitational.
Usually at this time, his team is undefeated and cruising through the early portion of the schedule. That typically means the Starkville Yellowjackets are ranked in the top 3 in the state and have all the attention a perennial power should have.
All of those seasons have fallen short of a state title, however, and with that in mind don’t think the Jackets take themselves too seriously ahead of this weekend’s Christmas Classic at Columbus High.
“This is a weekend where you can leave 2-0 or leave 0-2 just as easy,” Carter said.
Today’s matchup pits the Yellowjackets (8-0) against Tuscaloosa Central (1-6), which has a one-point win over Tuscaloosa County to its credit. The Falcons are coming off back-to-back blowout losses by 36 points and 16 points to Alabama clubs Hillcrest and Parker.

SHS, on the other hand, is coming off consecutive routs of Grenada and Gentry. The Jackets opened the Gentry win on a 35-6 run.
Seeing as the Jackets haven’t had much struggle lately besides turning a small halftime deficit into a comfortable win at Aberdeen, Carter hopes this week’s exam schedule can provide some pressure as he preps his team for the Columbus Classic and the post-Christmas Hattiesburg Classic.
“There are some distractions that come with practicing and playing during exams, but you’ve got to play through it,” Carter said. “It’s not bad practicing through distractions because you have to play though it anyway. It’s all preparation.”
For Tuscaloosa Central, the Jackets will play one of the weaker Class 5A teams in Alabama.
However, Saturday’s opponent, Jackson Provine (8-0), sets up one of the can’t miss games in the state.
Provine, last season’s state runner up, features an LSU commit in forward Jalen Courtney (6-8, 210), but Carter had high praise for guards Marcellis Hansberry and Jarren Mallory.
Carter said Provine’s strength rests in its guards, but the combo of Starkville’s Edward Townsel and Jacolby Mobley should make for a good show and tough game.
“Their guards are back and they added another one that transferred in,” Carter said. “By the end of the year last year, the young guards took them to the state championship. There’s going to be a bunch of talented guards on the floor when we play Provine, and I’ve thought about it, but I don’t know if either team has an advantage.”
The breaker could come in the post where 6-foot-8 forward Gavin Ware will get a test with Courtney, though Carter noted the differences in style and athleticism will see SHS forward and Southern Miss commit Rashad Perkins split time defending Courtney.
“[Courtney] is big, strong and athletic. He runs the floor and will step out and shoot,” Carter said. “Gavin is excited about the game and playing against him, but Gavin is more of a traditional center and [Courtney] isn’t as big and can play further away from the basket. Gavin, at times, will have a size advantage and Courtney will have a quickness advantage.”

GIRLS
Lady Jackets hoping for smooth weekend

The Lady Jackets’ weaknesses are hard to find considering their current record, but Kristie Williams knows better than anyone that her team has some typical early-season challenges and a new beast to battle.
She’s seen her 7-1 squad go through the roller coaster of a heartbreaking loss to Aberdeen, a physical district opener at Columbus and a grind-it-out match against Grenada to a three-overtime 81-80 win over Gentry.
All of this came in an eight-day span, resulting in one tired team — literally.
The Columbus game saw Johniece Moore and Shay Bonner need paramedic transportation to the hospital for fatigue and asthma, respectively.
Against Gentry, Ashley Robinson and Laretha Williams experienced asthma-like symptoms and need medical attention.
The flare-ups for Robinson and Laretha Williams came as a surprise for both the players and the head coach, Kristie Williams said.
With questions looming and concerns growing over the fitness of her players, Kristie Williams hopes to ease fans’ and parents’ minds by reassuring her players are at full fitness every time they step on the court.
“Those are games where you’re playing hard for their bodies to send that message out to them and their doctors that they may be asthmatic,” she said. “They understand proper nutrition and how to refuel your bodies as athletes. Now, we’re able to get this information and have the proper treatment plans and have them slowly build back up to their true form.
“It’s unfortunate, but they’ll both be ready to play this weekend. How hard they’ll be able to go will be on a monitored basis.”
Williams said it would come down to subbing more and the players monitoring their bodies and how they feel at all times. She doesn’t view the new strategy as a setback, however, as the new challenge of piecing together new rotations should make for more experience in spots.
The Lady Jackets backcourt has leading scorer Kala Williams, Moore, Bonner, Whitney Taylor and Robinson earning most of the minutes while the frontcourt has Courtney Moore, Laretha Williams, Rebecca Myles and Chelsey Johnson-Weaver to rotate.
All of the players listed have earned starter’s or quality bench minutes through the team’s eight games.
What will help up front with Laretha Williams possibly seeing decreased minutes in the near future is the emergence of Moore.
The junior forward hit the game-winning against Gentry last week and scored 15 points in that game. Moore dropped in 19 against Grenada and helped fuel a second-half run that ultimately led the team past a hot-shooting GHS squad.
Moore’s season has been up and down in her transition to a new team and new style of play after transferring from Indiana.
“Courtney, I thought she started out great on the boards and scoring points. As most players do at some point, they have a moment where their confidence tends to get low because of shots not falling,” Williams said. “We’ve talked and she understands that I’m looking for that total player whose willing to go out and perform regardless of your shot not falling. She’s crashing the boards, and by doing that she’s giving herself extra opportunities to get easy points.
“Her confidence level has been boosted and I think now, she’s coming into her own.”
During this weekend’s Joe Horne Columbus Christmas Invitational, the Lady Jackets will see if Moore can keep her form alongside Kala Williams, who scored 32 points her last time in Columbus against the rival Lady Falcons.
SHS faces Tuscaloosa Central at 3:30 p.m. today and East Oktibbeha at noon Saturday.
Williams admits she doesn’t know much about Tuscaloosa Central or East Oktibbeha outside of what stat lines she’s seen or what players she’s already familiar with.
She noted Lady Titans forward Kelcie Lanier as a tough defender with good effort, but she’s more keen to focus on her team’s rebounding and transition play on both ends ahead of a two-invitational, four-game stretch to close out 2009.
“One thing that we ask of our players is that they’ve got to transition much better,” the SHS coach said. “Our biggest weakness is transitioning from offense to defense. If we can increase our awareness on that side of the basketball we’ll be able to make the shot tougher for the other team that wants to get out and run quickly. Make it a tough 15-footer instead of an easy shot under the basket. We’ve got to maintain and have the full gear and have the same mindset on both ends of the court.”

Terrill formally introduced as Vols new head coach

New Starkville Academy head football coach Jeff Terrill is given a football, coach's shirt and SA ball cap by SA athletics director Glenn Schmidt during his introduction Thursday.

By DAVID MILLER
sdnsports@bellsouth.net

Jeff Terrill had his heart set on returning to the prep ranks. He just wasn’t sure where it would be and what opportunities he would have.
The former Itawamba Community College head coach opted to retire from the state’s JUCO ranks, and with that decision, he opened up some opportunities to explore new options.
Starkville Academy opened up a door and made sure he came inside.
In search of a new head football coach following the resignation of Brian Sims, SA athletics director Glenn Schmidt was keen to get a coach with the experience and winning pedigree to help lift the team out of a 15-game losing streak.
She feels the school got the right man, albeit on the second try.
“This was strike two for us,” she said. “We’ve talked with coach before and when I heard he had made his retirement announcement I knew we had a good chance because this was home for him.”
Terrill, who prepped at Macon Central, got his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Mississippi State.
He is excited to be back in the area, but he’s also thrilled at the challenge of taking over the Vols program.
“I look and realize the program is down,” Terrill said. “There’s a winning tradition here, and they’ve had championship programs so I don’t season any reason that we can’t return to that level.”
Terrill will tend to additional duties at ICC in the spring but will be a full go for spring practice.
During his first spring training as SA skipper, he hopes to change the attitude that’s been affected by a losing season filled with youth and injuries.
“We just really believe in our heart that if you go in and do something right, you change an attitude,” Terrill said. “History proves this program has been successful. Pull up the history and you’ll see more winning than losing. How soon that can be, I don’t know.”
As for the rebuilding process, Terrill will have the benefit of an experienced sophomore class that will be juniors next season. He points to that as a reason to believe success, in however many wins, can come sooner rather than later.
“This is probably as low a situation as I’ve been involved in,” Terrill said of the rebuilding job. “When we inherited ICC, they were coming off a 3-6 season. In high school football, though, the turnaround can be quicker than expected. When you’ve got a younger team, that year of experience makes a lot of difference. I look forward to getting this ting turned around.”
The differences between MAIS ball and JUCO ball are obvious, and Terrill realizes he will have some challenges in the near future. With his move back into the prep ranks, though, he admits he’ll miss some of the aspects of the college game.
“The one thing I’ll always miss is the recruiting aspect,” Terrill said. “It was fun getting out and traveling the state, looking at programs and recruiting players. I’m going to occupy my time here with drawing the Vols family back in and putting a program out there to be proud of. You want to instill the excitement and pride.”

BREAKING NEWS – Jeff Terrill to be named Starkville Academy head football coach

Jeff Terrill

By DAVID MILLER
sdnsports@bellsouth.net

After eight seasons as Itawamba Community College’s head football coach, Jeff Terrill will have the task of rebuilding the Starkville Academy football program.
SA athletics director Glenn Schmidt confirmed Tuesday that Terrill will be introduced at 11 a.m. Thursday on the SA campus.
Terrill’s contract had yet to be finalized as of Tuesday, but the deal is near completion with his unveiling just two days away.
Terrill has coached on the collegiate level at ICC, East Mississippi Community College and Hinds Community College.
He has also coached at Kosciusko High School.
Terrill confirmed the news Tuesday, but couldn’t fully comment on the job due to the non-finalized contract.
He did release this statement: “I’m excited about the possibility. It’s a school that has a strong athletic history, which we’re excited about being a part of and rebuilding the rich tradition.”
Terrill replaces Brian Sims, who spent two seasons in charge before resigning last month.
The SDN Prep Sports Blog will have an immediate post and player reaction following Terrill’s introduction on Thursday.

SHS’ Perkins earns McDonald’s All-American nomination

Kim Murrell/For the Daily News - Starkville's Rashad Perkins is a McDonald's All-American nominee.

By DAVID MILLER
sdnsports@bellsouth.net

Being recognized for basketball skills isn’t anything new for Rashad Perkins. Gaining nation-wide attention is something else.
The Starkville High forward was notified by head coach Greg Carter that he’d been nominated for a spot on the McDonald’s All-American team.
Perkins is one of a couple hundred prep seniors to be named to the list, which will be finalized into East and West rosters for this year’s game set to be held in Columbus, Ohio.
Should Perkins make the final cut of McDonald’s All-Americans he would join one of the more star-studded groups in all of sports. The likes of Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and LeBron James have been named McDonald’s All-Americans.
Also, if Perkins makes the cut he’d join current Portland Trailblazers forward Travis Outlaw as Starkville High’s only McDonald’s All-American Team selections.
“I was real happy when [Carter] first told me,” Perkins said. “I was surprised because people from small towns don’t get big attention unless you can really play. I’ve had a lot of positive comments about it.”
Perkins spent time this summer with SHS teammate Edward Townsel on the Jackson Tigers AAU squad and believes the extra exposure probably landed him a nomination. However, playing outside the state isn’t anything new, Perkins said.
“I believe it’s got a lot to do with AAU, but it’s got a lot to do with high school,” Perkins said. “We do travel out of the state….last year [SHS]went to Kentucky and I did good pretty good up there and got some people talking.”
Though an All-America game invite would be the perfect way to top off his high school career, Perkins believes the elusive state title would pair even better with a chance to play, and of course, participate in the McDonald’s dunk contest.
“To go there after winning a state title, I mean, that would be a dream come true. I was thinking about that yesterday,” Perkins said. “To go win their dunk contest would be something.”
Should he cap his season with All-American status, which dunk would he represent Starkville with?
“One dunk, if that was it? Through my legs 360,” Perkins said.
Final rosters will be announced in the spring.

SA/Washington soccer postponed

Due to non-stop rain in the area, Starkville Academy’s bid to move to 4-0 will have to wait a couple days.
SA head soccer coach Artie Cosby confirmed Tuesday that the team’s home match against Washington has been postponed. No makeup date was set, though Cosby said it would be in January.
“Washington would have to drive in this stuff and we decided to call it off,” Cosby said.
The Volunteers are slated to return to action Thursday at Magnolia Heights.

Bassfield upsets Ackerman in Class 2A title game

27

13

By MATTHEW STEVENS

sdnsports@bellsouth.net

JACKSON – For 15 straight games, Ackerman had been able to rely on of the state’s best defenses and running attack to win games.

In the state championship game, neither of those things occurred but what did was the Indians first loss of the season as Bassfield won the Class 2A title with a 27-13 victory.

“We probably haven’t played a team as complete as them as far as good skill guys and good lineman both,” Ackerman head coach Adam Dillinger said.

Bassfield senior Josh Myers ran all over the Ackerman (15-1) defense like no other player had been able to do throughout the 2009 season.

The 195-pound back finished the night with 230 yards on only 21 carries and two touchdowns.

“He’s a fantastic kid and he’s just now coming into his own,” Bassfield head coach Lance Mancuso said. “I can tell you that if somebody out there takes a chance on him, they’re going to get somebody special.”

As a team Bassfield (14-2) piled up 389 yards rushing and 433 total on an Ackerman defense that did not give up point during its five region games this season.

“We feel like we can line up and run the ball with the best of them,” Mancuso said.

Ackerman was attempting to earn its third Class 2A state championship and was one game away from having the second-ever undefeated season in school history.

The victory marks the fourth state championship for Bassfield but the Yellowjackets first since 1986.

For more information please pick up a Saturday edition of the Starkville Daily News.

SHS head coach Bill Lee set to retire

After 30 years in the coaching profession, Starkville High head football coach Bill Lee has decided to hang up the whistle.
Lee wraps up a career that saw him win six state titles as both an assistant and head coach in the state of Mississippi.
He coached at Moss Point and Starkville High in the prep ranks and also at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College for three seasons.
He led the Yellowjackets to their last state title in 2001.
For Lee, his decision brings an end to what’s been a disappointing stretch over the last two years. Admittedly, the Jackets’ 3-8 record in 2008 and 4-8 record in ‘09 were below standard, Lee said.

Still, SHS made the first round of the playoffs this season before falling 63-27 to Madison Central. In that game, though a blowout loss, Starkville High moved the ball with ease against the top-ranked team in Class 6A. Offense was always a Lee specialty and he leaves the Jackets with starting quarterback Jaquez Johnson heading into his senior year.

Though the last two seasons have been challenging, Lee didn’t want his retirement to be looked at in a negative light. He leaves the program on his own terms.

“I feel like I’ve been blessed by the best, baby,” Lee said. “It has been wonderful. It feels good and that’s what you work for. You can’t complain and just enjoy it. That’s what I plan to do. I had a wonderful staff and group of kids I’ll never forget.”

Lee had his haters, for lack of a better word, and the hecklers would congregate outside of home games to voice their opinions about the veteran skipper. But for someone who has six rings to show for his talent, skill and know-how in the business, he said the detractors played no part in his decision to call it a career.

“Fans are going to be fans, but I don’t know if they realize how that affects the kids,” Lee said. “It takes a village to raise a child and when you don’t have the entire community behind you it’s hard for the program to succeed. High school football is pure and even if the fans didn’t like me as a coach, a person, or whatever, they need to get behind these kids because the program won’t go anywhere if they don’t.”

With the time off – Lee’s retirement is effective at the end of the school year – he plans to dedicate more time to faith, family and friends. And, his ultimate hobby, fishing.

“I want to spend more time in the ministry. I’m a Jehovah’s witness and I like spending time going door to door and sharing the bible with people,” Lee said. “Will be some fishing mixed in, too, please believe it. We really plan to stay in the area, too, and root them Yellowjackets on.”

Check out Saturday’s edition of the SDN for more on Lee’s career and the challenges his successor will face.