Yellow Jackets rely on defense, rebounding to beat the Falcons
It wasn’t Starkville’s best night on the court.
The defending Class 6A State champions were missing key contributors Jacob Reese and Jamarvious Phillips and they were struggling to make some shots and free throws. As great teams do, though, the Yellow Jackets found a way.
Behind 13 points from sophomore Makhi Myles in Phillips’ place and double figures from three other players, the Jackets remained unbeaten for the season and knocked off rival Columbus 52-43 on Friday night. SHS assistant coach Ed Townsel was proud of the team for the resolve.
“I took away from it that we’re going to have those type of nights,” Townsel said. “We couldn’t make free throws, but the good thing is that we guarded the whole game and that’s what won us the game (Friday). We didn’t make shots, we didn’t make free throws but we did just what our shirts say – defend and rebound.”
It wasn’t the cleanest game for the Jackets, but it was the defense and rebounding that got them over the hump. SHS was just 6-of-14 from the free-throw line with the bulk of the opportunities coming from Myles and he was just 3-for-10.
However, what Myles lacked in production from the line, he made up in effort on both ends of the floor. The sophomore had 13 points in the game and was an issue for Columbus trying to score and block out on offense and defense. He’s seen increased minutes this year and Friday was a chance to get even more minutes with Phillips out.
“I think he was really prepared for it,” Townsel said. “He’s getting better and better as he plays. He’s just a 10th grader and that’s the scary part about it. He’s going to keep getting better and better. Even with (Phillips) and them in the game, he’s been playing well so you can expect to see more of that.”
The Jackets (6-0) were never able to grab a stranglehold on the game, but they did lead for almost the entirety. It was 14-9 after the end of the first quarter and 25-17 at halftime, but the Falcons wouldn’t go away.
The visitors cut the lead to 36-35 at the end of three quarter and put the pressure on Starkville to get it done in the fourth. Myles was the one that brought the energy
in the final frame scoring six points in the first 4 minutes of the quarter and pushed the lead out a bit to 45-39. A 3-point play by Keyvon Pearson sealed the win with 50 seconds left as he extended the lead to 52-43 and that’s where it stayed.
Pearson, Coltie Young and Eric Green all scored 10 points in the win.
Next up for the Jackets is a showdown with Brandon today.
Girls Game
Columbus 49, Starkville 40
Points were hard to come by in the second and third quarters for the Lady Jackets and a rally in the fourth quarter represented a mountain too high to climb as they fell to the rival and defending 5A champion Lady Falcons.
It was a bitter cold night offensively for SHS as it went 14-of-51 from the field, 4-of21 from 3-point range and 7-of-19 from the free-throw line.
Lady Jacket head coach Kristie Williams didn’t feel her team was ready for the challenge.
“When you’re not prepared mentally, you’re going to lose the big game,” Williams
said. “I just thought that our preparation leading up to the game was not the best. I don’t like to sugarcoat anything and I told them that the team that wants it the most is going to go get it. I thought we looked good in moments, but that other half, we could have done better and it showed up.”
The Lady Jackets scored just eight total points in the second and third quarters of the game as they fell behind 37-23 going into the final quarter, but they would rally a bit in the fourth. Within the first minute of the final frame, Starkville had nearly more points than the previous two quarters combined as it was on a 7-0 run.
The lead was cut to three points at 43-40 in the final 52 seconds, but the Lady Jackets were unable to get anything else the rest of the way. SHS (2-2) led 15-10 at the end of the first quarter, but the Lady Falcons scored six-straight points in the final minute of the half to get the lead they would never lose.
It was a tough night for Amaya Ford who was 5-of-19 from the field for 15 points. Sukkima Suell finished with 13 points.
Williams was proud of the fight of her team in the fourth quarter but putting it all together for the full four quarters was missing. She hopes that they come out ready today.
“It shows that we have it, but you’ve got to do it one, two, three and four (quarters),” Williams said. “You’ve got to have that fight in you from the start of the game to the very end. We’ve got a tough schedule. We always do, and we have another one (today). Hopefully this was a wake up call that shows when you don’t play your best, you’re going to have nights like this.”
AMORY – The Starkville Christian Lady Cougars went on the road Friday night and found an easy 40-7 victory over Amory Christian.
Starkville Christian (7-3) took a 19-2 second-quarter lead, then increased the margin to 27-5 in the third quarter.
Mackenzie Murphy had eight points to lead the Lady Cougars. “I thought defensively as a team we played well together, and we challenged every shot,” Starkville Christian coach Matthew Rye said. “Getting Mary (Driskill) back was a breath of fresh air. We have a full week of practice to prepare for a tough game against Columbus Christian at home after a six-game road stint.”
In the boys varsity game, the Cougars fell behind 12-1 in the first quarter, but fought back with 18 points in the second quarter and were down 30-19 at halftime, but Amory Christian pulled away for a 61-36 victory.
Starkville Christian (2-8) was led in the scoring column by Holden Gines with 17 points.
“I thought we took steps forward in the first half,” Rye said. “Holden Gines had a good game and shot the ball very well. Alex Hunley had a very good game as well in stepping in the role for Eigan (Ballard) as he’s hurt.”
The SCS junior varsity girls also won 25-5 as Jayla Riddle and Jena Ballard scored six points each.
In junior varsity boys action, the Cougars lost a 39-31 decision. Ben Smith had 12 points and Jack Smith added 11 points for SCS.
Volunteers get victory in boys basketball
MADDEN – Cy Hallberg led the Starkville Academy Volunteers with 12 points Thursday night in a 61-42 division win over Leake Academy.
Hallberg was one of four Vols to score in double figures. Jarius Jordan had 11 points, while Rett Keenum and Jawon Yarbrough added 10 points each. Starkville Academy remained undefeated at 6-0 overall and 2-0 in the division.
In junior varsity boys action, the Vols also also won 45-38 behind the 18 points of Wiggy Ball. Briggs Bennett had 10 points.
Starkville Academy’s girls dropped a 69-36 decision to Leake. Lillie Alpe had 11 points for the Lady Vols (4-2, 1-1).
Action resumes for Starkville Academy’s teams on the road today to face Hartfield Academy in Flowood. Junior varsity action begins at 2 p.m.