Volunteers defeat Bobcats, go for 4A state title tonight
JACKSON – A 105-point outing is hard not to notice.
That’s what Simpson Academy put up in its first round win at the MAIS Class 4A State Tournament in defeating Leake Academy 105-61.
Starkville Academy boys basketball coach Bill Ball knew that if his team was going to advance to the state championship game, defense was going to have to travel to Jackson on Friday night.
It did.
The Volunteers ended up holding Simpson Academy to under half the total it got on Tuesday and pulled out a 48-46 win in the semifinals.
“We just didn’t want to get in a track meet and wanted to make sure we guarded some of their better players,” Ball said. ““I thought that Randall Futral and Jarius Jordan did an outstanding job on their best player and one of the best senior guards in the league. He had been averaging 19 or 20 points per game and I don’t think he made double figures (Friday
night). We really frustrated him.”
Starkville Academy had to come from behind as it trailed 29-23 at halftime. The Vols were able to wrestle the lead away and held on at the end.
Jawon Yarbrough led the Vols with 11 points, while Rett Keenum just missed scoring in double digits with nine points.
With the victory, Starkville Academy improved its record to 21-3 and go for the Class 3A title against Hartfield Academy tonight at 7 p.m. The Vols edged Hartfield Academy 3938 earlier this season in a defensive struggle.
Hartfield Academy defeated Hillcrest Christian 66-31 on Friday night in the semifinals.
Ball looks forward to having the support of the Starkville Academy faithful that can make it to Jackson tonight to help push his team over the top.
“We’re excited and hope to pack the place out,” Ball said. “We know our kids are going to play hard. We’re just going to leave it all on the floor and maybe try to bring a state championship back to Starkville Academy.”