By Scott Walters
In the long winding road of a high school basketball season, teams can learn lessons along the way.
When Starkville High lost its first two games of the season at the Joe Horne Christmas Classic in Columbus, coach Greg Carter felt like his team could learn from falling twice, while being the state’s top-ranked team.
“We became more focused after those two losses,” Carter said. “We came back and responded really well.
“We played and won all three games at the Hump (in the Travis Outlaw Tournament). You could tell we were applying what we had learned.”
The Yellow Jackets opened the new year with a dominating victory over Aberdeen. Friday night, it was back to the classroom as Starkville dropped a 50-47 decision to Yazoo City in a Class 5A, Region 3 game.
“Our players have really learned two things from facing the competition we have faced,” Carter said. “They know that if we don’t come to play, we can lose to anybody.
“At the same time, we now know if we play the way we are capable of playing we can beat anybody.”
Gavin Ware, a future Mississippi State Bulldog, is leading the way for the Jackets, by averaging a double-double.
However, Starkville (14-3 overall, 2-1 region) is at its best when different players step up. Jacolby Mobley torched Aberdeen for 25 points in Tuesday night’s 91-64 win.
“The Aberdeen game may have been the most complete game we have played all year.
“We came back from the break really hungry with a good intensity.”
Carter will continue to fine-tune, hoping his senior-laden team can defend its preseason ranking of No. 1 in the postseason.
“We have to work on our transition defense,” Carter said. “We are giving up too many easy baskets. It is just a lack of intensity for an entire game.
“The closer we get to the end and the bigger the games are we play, we will have to be a more complete team.
“Offensively, we are not really worried. From a rebounding standpoint and a defensive standpoint, we have to keep getting better.”
Meanwhile, the Lady Jackets have opened the new year with solid victories over Aberdeen and Yazoo City.
Starkville (9-8 overall, 1-2 region) continues to ascend, not losing confidence after a series of one-two- and three-point losses early.
“We have played so many close games that I think it has made us tougher,” Starkville coach Kristie Williams said. “We have played a very challenging schedule.
“The attitude has been good. The girls are now beginning to realize how to make plays and how to close out games.”
The Lady Jackets stood 6-6 after seeing leads slip away against Lawrence County and New Albany in the Horne Classic.
“The girls came back from the break with a great attitude,” Williams said. “They have worked hard the entire season. They knew that we were just a couple of plays here or there away from winning some more games.”
Presently, the Lady Jackets are looking for a few more leaders to emerge.
Imane Montgomery provided such a spark with 10 points off the bench in the 60-36 win over Yazoo City.
Brittany Brown poured in a team-high 20 points, bettering her season average of a team-best 14.7 points per game.
Kelsey Reed is averaging 7.5 rebounds per game.
“I think we are getting there,” Williams said. “We have to work on the free throw line. We have lost some close games and the free throw line has not been good to us.”
“We need to be more consistent in our rebounding. It’s the little things that we have to get better at to give ourselves a chance down the stretch.
For both Starkville squads, the region tournament begins Feb. 7 at Neshoba Central.
Starkville Academy
While Starkville Academy girls basketball coach Glenn Schmidt is pleased her squad is already in the 20-win club, the veteran coach realizes the really hard work is still ahead.
“We have just completed the first rotation through our conference schedule,” Schmidt said. “Now, we have to play everybody again and get ready for the postseason.
“This team has really improved throughout the season. However, we have to play even better now, because the stretch run is here.”
The Lady Volunteers are now 21-3 overall and 6-0 in district play, thanks to three wins last week, including Friday night’s 65-45 home win over Presbyterian Christian.
“We were very solid in all phases of the game,” Schmidt said. “Since we were both ranked (SA was 2nd; PCS was 3rd), the girls really knew they had to raise their game a level.
“Our offensive ball movement was good. We shot a high percentage and defended really well.”
Starkville Academy will face another huge test this Friday night when Pillow Academy comes to town.
Pillow handed the Lady Volunteers their first loss with a 46-45 setback in November. The other losses have been to Parklane and outside of the academy ranks to a public school, Southaven.
“In the last couple of weeks, we have some more girls really step up and make some major contributions.
“The key to our success our balance. We have the opportunity to score from every position on the floor.”
Anna Lea Little is leading the Lady Volunteers with an average of 13 points per game. Little scored 24 points in last week’s victory over Heritage Academy.
Sallie Kate Richardson is on the heels of Little for her team’s scoring lead. Richardson is also averaging better than seven rebounds per game.
“We play several good teams over the next couple of weeks in a tight space of time,” Schmidt said. “I think that will make us tested and ready for the postseason.
“Like any other team, we have to get better. We need to rebound better and play with more intensity on the defensive end.
“If we can continue to make strides on both ends of the floor, we can have a successful postseason run.”
Meanwhile, the Starkville Academy boys (7-15 overall, 2-4 district) are looking for a little more offensive punch to complete the regular season.
“Right now, we are struggling to make baskets,” Starkville Academy coach Mark Alexander said. “Even when we run the offense and get good shots, we have a difficult time making them.”
The Volunteers hung tough in hard-fought losses to Heritage Academy, Presbyterian Christian and Copiah Academy this past week.
The Volunteers only allowed 142 total points in the three defeats. However, the Vols continue to struggle overcoming prolonged draughts.
Carnail Minor led Starkville Academy in scoring twice this past week, totaling 40 of his team’s 105 points this past week.
“Our effort has been good all year,” Alexander said. “We defend well and really battle. We just have to take better care of the basketball and make more shots.”
The State Class 3A, Division II tournament starts Feb. 13 at Heritage Academy.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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