WEST POINT — Starkville High School senior Keith Harris struggles to find the right word to describe his team.
“We aren’t the underdog because we are No. 1 team in the state,” Harris said. “But coach wants us to play like we are the underdog. That is our mentality. This is a new season, and we are going to have to scrap for everything we get.”
Starkville, the reigning Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A state champion, used a 19-2 run to pull away late for a 77-59 victory against West Point in the final game of the season-opening West Point Classic on Saturday night.
Starkville has three starters back and began the season as the state’s top-ranked team in The Clarion-Ledger’s Super 10. Coach Greg Carter isn’t ready to frame that paper.
“We really aren’t the No. 1 team in the state,” Starkville coach Greg Carter said. “There are some other teams out there possibly better. Can we get to No. 1? Certainly, we have that capability. We aren’t there, and I don’t want us to think we are there.”
After finishing at .500 last season, West Point proved it might have the mettle to contend in Class 5A this season. While the Green Wave never led by more than three points, they hung tough against the Yellow Jackets until Mississippi State commitment Tyson Carter took over.
During the decisive run, Carter had 15 of his 39 points. His steal at midcourt and monster jam sent the crowd into hysterics and forced West Point to take a timeout. After the stoppage of play, Carter came back out and scored the next seven points.
“When he gets like that, it’s fun to watch,” Harris said. “You sometimes forget you are out there playing alongside him and just want to watch. I could sense he was fixing to do that. He knows the time to make it where the other team has no chance.”
To his credit, Tyson Carter said the key to the victory was his team sharing the basketball. This was true to an extent. Solid play from Jesse Little (11 points, 10 rebounds) underneath and the guard play of Harris (10 points, seven assists) also was huge.
The strong shooting of Shaunderrius Westbook gave West Point a chance in the first half. Westbrook scored 13 points in the opening half. The Green Wave hit eight of their first nine shots and told the capacity crowd the game could be in doubt longer than expected.
Carter was matching his rival shot for shot. After getting his first 3-pointer to fall, a rhythm was developed. Carter had 20 points in the opening half to help the Yellow Jackets build a 37-33 lead at halftime.
“In the second half, Starkville defended better and rebounded better,” West Point coach Brad Cox said. “That is what they do best. We had no answer for Tyson, either, but that was is not shocking. I am really proud of the effort from the kids. We can win a lot of games by playing the way we did tonight.
“We are normally a good rebounding team and they killed us on the boards. That is a concern.”
West Point freshman Austin Crowley provided a spark in the second half. He hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored 11 second-half points to keep the Green Wave afloat. His final trey brought the home team within 46-45 with 3 minutes, 45 seconds left in the third quarter.
From there, it was all Tyson Carter.
“We really expected a hard-fought game because this is a good rivalry for us,” Tyson Carter said. “We played well for a first game. I am excited about seeing us coming out though and working harder and being even better in the second game. That is how you win championships.”
Westbrook had 15 points, while Kelly Martin had 12 and Crowley 11 for West Point.
n In other action, Jared Reed-Wood had 11 points to lead the Caledonia High boys basketball team to a 70-53 victory against Oak Hill Academy.
Jamel Thomas had 10 points, Brodrick Wriley had 10 points and five steals, and Coby Coleman and Robert Hamilton had four points and five rebounds for the Confederates (1-0).
Heath Ford led Oak Hill Academy with 14 points.
Caledonia will play Thursday at Columbus Christian.
n Shannon 74, Noxubee County 42: Brandon Clay led the Tigers with 12 points.
n New Hope 82, Houston 24: Willie Ousley had 11 points, while Tyler Stevenson had 10 points for the Trojans.
Girls
n Columbus 60, Newton County 44: At Choctaw, Kayla Rogers had 24 points, 16 rebounds, four blocked shots, and three steals Saturday to lead the Lady Falcons (2-0) at the Choctaw Central tournament.
Tori Weir had 10 points and Rokila Wallace and Zaria Jenkins had seven.
n Starkville 65, Lafayette County: At Tupelo, Tanita Thompson had a team-high 17 points to lead the Lady Yellow Jackets.
Tabreea Gandy added 15 and Kelsey Jones had 14.
n Caledonia 45, Saltillo 27: Laken Sanders had 12 points to help the Lady Confederates even their record at 1-1.
Riley Huckady had eight points and Jasmine Betts added seven.
n West Point 68, Noxubee County 48: At West Point, Amiya Rush had 21 points, while Amari Heard had 16 points and Ty Johnson 11 points for the Lady Wave.
Jacambriyana Cheatham had 11 for Noxubee County.
n New Hope 67, Oak Hill Academy 52: Alaysha Jennings had 20 points for the Lady Trojans, while Jada Jamison and Lanoria Abrams had 11. Janae Topps had 10 points.
Alice Amelia Wooten had 16 points for Oak Hill Academy, followed by Sarah Dill with 13 and Julia Brison with 11.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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