JACKSON
When the West Point High School girls basketball team defeated No. 1 West Jones in its first game at the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 5A state tournament, West Point coach Dashmond Daniel received a congratulatory text from Starkville girls coach Kristie Williams.
Less than 24 hours later when Starkville opened its Class 6A state tournament run with a victory against Harrison Central, Daniel returned the favor and sent a similar text to Williams.
Both coaches understood the magnitude of their teams’ accomplishments. Both were trying to win a state championship. Both had good enough teams — with a little fortune — to win it all.
In the second state tournament game for both teams, the texts were again congratulatory. Unfortunately the happiness in the messages was reduced over the weekend when West Point dropped a 56-45 decision to Neshoba Central in the Class 5A title game and Starkville dropped a 57-54 decision to Olive Branch in the Class 6A championship game.
For their accomplishments, the West Point and Starkville girls basketball teams are sharing The Dispatch’s Prep Players of the Week honors.
“There are tears (Friday), but there aren’t tears of sadness. There are tears of happiness for what we were able to accomplish,” West Point senior Tia McCrary said. “If any part of this is sad, it is the fact that I won’t be able to play with my teammates anymore. I will still be supporting them next year. I will be their biggest fan.”
During its two-week run of hosting the six state tournaments, the Mississippi Coliseum has always brought together a wide range of storylines. The unique thing about the Big House is that is the goal of every high school basketball player in the state of Mississippi. At some time, they want to experience it.
West Point played in Mississippi Coliseum for the first time since 2002. Starkville played in the venue for the third-straight season. Before playing in Jackson in 2015, Starkville hadn’t been there since 1992.
Williams understood what West Point was trying to achieve.
“It is incredibly difficult,” Williams said. “If you look at our boys team, they were in the top three the entire season and didn’t make it to Jackson. A year ago, we beat Olive Branch in the second round of the playoffs and they didn’t make it to Jackson. You have to have a special team. You have to have a team that is not caught up in the emotion. You also have to have a little luck.”
In the five-round playoff format the MHSAA has used the past three seasons, the days of mulligans are over. Previously, a team could lose in the playoffs but still find its way to Jackson.
Now, it is five rounds — five opponents — five chances, all single-elimination. Teams can earn the right to play at home in the first two rounds. It is critical. West Point and Starkville earned first-round byes and won second-round games at home to advance to Jackson.
“The team just really believed,” said Daniel, who just completed his fifth season. “Each year is a step in the process. We have come a long way since winning five games (in his first season). A year ago, we won a playoff game. That made us want more.”
Newcomers to the Mississippi Coliseum have to deal with a series of emotions. The crowds are bigger and every possession matters. Even some of the state’s most talented teams have wilted when the lights have been the brightest.
West Point had to overcome the nerves and the state’s top-ranked team in its first game of Jackson. Winning one game in Jackson is a big deal and some teams would have no magic left. However, West Point took to the floor again and beat Ridgeland.
The matchup against Neshoba Central was a best-case scenario for West Point. The teams had split two regular-season matchups, so West Point knew it wasn’t being asked to do the impossible.
Neshoba Central played better down the stretch. The Lady Rockets forced some turnovers at key times and proved dominant at the free-throw line. Regardless of how good a team is, Mississippi Coliseum will expose a weakness that could prevent a team from winning a gold ball.
For Starkville, the final step has proven difficult. The Lady Jackets went 1-1 in each of their last two trips to Jackson, falling in the semifinals. The goal was to go further. Starkville did that but it still wasn’t enough.
Olive Branch also played better in the fourth quarter. Mississippi State signee Myah Taylor — the state’s player of the year — scored 12 of her 16 points in the final quarter. A star player delivered on the state’s biggest stage.
You could look at each game and praise the effort of West Point and Starkville. You could love their seasons and be proud of what they have done for their communities. Both were so close. However, the margin for error is non-existent in Jackson and the game can be unforgiving.
While clutching state runner-up trophies, Daniel and Williams talked about next season. West Point only has three seniors. McCrary is the lone starter. All-State center Kelsey Jones is Starkville’s only senior.
Both teams will begin next season on a short list of favorites for the 2017-18 state championship. For Starkville, that is business as usual. For West Point, it will be new territory for Daniel, his staff, and his players.
However, there are no guarantees. The West Lowndes boys talked about winning a state championship after losing the title game in 2016. The Panthers made it back to Jackson but a gold ball wasn’t in the cards.
The Starkville boys lost in the state championship in 2016 but didn’t make it to Jackson this season.
Maybe the storyline will be different for these two teams. Maybe the text messages will be much happier.
Scott Walters is a sports writer for The Dispatch. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @dispatchscott.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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