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Travis Outlaw of Starkville recently spoke with GoreSports before taking on the Memphis Grizziles at the FedEx Forum this past Tuesday night.

In the 2005 Las Vegas Summer League, Outlaw averaged 18.7 points and 6.3 rebounds in 35.5 minutes. The performance earned him First Team All-RVSL honors. Following the summer league, several teams offered to trade for Outlaw in exchange for a first-round draft pick. Portland Trail Blazers director of player personnel Kevin Pritchard has said that Travis is “…going to be with us for a long time. I feel comfortable enough to say he’s going to be a special player.”

On April 18, 2007, Outlaw set a new career-high with 36 points against the Golden State Warriors. He became a restricted free agent on July 1, 2007, and signed a three-year contract extension on July 17.

Outlaw was drafted as 23rd overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2003 NBA Draft.

ENTERPRISE — Lexie Wilson scored 10 points in the South Pontotoc Lady Cougars 62-61 win over the West Union Lady Eagles, but none were bigger than her final basket on the night.

Lana Goggins scored a game-high 21 and Elizabeth Henson added 10 points for South Pontotoc.

April Rollins and Carley Wilkerson paced West Union with 17 each while Claire Wilkerson added 11 points.

South Pontotoc 71 West Union 59 (Boys)

Jermaine Bean and Gary Lipsey combined for 41 points in the South Pontotoc Cougars 71-59 win over the West Union Eagles on Monday night.

South Pontotoc jumped out to a quick double-digit lead over the Eagles, but West Union fought and clawed their way through the first half to pull themselves to 33-24 deficit at the half.

Bean missed a large part of the opening stages of the second half due to foul problems, but provided a spark with back-to-back three points baskets to give the Cougars a 50-37 lead heading into the final frame.

West Union battled all the way to the end, but South answered the Eagles shot-for-shot in the final stanza to pick up the 12-point victory.

Wesley Jumper scored a game-high 31 points while Drew Gray added seven points with Kyle Taylor and Austin Harkness chipped in six points each for West Union.

Bean scored 21, Lipsey 20, Nathan Newell 13, and Caylan Austin added 10 points for South Pontotoc.

South Pontotoc will host the Amory Panthers tomorrow night (Tuesday) while West Union travels to Thrasher.

Calhoun City (7-5, 4-1 Region 1-2A) survived a bevy of turnovers to pick up an 18-16 win over Mound Bayou JFK (5-6, 2-2 Region 4-2A) in the opening round of the Class 2A North State playoffs.

Demarius Howard rushed for 37 yards, two touchdowns, and a two-point conversion on 10 carries and caught four passes for 36 yards while Raheem Robertson recovered a fumbled, booted an extra point, connected on a 27-yard field goal, and recorded 14 tackles to help the Wildcats advance to the second round of the playoffs.

JR Jennings passed for 125 yards and one interception on 11-of-17 passing with Jase Chandler hauling in three catches for 42 yards, Tray Pratt had 22 yard on one catch, Roberson 16 yards on one catch, and Avery Hill had one catch for 12 yards.

Tevin Hall rushed for 72 yards on 10 carries and Hill added 54 yards on eight carries.

The win avenged the Wildcats’ 26-0 road loss to JFK in the opening round of the 2007 Class 1A North State playoffs.

Calhoun City will make the short trip to Cumberland to take on the East Webster Wolverines in the second round of the playoffs.

East Webster (6-6, 1-4 Region 2-2A) enter the playoffs as the number four seed from Region 2-2A and handed top-seeded Coahoma County Panthers (7-4, 4-0 Region 3-2A) 33-8 to earn a home game against the Wildcats.

Ledrick Patterson only threw one pass against the Panthers and completed it to Miguel Graham for a 35-yard reception and rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. Demetrius O’Briant rushed for 131 yards on 14 carries while Timakis Bell added 55 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. Bolo McCurry rushed for 17 yards and one touchdown on two carries.

The Wolverines forced the Panthers into four turnovers with Austin Cunningham recovered three fumbles and Ryan Johnson picked off a pass in the upset victory setting up a rematch of last season’s Class 1A North State semifinals.

East Webster has rushed for 2,113 yards and passed for 597 yards on the season.

The winner of the Calhoun City-East Webster game will advance to the Class 2A semifinals against the winner between Hollandale-Simmons and Ackerman.

Bruce fans got a glimpse of the future this past Friday night as the state’s attention was turned towards Rosedale when the Trojans gave the unbeaten West Bolivar Eagles (12-0, 4-0 Region 4-2A) everything they wanted and then some in the opening round of the Class 2A North State playoffs.

The Trojans (2-9, 2-3 Region 1-2A) landed an early punch when Nick Smith returned the opening kickoff 78 yards for a touchdown and took a 12-7 lead when he added a rushing touchdown in the third quarter before the experience-laden Eagles answered with 28-unanswered points to pick up the 35-12 victory.

Reed Gregory completed 6-of-12 passing for 118 yards and two interceptions with Shaq Bush hauling in three catches for 55 yards, Smith had one catch for 25 yards, Ted Esom one catch for 20 yards, Tiner Moore one catch for 13 yards, and Armstrong had one catch for five yards. Bush went 1-for-1 for 25 yards passing.

Armstrong rushed for 48 yards and one touchdown on three carries, Smith had 42 yards on 15 carries, Bush two yards on one carry, and Gregory had minus-26 yards on nine carries.

West Bolivar will travel to Eupora (10-1, 4-1 Region 2-2A) to take on the Eagles in the second round of the Class 2A North State playoffs.

Calhoun’s Woodcock and Norman earn post season honors

Senior Alan Woodcock and freshman Danny Joe Norman both have been named to the all-division MAIS 8-Man District-I team.

Norman placed fourth in MVP voting for the division.

Calhoun Academy finished 0-10 in their second season of playing in the MAIS 8-Man football league and have lost 21-straight games dating back to their 21-7 win over Macon Central in October of 2007.

The Vardaman Rams closed the regular season on a strong note picking up a 50-12 road victory over the Thrasher Rebels this past Thursday night.

Vardaman (7-3, 5-2 Region 1-1A) jumped out to a 12-0 lead in the on a pair of 11-yard scoring runs from Donta Walker and Cody Jenkins in the first quarter. Chris Armstrong added the next two touchdowns on an 11-yard run and a 29-yard reception from Jenkins to take a 24-0 lead in the second quarter. Jenkins added a 14-yard scoring run and Lavoris Hatchett added a 29-yard rushing touchdown to give the Rams a 37-0 lead by the end of the first half.

Willie Lee scored on a 9-yard run while Bobo Whaley added the extra point in the third quarter and Walker added a 42-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to cap of the scoring for the Rams.

Thrasher (1-9, 0-7) scored on an 80-yard run by Patrick Miller and 25-yard run from Tavin Jones in the fourth quarter.

The Rams will open the 2009 Class 1A North State playoffs on the road against the Shaw (6-3, 5-2 Region 2-1A) after the Hawks defeated the Coffeeville Pirates (7-4, 4-3) 36-34 this past Friday to earn the number two seed in their region.

The Hawks have totaled 2,525 yards of total offense this season with 2,301 of those yards coming via their ground attack. Tevin Thomas leads the team with 982 yards and 14 touchdowns on 112 carries, 46 yards and one TD on two catches, while throwing for 40 yards, one touchdown, and one interception on 3-of-10 passing.

Kywoun Ware has rushed for 441 yard and two touchdowns on 64 carries. Jarrell Colston and Tony Roach have combined for 545 yards and eight touchdowns this season. Faraji Robinson leads the team in receiving with 98 yards and two touchdowns on seven catches and leads the team in interceptions with four picks.

The winner of the Vardaman-Shaw game will take on the winner of the Smithville-Coffeeville game next week in the second round of the Class 1A playoffs. Greenville St Joe will travel to Okolona while Falkner travels to Durant in the bottom half of the playoff brackets.

Photo/UWA Media Relations

Brandon Speck of the Monroe Journal reports on a former Aberdeen Bulldog’s big night for West Alabama.

Former Aberdeen football and basketball standout Ricky Bell has been named the Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Week.

His West Alabama team knocked off No. 1 North Alabama on the road on Saturday, 31-28.

Bell had a huge hand in the win. The sophomore defensive back had >>> click here to read more from Brandon Speck at Monroe360.com.

Will Kollmeyer/ICC Director of Marketing & Sports Information

Jayla Hubbard of Bruce (photo courtesy ICC Athletic Department)

Itawamba Community College’s softball program was well represented this past weekend in the first ever Domino’s Mississippi JUCO All-Star Showcase, hosted by Belhaven College in Jackson. Lady Indians catcher Cyndal Cleveland of Mantachie was the hitting star as she went two for two in game one of the north-south showdowns.

Bruce’s Jayla Hubbard of ICC had the defensive play of the first game, which was won by the south all-stars, 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh.   According to her collegiate head coach, Chad Case, “Jayla made an unbelievable play in left field, diving toward the line to take away an extra base hit away from the south.”

Fellow Lady Indian CeCee Austin of Randolph hit the ball hard her two times at the plate, but didn’t get a hit, although Case added, ”CeCee played excellent defense at third.”

In game two, the south’s starting pitcher only allowed three balls to be put in play in a dominating performance, although ICC’s Heather Whitworth of Randolph was one of the three north all-stars to accomplish that feat.  Case also added that Whitworth, like her Itawamba teammate Austin did in game one, played “some great defense at third.”

Nearly all of Mississippi’s four-year schools had coaches at the event scouting for their programs.

“I thought this was an excellent opportunity for our sophomores to gain exposure and be seen by several colleges and universities,” said Case, who has led his ICC program to post-season berths in both years in charge of the program, including winning a school record 30 games this past spring.  “I was proud of all four of our ladies as they all contributed and I think they all enjoyed this experience.”

Tori Nichols (Houston) lets Christian Brackett (Bruce) fly ball during the Leonard Holland Classic this past Saturday in Calhoun City

CALHOUN CITY — Numerous fans were treated to an exciting opening day of the high school basketball season as Calhoun City High School played host to the Leonard Holland Classic this past Saturday.

Vardaman 58 Charleston 55

Jicobe Jones scored a game-high 24 points for Vardaman as the Lady Rams held on late for an exciting 58-55 win over Class 3A Charleston Lady Tigers.

Vardaman (1-0, 0-0) jumped out to a 26-15 lead in the first quarter, but Charleston (0-1, 0-0) closed strong in the second to make it a 32-28 game in favor of the Lady Rams at the break. The Lady Tigers outscored Vardaman 13-10 in the third quarter to make it a 42-41 game heading into the final frame.

Kelsey Nelson nailed a three-pointer and a pair of free throws while J’Ebony Eacholes scored her only points on the contest with a pair of buckets to help the Lady Rams pick up the three-point victory.

Nelson scored 10, Tiffany Armstrong 8, Eacholes 4, Rasheika Thompson 4, Sharmayne Douglas 4, and Casey High added 3 points for Vardaman.

Lafayette County 53 Grenada 31

Lafayette County Lady Commodores jumped out to a 14-5 lead in the first quarter and never looked back on their way to a 53-31 victory over Grenada Lady Chargers.

Mykira Buford led all scorers with 13, Shaquilla Isom 12, and Sherneal Thompson added 10 points for Lafayette County (1-0, 0-0) while Ashley Taylor came off the bench in the fourth quarter to lead Grenada (0-1, 0-0) with nine points.

Houston 75 Bruce 57

There were a lot of question surrounding the Houston Lady Hilltoppers coming into this season, but a vast majority of them were answered in their 75-57 win over the Bruce Lady Trojans.

Houston (1-0, 0-0) set the tone early jumping out to a 21-17 lead in the first quarter on their way to a 38-23 halftime lead. Bruce (0-1, 0-0) got things going to start the second half and trimmed the Lady Toppers’ lead down to eight points before Houston was able to answer with a 6-0 run to close the third quarter with a 55-41 lead.

The Lady Toppers out rebounded and out ran a tired Lady Trojan squad to pull away for the 75-57 victory.

Tori Nichols scored a game-high 26 points for Houston while Christian Brackett paced Bruce with 14 points.

Tynita Taylor 15, Chancedy Pulliam 13, Sancreisha Morgan 8, Jasmine Pierce 7, Shanae Fox 6, and Tatianna Taylor added 1 point for Houston.

Brianna Brown scored 11, Morgan Vickery 10, Ranesha Steen 10, Marquita Welch 4, Zantarria Edwards 3, Jasmine Hampton 2, and Breanna Steen added 1 point for Bruce.

Charlie Easley's fourth-quarter dunk put the final touches on the Wildcats 73-54 season opening win over Coffeeville.

CALHOUN CITY — Calhoun City head coach Darren Coffey said the team’s success this season depended on the seniors and where they wanted to lead the team and early indications, seniors Ricky Whaley and Charlie Easley are ready to accept that responsibility.

Whaley had a game-high 23 points while Easley was two blocks away from recorded a triple-double scoring 22 points, grabbing 16 rebounds, and blocking 8 shots in the short-handed Wildcats season debut 73-54 victory over the Coffeeville Pirates.

Calhoun City (1-0, 0-0) entered the game with only an eight-man roster as majority of his players are still playing football as the gridiron version of the ‘Cats advanced to the second round of the MHSAA Class 2A North State playoffs the night before.

The Cats jumped out to an eight-point advantage early in the contest before Coffeeville (0-1, 0-0) rallied to pull within a 15-10 deficit by the end of the first quarter before City pulled away for a 40-24 halftime lead.

The Pirates used their depth advantage to make a run in the latter stages of the third quarter to outscore City 19-18 to make it a 58-43 game in favor of the Wildcats in the third quarter, but that would be as close as it would get for the rest of the night.

Calhoun City stretch their way out to as much as a 26-point lead in the fourth quarter before picking up the 73-54 victory over the Pirates.

Travecus Moore scored 15, Dominique Cook 7, and Dante Phillips added 5 points for the Wildcats.

Javaas Jones led Coffeeville with 19 points.

Lady Wildcats drop a heart-breaker to Lady Pirates

Meisha Armstrong nailed a three-pointer to pull Calhoun City (0-1, 0-0) with in 44-43 with 9.4 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Sarica Coffey went for the steal on the ensuing inbounds and caused the Coffeeville ball handler to turn the ball over with 7.9 second on the clock, but the Lady Cats returned the favor on the inbounds play. Calhoun City quickly fouled and Coffeeville (1-0, 0-0) connected on one-of-two from the line to take a two-point advantage with 5.8 ticks left in the contest.

City had a chance at the final shot, but could not find the handle on the basketball as time expired allowing the Lady Pirates to escape with a 45-43 victory.

Ariel Fox scored a game-high 13 points, Tiera Gunn 7, Jasmine Petty 6, Jasmine Pulliam 4, Shala Jones 4, and Coffey added 2 for the Lady Wildcats.

Suzzette Suggs led Coffeeville with 10 points.

Calhoun City will return home after traveling to Houlka on Tuesday to host HW Byers on Saturday.

East Mississippi Athletic Department

SCOOBA – In a contest featuring 146 total points and 1,219 yards of combined total offense, the No. 7 East Mississippi Lions dethroned two-time defending state champion and third-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast in a wild 75-71 shootout Saturday afternoon to claim the 2009 MACJC state football championship at EMCC’s jam-packed Sullivan-Windham Field.

In claiming the school’s first-ever state football title, head coach Buddy Stephens’ EMCC squad tied an all-time school standard with its 10th victory of the season.  Hall of Fame coach Bob “Bull” Sullivan’s 1963 EMJC club went 10-1-1, including an 18-14 victory over Tyler (Texas) JC in the Hospitality Bowl played in Gulfport.  Now 18-3 in Stephens’ two years at the East Mississippi helm, the Lions moved to 10-1 on the campaign and avenged their lone loss of the year – a 43-26 home setback on Sept. 17 coming at the hands of the same visiting Bulldogs from Perkinston.

East Mississippi now awaits its postseason future as other prominent junior college football action will take place around the nation during the coming week.  The Lions could very well be destined for the Mississippi Bowl to be played Sunday, Dec. 6 in Biloxi.

The home-standing Lions, also rated third nationally in the current JC Grid-Wire National Top 25, took an early 14-0 lead in Saturday’s slugfest on short scoring bursts of 2 and 4 yards by sophomore running back Pat Shed.  The former Starkville High School standout scored from a yard out later in the contest to raise his total to 10 rushing touchdowns on the year and 21 for his career.  Though only gaining 15 rushing yards on just seven carries for the day, Shed enjoyed a stellar outing as a receiver with seven catches for a team-high 147 yards, including a 43-yard, catch-and-run score late in the first half to stake the Lions to a 34-26 halftime advantage.

On the heels of Shed’s opening touchdowns, the visitors grabbed a temporary lead with three straight scores spanning the first and second quarters.  Touchdowns strikes of 31 and 26 yards to Joe Burnett and Kelvin Bolden, respectively, from Greg Jenkins were followed by a 52-yard interception for a score off an errant Randall Mackey aerial by Bradley Jacobs to give the Bulldogs a 19-14 lead one minute into the second quarter.

With a second straight NJCAA Region 23 MVP honor under his belt, Mackey atoned for his earlier turnover by hitting freshman Marcus McQuarley of Meridian with a 47-yard scoring toss at the 12:40 mark and a 30-yarder to sophomore Lance Lewis with 4:33 remaining in the half.  The teams added another touchdown apiece to give EMCC the eight-point lead at the break.

The respective divisional champions combined for 48 points in the third quarter alone, which featured three touchdown runs by MGCCC’s Vick Ballard, including a 50-yarder.  The Lions’ answer to Ballard’s third of four scores on the day was a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by All-Region 23 return specialist British Footman.  The freshman from Tallahassee, Fla., had two punt returns for scores during the regular season.

With the score tied at 54-54 heading into the final period, Ballard and Shed traded 1-yard scores to keep the game deadlocked at 61-61 midway through the fourth quarter.  After EMCC’s defense limited Gulf Coast to a 29-yard field goal by Bo Bryan at the 6:49 mark, Mackey found Lewis once again in the left corner of the end zone from 11 yards out to make it a 68-64 contest in favor of the Lions.

EMCC’s precarious lead would not last long, however, as Bolden hauled in his third touchdown grab of the game – an 18-yarder from Jenkins – to put the visitors back on top by a 71-68 tally with 2:48 remaining in the offensive shootout.  With the two teams matching score for score since the second quarter, the Lion tandem of Mackey and Lewis hooked up for the would-be winning touchdown following a costly Gulf Coast roughing-the-passer penalty.  With their fourth scoring connection on the game, Mackey found Lewis once again in the left corner of the end zone from 32 yards out with only 1:38 left on the clock.

The Lions’ seventh straight victory of the season was preserved by sophomore free safety Anthony Hines with a game-saving interception in the end zone on a third-and-one attempt from the 22-yard line.  The pick was the former Starkville High School standout’s team-leading seventh interception of the season – fifth in the last three games.

Mackey, EMCC’s preseason NJCAA All-American ended the game 31-of-42 through the air for 477 passing yards and seven touchdowns along with 125 rushing yards on 18 carries.  The Louisiana native now has 29 touchdown passes on the year and 53 for his two-year career.  Lewis, of Concord, N.C., eclipsed the century mark for receiving yards for the fifth time this season, finishing with a season-high nine catches for 134 yards and four touchdowns.

Gulf Coast’s Ballard had 186 rushing yards on 33 carries, including four touchdowns, while Jenkins completed 14-of-25 passes for 331 yards and five touchdowns.  Bolden was Jenkins’ primary target for the day with eight grabs for 260 yards and three scores.