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Razzle Dazzle Camp

The 14th annual Razzle Dazzle Basketball Camp will be held from 8 a.m. to noon July 8-11 at the Aberdeen High School gym. Registration fee is $50 and will be held from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. July 7 The camp is for ages 7-17.

For more information, call the gym at 369-7369.

We are quickly approaching the upcoming football season and the North Mississippi Junior Colleges have released their football schedules for the upcoming season.

Northwest Community College

August 28 – Gulf Coast - Home - 6:30 p.m.
September 4 – Hinds - Away - 7:00 p.m.
September 11 – Pearl River –  Away - 7:00 p.m.
September 18 – Itawamba - Home - 6:30 p.m.
September 25 – East Mississippi – Away – 7:00 p.m.
October 2 – MS Delta – Home – 6:30 p.m.
October 9 – Coahoma – Away – 7:00 p.m.
October 18 – Holmes (HC) – Home – 6:30 p.m.
October 23 – Northeast – Away – 7:00 p.m.

Itawamba Community College

August 28 – Jones County – Away – 7:00 p.m.
September 4 – Gulf Coast – Home – 7:00 p.m.
September 11 – Northeast – Home – 7:00 p.m.
September 18 – Northwest – Away – 6:30 p.m.
September 25 – MS Delta – Away – 7:00 p.m.
October 2 – Holmes - Home – 7:00 p.m.
October 9 – Hinds – Home – 7:00 p.m.
October 18 – East Mississippi – Away – 3:00 p.m.
October 25 – Coahoma (HC) – Home – 3:00 p.m.

Northeast Community College

August 28 – Hinds – Away - 7:00 p.m.
September 4 – Pearl River – Home – 7:00 p.m.
September 11 – Itawamba – Away – 7:00 p.m.
September 18 – MS Delta – Home – 7:00 p.m.
September 25 – Holmes – Away – 7:00 p.m.
October 2 – East Central (HC) – Home – 7:00 p.m.
October 9 – East Mississippi – Home – 7:00 p.m.
October 18 – Coahoma – Away – 2:00 p.m.
October 23 – Northwest – Home – 7:00 p.m.

NECC/Tony Finch & Matt Wyatt

LUCIUS SIGNS WITH JUDSON UNIVERSITY

Former Northeast Mississippi Community College baseball player Chris Lucius (Mooreville) has accepted a baseball scholarship offer from Judson University, an NAIA school in Elgin, Illinois.

Lucius was a sophomore on Coach Kent Farris’ Northeast Tigers team that went 32-18 in 2008 and earned trips to the MACJC State and Region 23 tournaments thanks to a runner-up finish in the state’s North Division.

“Chris was a leader for us this season as well as a year ago as a freshman,” said Farris. “Our goal is to get all our players in a position to move on and finish their education and baseball career at a four-year college. I’m extremely happy that Chris is going to be able to do that at Judson University.”

Lucius’ career totals at Northeast include a .326 batting average with nine doubles, two triples, and 26 RBI. The right-handed hitting/throwing catcher will enroll at JU in the Fall of ’08.

ROBERTSON PICKS MILSAPS

Former Northeast Mississippi Community College pitcher Shelby Robertson (Ridgeland) will continue his baseball career at Milsaps College in Jackson. The 6’3, 220 .lb right-hander has signed a letter of intent with the Majors and will enroll at the Mississippi school in the Fall of ’08.

“Shelby has worked hard for two years here with us,” said NEMCC head coach Kent Farris. “He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do and it’s paying off. He’s another great example of a kid that works hard and earns a scholarship at a four-year school. We’re really proud of Shelby.”

Robertson appeared in 19 games and pitched 56 and a third innings for the 2008 Northeast Tigers that went 32-18 and earned trips to the MACJC State and Region 23 tournaments in Farris’ second year as head coach of the Tigers.

The right-handed starting pitcher collected 37 strikeouts while only walking 21 batters this season, earning a 6-4 record and 6.23 ERA.

Robertson becomes the 7^th sophomore from Farris’ 2008 NEMCC squad to sign with a four-year college.

ICC/Will Kollmeyer

Mooreville’s Rachel Tally and Caledonia’s Stephanie Pounders are two players that Itawamba Community College head coach Chad Case knows will have an immediate impact on his rising program. Tally is a centerfielder/middle infielder while Pounders is a right handed pitcher, who is transferring to ICC from East Mississippi CC, and both signed their letters of intent on Wednesday on the Fulton campus.

“I can’t tell you how excited I am with signing Rachel and Stephanie,” said Case, who led the Lady Indians in his first year as head coach to a 13-3 division mark and a share of the north title. “I expect both to step in and be difference makers for us.”

Tally hit .430 with two home runs, five triples, 14 doubles and 23 runs driven in. The all-division selection and former Daily Journal all-area pick also sported a .526 on-base percentage.

Pounders enjoyed a solid freshman season at EMCC after a decorated high school career that featured a long list of awards, including the Class 3A All-District MVP, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year in the division and a three-time Defensive Player of the Year for the Lady Feds of Caledonia. The Commercial Dispatch Player of the Year also grabbed the Mississippi Association of Coaches High School All-Star Game North MVP honor as well as the East Half MVP in the NEMSBCA All-Star Game.

All District 1 high school football officials, and anyone interested in becoming an official, must attend one of two meetings scheduled for this week.

The first is Tuesday night at Holliday Hall on the campus of Northeast Mississippi Community College, while the second is Wednesday night at Shannon High School. Start time for both sessions is 6:30 p.m.

Current officials and prospects will register at the meetings and 2008 rule books will be handed out.

For more information, contact Larry Riley at 566-7542.

Thursday night football in Calhoun County

It has been announced that the Calhoun City @ Vardaman and Vardaman @ Bruce games will once again be played on Thursday nights. 

Calhoun City and Vardaman will square off on August 28th while Bruce will be looking for redemption from their shocking 19-15 loss last season to Vardaman on September 4th. 

Lafayette County schedule change

Lafayette County will host Madison Central on August 29th replacing Holly Springs from their 2007 schedule.

James Moore leaves Thrasher in a bind

Head coach James Moore leaves Thrasher to take a defensive coordinator job at Curry High School in Jasper, Alabama with around six weeks before August drills are scheduled to begin.  It’s a move for Moore to get closer to home in Vernon, Alabama.

The Rebels finished 2-8 last season, has not made the playoffs since 1992, but better known for their 71-game losing streak.

Moore orally commits to Ole Miss

I over heard Louisville’s Clayton Moore talking about his plans to commit to Ole Miss on the sidelines during 7 on 7 football events in Eupora this past Friday, but sat on the information until I saw where the Clarion Ledger confirmed the news: Lousiville High QB orally commits to Ole Miss

Moore (6’2 205 lb) senior is expected to ink with Ole Miss at next year’s National Signing Day in early February, but in the world of constant changing minds Rebel fans hope his word will remain solid until then.  Oklahoma State appeared to be the next stop for Moore until Ole Miss came in with the offer he had long been hoping for.

Louisville won the Class AAA State Championship last season and are highly favored to repeat this season behind the play of Moore and nationally hot recruit Dennis Thames.

Alabama’s Jimmy Johns charged with selling cocaine

Jimmy Johns, Mississippi’s 2004 Mr. Football, has been charged with five counts of distribution of a controlled substance and one count of possession of a conrtolled substance after investigators found cocaine and eight or nine ecstacy pills in his residence in Tuscaloosa according to the Tuscaloosa Times. 

Johns was the second leading rusher for the Tide in 2005 and 2006 and slated to be the starting outside linebacker this season after seeing limited time in the backfield during the 2007 season.

Tuscaloosa Times:  Alabama LB Jimmy Johns arrested for selling cocaine
Clarion Ledger:  Ex-Brookhaven star hit with drug charges
Daily Journal:  Alabama LB Jimmy Johns arrested on cocaine charges
USA Today:  Alabama LB Jimmy Johns arrested on cocaine charges
TideSports.com:  Johns arrested, dismissed from team

Player of the Year: Jordan Moore – Calhoun City
Coach of the Year: Josh Miller – Calhoun City

First Team

Zach Chaver – Pontotoc
Ladarrius Cole – Nettleton
Matt Davis – Tishomingo County
Seth George – Tishomingo County
Dante Jennings – Calhoun City
Hunter Leech – Smithville
Hunter Mize – Lafayette County
Jordan Moore – Calhoun City
Jake Sloan – Hatley
Ricky Ware – Houston

Second Team

Travecus Coffey – Calhoun City
Parker Gregory – South Pontotoc
Blake Goodson – Calhoun City
Chris Gullick – Lafayette County
Kyle Montet – Amory
Curt Presley – Oxford
Tyler Pritchard – Tishomingo County
Cody Roberts – Pontotoc
Ty Stroup – Houston
Wesley Wildmon – Baldwyn

Third Team

Kevin Barnett – Vardaman
Jami Boland – Nettleton
Dustin Egger – Smithville
Tyler Gray – Calhoun City
Ty Bullock – Vardaman
Nick Moore – Wheeler
Brett Morgan – Tishomingo County
Montez Phillips – Lafayette County
Josh Saylors – Shannon
Matt Shaw – Oxford

Player of the Year: Brittany Gates – Houston
Coach of the Year: Chris Kidd – Nettleton

First Team

CeCee Austin – South Pontotoc
Shelby Bonds – Tishomingo County
Brooke Denton – Pontotoc
Michele Hester – Nettleton
Brittany Gates – Houston
Jayla Hubbard – Bruce
Chelsea Lukens – Saltillo
Lynndon Northington – Smithville
Kami Roberts – Smithville
Holly Schlicht – Nettleton

Second Team

Lacey Bailey – Vardaman
Sydney Clayton – Nettleton
Lori Crudup – Pontotoc
Brianna Gable – North Pontotoc
Katie Leach – Nettleton
Carrie Pannell – Saltillo
Devin Reader – Tishomingo County
Jami Taylor – Bruce
Christi Thompson – Wheeler
Kelsie Watson – Smithville

Third Team

Raven Combs – Booneville
Kaitlin Doles – Calhoun City
Danielle Frederick – Wheeler
Lindsey Lyles – Calhoun City
Kim Meaders – Amory
Sara Beth Michael – Booneville
Kelsi Nelson – Vardaman
Greta Parker – Vardaman
Amy Roberts – Smithville
Brittany Venson – Bruce

Calhoun City – Spirits were high in the gym parking lot as the new look “young guns” of Calhoun City returned home from the 2008 Florida Gators Basketball Team Camp this past Sunday night.

“We saw some really good competition and the guys got after it pretty good,” Coach Darren Coffey. “Overall it was a good trip… I feel like we had got a lot of good team unity from this trip.”

Despite having only one starter returning from last season, the youthful Wildcats went 4-3 against teams from all across the nation as members of the Florida Gators basketball team looked on including head coach Billy Donovan.

“We are trying to learn right now so we can see our mistakes and work on them before the season gets here. We got a lot of compliments on how hard the guys played and the teams we played were real impressed with them,” Coach Darren Coffey.

While Coffey was impressed with his team’s effort on the floor during the camp it was the team gelling together as a unit both on and off the court that has him fired up for the upcoming season.

“The games we did lose we were down fifteen or sixteen points and broke it down to four or five. We didn’t end up getting the wins, but when we got back on the bus the guys kept talking about getting over the hump and like one of the players talked about finding another gear in those situations… I am glad to see the kids learn and want to advance on that level when it comes to getting things going,” Coffey.

Coffey wanted to say a special thanks to all the parents and fans that helped raise money for the kids to be able to make the trip to participate in the camp along with Marshall Coleman and Cannon Motors in Calhoun City, but he also took the time to say another special thank you.

“These guys’ parents have done a good job raising these kids… When we told them what time to be in the room they were there and we didn’t have to worry about them the rest of the night… We had a great trip and I just want to let their parents know they have a bunch of guys they can be proud of at Calhoun City,” Coffey.

Calhoun City will wrap up their summer basketball program Tuesday night in the Pontotoc Summer Basketball League and will enjoy some much needed rest and relaxation before starting workouts when the school year rolls around.

Pontotoc (12-6) dropped a 7-3 decision to host Florence in the Florence, Alabama Tournament.  The Red Sox went 4-2 through the tournament and finished in third place.  The Sox were rallying late in the contest when time ran out on the come-from-behind victory as the two hour time limit was eclipsed to snuff out the rally.

Last weekend the Red Sox went 5-1 in the Mount Home, Arkansas Tournament and finish a confusing fourth place.  Pontotoc won their pool, but dropped the first and only game to be eliminated from tournament play.