More with Gore

A big question has already been answered before the game has been tipped off — it appears Justin Jordan has been cleared by doctors to play in today’s game.

On January 16th Jordan broke his foot against East Union in the opening game of the Union County Tournament.  The Hawks (25-12) went 10-7 without the senior guard, but Coach Jonathan Ashley knows that there are some questions still surrounding Jordan’s ability to play.

“He hasn’t been able to practice or workout for over a month… so our fans and kids thinking he is going to be the difference between winning a gold ball or going home is putting too much pressure on him… We are going to have to play it by ear on how well he can play, but we are glad to have him back,” Ashley.

A large part of that is due to the Calhoun City Wildcats (22-12) signature in-your-face style of play that has caused problems for guards all across North Mississippi this season.

“Justin is a heck of a player… we are going to get after whoever is on the floor,” Coach Darren Coffey.

Final Score – Forest Hill 49 New Albany 38, but don’t let the 11-point difference fool you… the game was a lot closer than the final score makes it  appeared.

1:01 4th quarter – New Albany clears the bench with a set of five fresh faces in the game.

1:25 4th quarter – Coach John Stroud has had enough with the officials and was just hit with a technical foul – Forest Hill converts the free throw attempts 46-38.

1:34 4th quarter – New Albany fouling to extend the game, but Forest Hill is solid from the line 45-38.

2:05 4th quarter – New Albany turnover after a Marbra lay-up sees Forest Hill trying to stall the ball leading 43-38.

2:41 4th quarter – A lay-up by Washington makes it a 41-38 game as back-to-back turnovers by Forest Hill gives New Albany life before a questionable offensive foul on Spears give her 5th if the game much to the dismay of the tons of New Albany packing the stands.

3:46 4th quarter – Timeout taken by Forest Hill they lead 41-36.  Frustrations of a young team is starting to show for New Albany, but they are still hanging around.

6:00 4th quarter – Spears just picked up her 4th foul sending Marbra to the line when she connected on a pair of free throws to give Forest Hill a 39-33 edge.

Third Quarter Update – Jazmine Spears went out with an ankle injury after a rebound mid-way through the quarter as Forest Hill has been getting the breaks in the third quarter with the whistles to build a slim 36-31 lead.  Lucas has looked impressive so far by nearly single handedly keeping New Albany in the game.

Spears came back in the game with her left ankle heavily taped with under a minute left in the quarter.

First half stats – New Albany: Lucas 10, Micha Washington 4, White 2, Jazmine Spears 2, and Paris Sanders has scored 1 point.

Forest Hill: Bianca Powell 9, Marbra 6, Porsha Wilson 4, Ashley Wiley 2, and has added Kristen Newsome 2 points.

New Albany is shooting 53% from the floor while Forest Hill shot 27% in the first half.

Spears has 3 fouls for New Albany.  Powell and Wilson have 2 fouls each for Forest Hill.

Halftime – 5’3 Porche White hits a runner over 6’2 Courtney Marbra just for the end of the first half to make it a 23-19 game in for of Forest Hill.  The Lady Bulldogs are hanging in their against a team not a lot of people gave them a chance of doing.

2:30 2nd quarter – Lucas snaps an 11-o run with a three-pointer from the right win 22-16 Forest Hill.

3:23 2nd quarter – Forest Hill on a 9-0 run leads 20-13.

4:50 2nd quarter – New Albany foul on a three-point attempt, Forest Hill hits all three leads 14-13.

5:05 2nd quarter - Kabrina Lucas hits a three-pointer 13-11 New Albany.

6:33 2nd quarter – Forest Hill 11 New Albany 10

I know it’s been a minute since I’ve updated the site, but the past month and a half has been a blur.

I got a text today from a reader asking me if my schedule has been too hectic to update the site or if I had just forgotten to do it.  This has been the first day in that time span that I have been in my actually home for more than four hours verses being in my car or staying with friends or in a random hotel room.

Congrats to all the players, coaches, families, and fans that still have teams battling for a state championship in their respective classification.

Speaking of classifications, what in the world is going on in 4A Boys Basketball… Vicksburg? Wayne County? Ridgeland? Forest Hill?

I will have to admit without the usual suspects of Oxford, Lanier, and even New Hope if it wasn’t for Callaway and St. Stanislaus I’d have zero interest in the race for the 4A championship.

On the agenda:

Traveling back to Jackson to cover New Albany girls against a very tough Forrest Hill team.

Might be a little too lofty, but I am going to try to catch up with Dr. Proctor for some quotes about a story I am working on for the site.

story and photo courtesy msathletics.com

Freshman Brent Brownlee doubled in the game-winning run in the eighth inning Wednesday night lifting Mississippi State (5-1) to a 4-3 college baseball win over Mississippi Valley State (2-2) at Dudy Noble Field. It was the 18th Bulldog win over the Delta Devils in as many meetings and the second one-run game in the series.

State broke open a 1-1 pitching duel and claimed a 3-1 advantage with a two-run seventh inning burst. State third baseman Jarrod Parks laced a one-out single through the right side of the MVSU infield, stole second, and later scampered home when Ryan Powers’ infield grounder was misplayed at third base. Powers scored from first moments later on a Mark Goforth double to left.

MVSU staged a two-out rally and knotted the score at 3-3 in the eighth inning off Bulldog relief pitcher Lee Swindle. Left fielder Chris Herron singled through the left side of Swindle, stole second, and raced home on Curtis Ford’s single to left. Swindle gave way to Justin Bussey, who was unable to hold the lead. Ford stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and plated the tying run on a passed ball.

The Bulldogs regained the lead in the bottom of the frame, but not before MVSU coach Doug Shanks was ejected for disputing a hit batsman call. Connor Powers took first base after being struck by right-hander Scott Reid’s 3-2 pitch, and Shanks’ ensuing argument resulted in an ejection by first base umpire Jeff Head. Grant Hogue, making an injury-delayed senior season debut, pinch-ran for Powers, stole second and later touched home with what proved to be the deciding run on Brownlee’s sharply-hit double into the left field corner.

Junior right-hander Justin Bussey (1-0), the last of four Bulldog hurlers in the game, got the final out of the eighth inning and retired the Delta Devils in order to earn his first career win. Freshman David Hayes drew the start for State in his collegiate debut, yielding a run before being replaced by junior Greg Houston two outs into the second inning. Houston allowed one base-runner on a walk in 4-1/3 innings of strong middle inning relief. Lee Swindle followed Houston and was touched for two runs in the seventh before giving way to Bussey.

MVSU starter Chris Mills worked 5-1/3 innings, holding the Bulldogs to a run and one hit. He was replaced by Reid (0-1) in the sixth, who was charged with three runs (one earned) on four hits over the final 2-2/3 innings.

The Delta Devils claimed the early lead when Bard opened the second innings with a single, was bunted over to second base and then scored on Cody Pride double into the gap in left past the glove of a diving Mark Goforth. Mills handcuffed the Bulldogs on one-hit pitching through four innings before walking the bases full and hitting Ryan Powers with a pitch to force in State’s initial run of the night.

State out-hit MVSU 5-4.

The Bulldogs close out their season-opening home stand this weekend when State hosts Nicholls University (3-2) in a three-game series. Dudy Noble Field game times are set for 4 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

It was a long and emotional three days for Myrtle head coach Jonathan Ashley, but when the whirlwind was over he found himself standing on the baseline surrounded by fans and family still trying to soak in the reality of winning the 1A North State Championship.

“This whole week really hasn’t sunk in yet, but it’s been a week that you have to give God all the glory for it,” Coach Jonathan Ashley.

On Wednesday Coach Ashley’s Uncle had surgery and was reported of doing fine after the procedure, but thirty minutes later a second phone brought the unexpected news that his uncle had passed away.

“Knowing we had Shaw on Thursday night was kind of surreal with him being from Shaw,” Ashley.

The Hawks rallied around their coach and played one of their best games as team to avenge their pair of regular season losses to Shaw with an impressive 72-56 victory in their first elimination game of the tournament.

Myrtle led 42-38 through three quarters of and outscored Shaw 30-16 in the fourth behind Beau Cummings scoring 11 of his 17 points while the Hawks connected on 16-of-32 from the free throw line in the final frame.

“I thought it was a great team effort in the half court on defense and we made enough free throws there in the end to win,” Ashley.

David Wilson scored a game-high 23, Cummings 17, Jimel Judon 14, Robert Montgomery 8, Russ Yates 7, and Will Gregory added 3 points for the Hawks.  Khiry Glenn and Kelvin Miller paced Shaw with 17 points each.

The Hawks punched their ticket to Jackson with a 55-54 victory over the red hot Okolona Chieftains on Friday.

A questionable call at the end of the third quarter appeared to be a bad omen when the refs waved off a shot at the buzzer that appeared to be good, but instead it showed the coaches the strides the team has made during the post season.

“We’ve been bad about making excuses about this and that all season, but I think they have grown up in the past few weeks where a month ago that would have sunk us,” Ashley.

It appeared the questionable could was going to cost the Hawks as the two teams battled back-and-forth until the Chieftains held on to a 54-53 lead after a pair of missed free throws by the Hawks in the final seconds of the game.

Okolona returned the favor by missing the front end of a one-and-one opportunity with eleven seconds left in the game.  On the ensuing possession the Hawks threw up a wild three-pointer, but Okolona fouled Jimel Judon on the rebound sending him to the line where he connected on a pair of free throws to give Myrtle a 55-54 edge with eight seconds left.

The Chieftains appeared to throw the game away with a turnover, but the Hawks reopened the door when they traveled with the ball on the attempted inbounds.  David Gardner got a good look at the three-pointer, but missed the shot as the Judon grabbed the rebound and the one-point victory.

Wilson scored a game-high 27, Judon 20, Yates 7, and Cummings added 1 point for the Hawks while Gardner led the Chieftains with 19 points.

The Hawks found their backs against the wall in the North State Championship game against Coldwater, but once again answered the call by outscoring the Cougars 25-18 in the fourth quarter to pick up the 63-55 victory.

Judon scored 9 points while the Hawks connected on 5-of-10 from the charity stripe in the final frame to claim the 1A North State Championship.

“There wasn’t many people that believed this was possible, but those guys in the dressing room believed… it’s amazing what can happen when people believe in one another and I think that’s what we proved this week,” Ashley.

Judon scored a game-high 21, Wilson 18, Yates 8, Cummings and Montgomery added 7 each, and Steven Taylor scored 1 for the Hawks.  Sanchez Hunt paced the Cougars with 16 points.

The Hawks will take on the winner between Calhoun City and West Lowndes in the semi-final round of 1A State Championship Tournament at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.

Wilson said to be “fine” after suffering concession

Lisa Voyles of the Chickasaw Journal spoke with Coach Bobby Ford and said that Shaquille Wilson suffered a concussion during the Chieftains 80-72 double overtime loss in the 1A North State consolation game against Calhoun City on Saturday.  He is back home and has watchful eyes looking over him, but is expected to be fine.

Justin Jordan could return in Jackson

Myrtle’s Justin Jordan suffered a broken foot on January 16th in opening game of the Union County Tournament against East Union, but could be released as soon as the Hawks State Semi-final game on Saturday.

“We really don’t know if he will be back… we are going to have to play it by ear,” Coach Jonathan Ashley.

“If he is back at 100% we’d love to have him… it’s one of those things where our kids and fans can’t start thinking if he can go is the difference of winning a gold ball or going home because that’s unfair to put on a kid that hasn’t been able to run or practice in over a month.”

Myrtle (25-12) will take on the winner between Calhoun City and West Lowndes for the right to play for the 1A State Championship.

Calhoun City returns to Jackson for the first time since 2002 with their 80-72 double overtime victory over Okolona.

Monday

1 p.m. – 1A Girls: Myrtle vs. Thomastown
2:30 p.m. – 1A Boys: Coldwater vs. Durant
6:30 p.m. – 1A Girls: Drew vs. Weir
8 p.m. – 1A Boys: Calhoun City vs. West Lowndes

Tuesday

9 a.m. – 2A Girls: H.W. Byers vs. Bay Springs
10:30 a.m. – 2A Boys: South Delta vs. Kemper Co.
1 p.m. – 2A Girls: Eupora vs. Kemper Co.
2:30 p.m. – 2A Boys: Coahoma Co. vs. Taylorsville
6:30 p.m. – 3A Girls: Aberdeen vs. South Pike
8 p.m. – 3A Boys: East Side vs. Hazlehurst

Wednesday

1 p.m. – 3A Girls: Alcorn Central vs. SE Lauderdale
2:30 p.m. – 3A Boys: Rosa Fort vs. Pass Christian
6:30 p.m. – 4A Girls: Itawamba AHS vs. Mendenhall
8 p.m. – 4A Boys: Vicksburg vs. St. Stanislaus

Thursday

1 p.m. – 4A Girls: New Albany vs. Forest Hill
2:30 p.m. – 4A Boys: Callaway vs. Wayne Co.
6:30 p.m. – 5A Girls: Murrah vs. Natchez
8 p.m. – 5A Boys: Greenville vs. Jim Hill

Friday

1 p.m. – 5A Girls: Tupelo vs. Hattiesburg
2:30 p.m. – 5A Boys: Olive Branch vs. Brandon
6:30 p.m. – 1A Girls: McAdams vs. Myrtle/Thomastown
8 p.m. – 1A Boys: McAdams vs. Coldwater/Durant

Saturday

1 p.m. – 1A Girls: Coldwater vs. Drew/Weir
2:30 p.m. – 1A Boys: Myrtle vs. Calhoun City/West Lowndes
6:30 p.m. – 2A Girls: Scott Central vs. H.W. Byers/Bay Springs
8 p.m. – 2A Boys: Raymond vs. South Delta/Kemper Co.

Monday  (March 2)

1 p.m. – 2A Girls: New Site vs. Eupora/Kemper Co.
2:30 p.m. – 2A Boys: West Bolivar vs. Coahoma Co./ Taylorsville
6:30 p.m. – 3A Girls: Raymond vs. Aberdeen/South Pike
8 p.m. – 3A Boys: Raymond vs. East Side/Hazlehurst

Tuesday  (March 3)

1 p.m. – 3A Girls: Houston vs. Alcorn Central/SE Lauderdale
2:30 p.m. – 3A Boys: Corinth vs. Rosa Fort/Pass Christian
6:30 p.m. – 4A Girls: NE Lauderdale vs. Itawamba AHS/ Mendenhall
8 p.m. – 4A Boys: Forest Hill vs. Vicksburg/St. Stanislaus

Wednesday  (March 4)

1 p.m. – 4A Girls: Yazoo City vs. New Albany/Forest Hill
2:30 p.m. – 4A Boys: Ridgeland vs. Callaway/Wayne Co.
6:30 p.m. – 5A Girls: Harrison Central vs. Murrah/Natchez
8 p.m. – 5A Boys: Biloxi vs. Greenville vs. Jim Hill

Thursday  (March 5)

1 p.m. – 5A Girls: Horn Lake vs. Tupelo/Hattiesburg
2:30 p.m. – 5A Boys: Provine vs. Olive Branch/Brandon
6:30 p.m. – 1A Girls Championship
8 p.m. – 1A Boys Championship

Friday  (March 6)

1 p.m. – 2A Girls Championship
2:30 p.m. – 2A Boys Championship
6:30 p.m. – 3A Girls Championship
8 p.m. – 3A Boys Championship

Saturday  (March 7)

1 p.m. – 4A Girls Championship
2:30 p.m. – 4A Boys Championship
6:30 p.m. – 5A Girls Championship
8 p.m. – 5A Boys Championship

1A North State Boys: Late free throws lift Hawks

1A North State Girls: Lady Hawks’ freshman duo leads the way

2A North State Girls: Win earns first Jackson trip

3A North State Girls: ‘Long Road’ lead host to North title showdown

4A North State Girls: Lady Indians avoid let down

5A North State: End looms for either Starkville or Tupelo

The Okolona Chieftians must have watched the movie Dodgeball before starting the playoffs because they have dodged, ducked, dipped, dove, and… umm dodged their way to the 1A Boys North State Semi-Finals against host Mrytle tonight after their 58-57 overtime victory over Hickory Flat.

Zavion Adams gave Hickory Flat a 55-54 lead in the opening moments of overtime before Ryan Isabell made one-of-two free throw attempts to tie the game at the 2:57 mark before Caleb Van Tassell put the Rebels back on top 57-55 with an offensive put-back with 2:30 left in the extra stanza.

Okolona quickly rushed a long range three-pointer on the ensuing possesion, but came up empty.  The Rebels had a chance to put the game on ice with a pair of made free throws, but failed to connect on either attempt leaving the door open for the Chieftains.

David Gardner hit a short jumper to tie the game 57-57 with 1:27 to play.

Both teams traded missed shots before a jumpball call gave Okolona the ball with 6.4 seconds left in overtime.

The Chieftains used a screen at midcourt to free up Gardner for a NBA range three at the buzzer, but his shot was off the mark sending the Hickory Flat faithful into a frenzy drowning out the whistle that sent the sophomore to line with three chances to win the game.

Gardner hit the first free throw to give Okolona the 58-57 lead.  The second rattled out before an intentional miss on the third attempt allowed the Chieftains to celebrate the one-point victory.

“I hate to see a good game like we played tonight end on a foul… I rather have had him hit the shot for the win, but the foul is a foul,” Coach Bobby Ford.

Gardner scored 30 while Marques Conway added 20 points for the Chieftains.  Tassell led Hickory Flat with 20 points.

Hickory Flat’s Tyler Reed sent the game into overtime with a short jumper with 15.3 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

More North MS playoff updates:

Monroe360: Rival Bulldogs, Tigers both eliminated

Daily Journal: New Albany rallies past Oxford