More with Gore

ICC continues north division play Monday night and will play Northwest at Senatobia with the women’s game at 5 p.m., and the men’s game at 7 p.m.

In the women’s contest, it will be a battle for first place in the north as both teams are 6-1 inside the league.  The Lady Indians have won five straight and 11 of their last 13.  The Indians start the night one game behind front running East Mississippi.

Thursday night, ICC hosts East Mississippi, at the Davis Event Center with the games at 6 and 8 p.m.

Itawamba swept Northwest on December 7 in Fulton.

Radio coverage for both nights begins 20 minutes before each women’s game  on FM95 (95.7) as well as the College’s Web site, www.iccms.edu and www.fm95radio.com, including Monday night in Senatobia at 4:40 p.m.

Toussaint batted .486 for the Panthers last season, with 3 homeruns, 4 triples, 8 doubles, and was successful on 22 of 24 stolen-base attempts.

photo and information submitted via goresports@gmail.com

New Albany (22-0), Belmont (22-1), and New Site (23-0) girls and Starkville (18-2), Holly Springs (21-3), and Calhoun City (21-4) boys all protected their number rankings but there was a lot of movement in this week’s edition of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal High School basketball rankings >>> click here to see the complete rankings.

The Houston Lady Hilltoppers and Hilltoppers stepped out of region play this past Tuesday against Class 6A Columbus and picked up a pair of convincing wins to extend both squads’ impressive win streaks.

Houston 63 Columbus 38 (G)

Both teams struggled out of the gates as Houston (17-4, 3-0 Region 4-4A) took a 9-4 lead in the first quarter before pulling ahead for a 24-14 halftime lead. Columbus (7-11, 1-5 Region 2-6A) saw the Lady Toppers explode for 22 points in the third quarter to take a commanding 46-21 lead into the fourth quarter. The two teams traded baskets in the final frame as each team scored 17 points in the quarter and Houston cruised to the 63-38 win over the Lady Falcons.

Shane Fox scored 15, Tori Nichols 14, Jasmine Pierce 13, Ty-Nita Baker 10, Chancedy Pulliam 4, LaNikki McMillian 2, Audrianna Lewis 2, Sancreisha Morgan 2, and Raven Tucker added 1 point for Houston.

The win marks the sixth-straight victory for the Lady Toppers with their last loss coming to the hands of the Hernando Lady Tigers at the Pontotoc Battle of the Best in the final game of the 2009 half of the season.

Houston 48 Columbus 37 (B)

Defense was the name of the game for Houston (13-7, 4-0) as they held Columbus (12-8, 3-3) under 10 points in the first three quarters of the game.

The Toppers grabbed a 12-5 lead in the first quarter and pushed their way out to a 25-14 edge at halftime. The Falcons battled back in the third quarter but saw a strong close by the Toppers make it a 35-22 game heading into the fourth. Columbus got their offense going, but it was too little too late as the Toppers kept pace to pick up the 11-point victory.

Devante Pulliam had 13, Thomas Hill and Kirby Jones each scored 12, Xavier Cousins 8, George French 2, and Clarence Frison added 1 point for Houston.

Houston picks up their eight-straight victory with the win over Columbus. Their last loss was to the Oxford Chargers on December 19th in the Curtis Loggins Classic.

Candiace McIntosh was too much for the West Oktibbeha Lady Timberwolves as the senior center scored a career-high 41 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to help the Lady Wildcats pick up a crucial 56-43 Region 4-1A win .

Houlka (9-13, 3-1) jumped out to a 20-9 lead in the first quarter, but the scoring dropped off in the second quarter as both teams posted 7 points each as the Lady Wildcats took a 27-16 lead into the half. West Oktibbeha (14-7, 3-2) trimmed into the lead by outscoring the Houlka 11-9 in the third quarter, but the Lady Wildcats countered in the fourth to outscore the Lady Wolves 20-16 to pick up the 56-43 win.

Ranesha Townsend scored 8, Macey Heair 6, and Sara Zachary added 1 point to McIntosh’s double-double performance.

Houlka stays atop of the Region 4-1A rankings with the win. A win on Tuesday over the Tremont Lady Eagles (3-10, 1-3) would lock the Lady Cats in as the number one seed heading into next week’s region tournament.

West Oktibbeha 63 Houlka 62 (B)

The Wildcats dropped a 63-62 heartbreaker to the West Oktibbeha Timberwolves on Tuesday night.

Houlka (8-16, 2-2) battled their way out to a 17-11 lead in the first quarter. West Oktibbeha (11-12, 4-1) fought back in the second quarter to trim the Cats’ six-point edge to 37-33 at the break. The Wolves clawed their way back even by out scoring Houlka 16-12 in the third quarter to head into the final frame tied 49-49. West Oktibbeha outscored the Cats 14-13 in the fourth quarter to sneak away with the 63-62 thriller.

Kevin Moore scored a game-high 19 points, Jarvis Pulliam had 16, Corey Pulliam and Brandon Isabell had 6 each while Dante Turner, John Michael Houston, Lorenzo Jones, and Garrett Moore all score 4 points apiece for Houlka.

Kareem Hughes paced West Oktibbeha with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

A win on over Tremont Eagles (2-14, 0-4) on Tuesday would lock the Cats into the number four seed in next week’s region tournament.

Jonathan Van Every is a 30 year old outfielder, who will soon be headed to major league baseball’s spring training with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Friday night, the former ICC standout was back on the Fulton campus as the featured speaker in the College’s 12th annual baseball leadoff banquet.

“It’s great being back at ICC,” said Van Every moments after the annual event inside the Student Services Building. “I saw some familiar faces tonight and it brought back a lot of great memories for me.  I can’t believe this place. It was nice back then but now it’s like a university. The facilities are unbelievable.”

Van Every added with a smile, it was “about time (ICC head coach) Rick (Collier) asked me to speak at this banquet. I’ve been really looking forward to this.”

Baseball has always been a part of Van Every’s life since nearly the beginning. In fact, growing up outside Jackson, Mississippi, his very first spoken word was ‘ball.’

He last played for the Boston Red Sox. As you know, the Red Sox is a difficult organization to come through the ranks and earn a spot on the major league roster. Let alone sign a minor league free agent deal and do it. But Van Every did it, twice.

Van Every, who was an all-state and all-Region 23 outfielder for ICC back in 2000 and 2001, is known for his powerful bat, but he also plays excellent defense. If not for some injuries, he would still be Red Sox property. The perennial power in the American League surely didn’t intend for Van Every to walk away.

On May 14, 2008 in his Major League debut against Orioles, he started in the outfield and went one for three at the plate. On Sept.28, 2008, Van Every was the talk of the Red Sox Nation after his walk off single beat the arch-rival Yankees on the last day of regular season. Another one of his highlights in the “Bigs,” was on April 29, 2009, when he hit the game-winning home run at Cleveland in 10th inning. Van Every also made a spectacular catch in the outfield that earned him a spot on ESPN’s Top Ten Plays of the Day.

Van Every took five years to get out of A level ball, but since then has put up some nice power numbers in his long minor league career. (a part of over 700 minor league games) He was a Cleveland Indian prospect who signed a minor league free agent deal with Boston in December of 2007.

Van Every was 25 when he reached AA in 2005 and hit 27 HR, he ripped 15 HR between AA and AAA in 2006, but only 12 HR in 2007. But in his first year with the Red Sox at Pawtucket he caught fire in 380 at-bats he slugged 26HR.

What a difference the organizational change did, he went from splitting time between AA Akron and AAA Buffalo to getting a call to play in Fenway Park.

He had four hits in seventeen at bats for the Sox in 2008, but it was just enough to wet his appetite.

Van Every had his mind set on making the Red Sox 2009 roster out of spring training, but injuries sidelined the dream. 2009 was a wild ride for the smooth fielding left-hander. He sprained his right ankle in spring training with Boston. The injury cost him most of March and April.

In his first game back down at AAA with the PawSox, Van Every roamed centerfield again and he showed the fans and Boston management the ankle was fully healed when he hit a game-tying grand slam to key a dramatic PawSox victory.

Van Every got the call to return to Boston, where he played well, hitting .364 in 11 at-bats with a home run and three RBI to go along with two walks.

The former Ole Miss signee even pitched last year during a Red Sox loss to Tampa Bay.

Friday night High School basketball games are being rescheduled due to inclement weather excepted to move into North Mississippi heading into the weekend.

Change of schedule to Friday games

Calhoun City-Vardaman — rescheduled for Monday
Hatley-Hamilton — reschuled for Monday
Hickory Flat-Ashland — TBA
Itawamba-New Albany — rescheduled for Monday
Louisville-Amory — rescheduled for Thursday
Mooreville-Aberdeen — TBA
Nettleton-Houlka — games will not be rescheduled
Okolona-Houston — games will not be rescheduled
Oxford-Lafayette County — games will not be rescheduled
Pontotoc-Shannon — rescheduled for Monday
Saltillo-Mooreville — TBA
Smithville-Mantachie — TBA
South Pontotoc-Winona — rescheduled for Monday
Tupelo-West Point — games will not be rescheduled
Tremont-Vina, AL — rescheduled for Monday
Water Valley-North Pontotoc — TBA
West Union-Ingomar — TBA

Saturday Basketball

Robertson’s Sportswear — could be rescheduled for next Sat
Union-Prentiss County Shootout — games will not be rescheduled
Columbus-Aberdeen — games will not be rescheduled
Tippah Co Tournament — rescheduled for Monday
Ole Miss-Arkansas — ppd to Sunday 6 p.m.

Other cancellations due to winter weather

Basketball

Blue Mountain-Lyon College ppd to Monday 6 p.m.
Myrtle-New Albany game for Feb 1 has been canceled
Vardaman-Calhoun City game for Feb 2 has been canceled

Soccer Playoffs (Saturday)

Amory-West Lauderdale (B) — ppd to Monday 7:30
Amory-Newton County (G) — ppd to Monday 5:30
Callaway-Oxford (B) — ppd to Monday
New Albany-Center Hill (B) — ppd to Monday 6 p.m.
Pontotoc-Lafayette County (G) — ppd to Saturday at 3 p.m. (pending)
Vicksburg-Tupelo (B) — ppd to Monday 5 p.m.

Bowling

Friday’s Tupelo-North Pontotoc bowling match — TBA

Softball

Softball Camp at NECC — ppd from Saturday to Sunday

If you have any game changes please leave them in a comment below in order to help fans and families planning to travel to various games.

Sources close to the situation say Brian Sutton will be named the new head football coach at North Pontotoc High School.

Sutton is currently an assistant baseball coach and assisant principal at North Pontotoc.

Before moving to Ecru, he was the Nettleton head baseball coach where he led the Tigers to the 1998 Class 2A State Championship.

That year he was named All-Area Coach of the Year for Small Schools, Lee County Coach of the Year, and Mississippi High School Athletics Association Coach of the Year.

As of late Thursday night no official word had been given on Sutton’s hire by NPHS.

Former head coach JJ Plummer left after one season with the Vikings to take over the St Andrews football program earlier this month.

Stephanie Murphy traveled to Ackerman on Saturday to scout New Site in its Mid-Mississippi Challenge game against another 2A power, Scott Central.

Tupelo’s coach came away impressed with the unbeaten Lady Royals, who defeated their South state foe, 57-55, on a last-second basketball by guard Krystal Jackson.

“They’re undefeated for a reason,” Murphy said. “They shoot lights out. It’s going to be a tough matchup for us. They’re very good.”

Murphy’s Lady Wave plays New Site at 7:15 p.m. Saturday in the 13th annual Robertson’s Sportswear/Renasant Bank Cancer Relay For Life Lady Challenge at Ingomar High School gym.

New Site’s looking forward to >>> click here to read more about Saturday’s all-day event from Gene Phelps of the NEMS Daily Journal.

Click here to the schedule of games for the 13th annual Robertson’s Sportswear/Renasant Bank Cancer Relay For Life Lady Challenge at Ingomar High School gym.

ECRU — The Ingomar Lady Falcons picked a vote of confidence heading into the final weeks of the season with a 48-40 victory over friendly-rival North Pontotoc Lady Vikings on Thursday night.

Ingomar (8-5, 2-7 Region 2-1A) jumped out to a 12-0 lead before Andrea Lewis could give North Pontotoc (14-8, 5-4 Region 1-4A) their first points of the contest at the 3:26 mark of the first quarter.

The Lady Falcons pushed their way out to a 25-17 advantage at the break and saw their lead shirk to as many as one-point and climb as high as 12-points throughout the second half before claiming the 8-point victory.

Kayla Stevens, the W07BN Player of the Game, led all scorers with 20 points while Shelly Grisham added 9 points for the Lady Falcons.

Lewis came off the bench to paced the Lady Vikings with 11 with Meggin Nelson and Hayden Hill scored 6 points each.

Ingomar 64 North Pontotoc 52 (B)

The only thing that could slow down Ingomar big man Zach Carnell on Thursday night was himself.

Carnell scored at will before a pair of fouls sent him to the bench early in the second quarter and again late in the third quarter allowing the Vikings to trim the Flacons’ lead to 49-39 heading into the final frame.

Ingomar (22-3, 7-1 Region 2-1A) saw their lead cut to six points midway through the fourth quarter and North Pontotoc (15-8, 4-5 Region 1-4A) saw Carnell re-enter the contest.

The Falcons quickly pushed their lead back out to double digits upon the return of the senior center as they were able to pull away for the 64-52 victory.

Carnell, W07BN Player of the Game, finished with a game-high 27 and Matt Purvis added 13 points for Ingomar.

Ethan Tallant scored a team-high 14 with Jeremy Berry chipped in 12 points for North Pontootc.

High School Basketball

Belmont 76 Tishomingo County 32 (G)
Belmont 65 Tishomingo County 56 (B)

Myrtle 75 Blue Mountain 54 (B)

Oxford 50 New Hope 44 (G)
Oxford 60 New Hope 54 (B)

Wheeler 62 Thrasher 52 (B)

College Basketball

Mid-Continent 69 Blue Mountain 64 (W)
Mid-Continent 103 Blue Mountain 66 (M)

Itawamba CC 100 Coahoma CC 42 (W)
Itawamba CC 76 Coahoma CC 66 (M)

Northeast CC 65 Holmes CC 52 (W)
Northeast CC 68 Holmes CC 66 (M)

Northwest CC 53 East Mississippi CC 47 (W)
East Mississippi CC 65 Northwest CC 57 (M)