By Staff
From Staff Reports
Nov. 26, 2001
Four girls games and four boys games highlight the first day of action in the East Central Community College Central Mississippi Classic which will be played at two gyms in Decatur all this week
Today's girls games have Newton facing Carthage at 4 p.m. and Noxapater taking on Scott Central at 7 p.m. in the old Decatur High School gym, with Union taking on South Leake at 4 p.m. and Newton County facing Philadelphia at 7 p.m. in the Brackeen-Wood Physical Education Building.
Today's boys contests have Philly facing Leake at 5:30 p.m. and Sebastopol taking on Newton at 8:30 p.m. in the old gym, while Brackeen-Wood hosts the 5:30 p.m. game between Neshoba Central and Nanih Waiya and the 8:30 p.m. contest between Scott Central and West Lauderdale.
The girls finals are set for 7 p.m. on Saturday, with the boys finals tipping off at 8:30 p.m. There will also be boys and girls third-place contests, as well as consolation championships on Saturday.
Austin Bishop
Whole lotta points being scored
Heading into Friday's playoff games, the Durant Tigers had scored the most touchdowns in Mississippi this fall, racking up 79. Clarksdale had the second-highest total with 73.
Of area interest, Newton led the east Mississippi teams in touchdowns scored with 54, followed by Wayne Academy at 53 and Winston Academy with 46.
Marty Stamper
Back in the saddle
After being out of high school coaching for three-and-a-half years, Ronnie Boles is back patrolling the sidelines.
Boles has taken over at Clarkdale High School, where he has guided the Bulldogs to a 2-5 mark so far this season, including a thrilling triple-overtime win over Scott Central last week.
His last head coaching stint was the 1986-87 season at Quitman High School. Before his tenure with the Panthers, he was the head coach at Kemper Academy.
After leaving QHS, Boles was the junior varsity coach at Meridian High School for 10 seasons.
The Bulldogs return to action at home on Tuesday against Northeast Lauderdale.
Austin Bishop
Kicking straight and true
Newton County's David McConnell, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound senior, led Class 3A in kick scoring with 65 points prior to Friday's game with Collins. McConnell had kicked seven field goals, including a long kick of 53 yards against Morton.
In second place in Class 3A with 61 points was West Lauderdale's Will Moseley, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound senior, with 61. Moseley had 10 field goals with a long kick of 50 yards at Philadelphia.
Winston Academy's Jay McMillin, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound junior, kicked 46 points this fall, making four field goals with a long kick of 40 yards.
Marty Stamper
Well, it ought to mean something
While only one football team in East Mississippi will be playing for a state championship this season, at least one team can say it got a close look at a couple of teams who will.
Wayne Academy takes on Trinity Episcopal at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Mississippi College in Clinton for the MPSA A State Championship, while Silliman (La.) Institute faces North Delta Academy at 1 p.m. on Friday for the AAA title.
Lamar School lost to Wayne 28-0 to open the season and Silliman 45-7 in the first round of the playoffs to close out the year. Starkville Academy, another team who defeated the Raiders, fell just short of the AAAA title game, falling to Jackson Academy in the semifinals on Friday.
The AAAA title game is set for 7 p.m. on Friday with Jackson Academy facing Jackson Prep, while Magnolia Heights takes on Oak Forest (La.) for the AA title at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
Austin Bishop
Southeast basketball is a family' affair
At Southeast Lauderdale family is important. Joe Miller began his twelfth year as the girls basketball coach this season.
Miller's son Ryan has followed in his footsteps as he begins his fourth season as the boys' basketball coach, a post that his father once held.
The elder Miller is proud of his son, but he doesn't get in his way. "I pretty much leave Ryan alone with the team," said Joe Miller. "He doesn't ask me for a lot of advice, but I help when I can."
The Millers get to share a special camaraderie between father and son. "We are excited for each other when one of us wins," said Joe Miller. "It was his choice to coach and I'm happy it's worked out for him."
Josh Taylor
Hey, Mr. Tally-man
Mooreville drilled Falkner 99-26 last week with Jim Tally scoring 15 points, Lance Tally tossing in 11, and Russ Tally adding 10.
The Troopers improved to 5-0 with the win.
– Marty Stamper