Insight and commentary on Northeast Mississippi prep sports from the Daily Journal

New episodes released on Wednesday afternoons

Prep Rally

Prep Rally

#96: Nettleton, Shannon get big wins; rankings are out – 01/03/18

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Prep Rally is back after a brief holiday break, and there’s plenty for Brad and Dalton to catch up on.

Both of them were out at games Tuesday night. Brad took in Nettleton’s win over Amory (1:45), in which Shawn Pounds poured in 27 points. Dalton saw Shannon cruise past Mooreville with the help of a suffocating press defense (4:37).

Also, Brad looks back at the Kiwanis Classic on Friday, when Davian Price hit a buzzer-beating shot to lift Booneville over Biggersville (6:35).

Looking ahead, the big Tangle on the Trail event is this weekend in Pontotoc (8:44). A couple of girls matchups jump out: Belmont vs. Lafayette and Ingomar vs. Tupelo.

The guys also discuss the first set of Daily Journal basketball rankings (11:04), the Journal’s All-Area football team (12:43), and Athletes of the Week (16:10).

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#95: Tupelo basketball soldiers on; Houlka impresses – 12/20/17

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Both of Tupelo’s basketball teams are dealing with adversity this season.

The girls are currently without three starters, but some young players have stepped up big, including in Tuesday’s win over Booneville (1:19). Three freshmen were in the starting lineup and made key shots for the Lady Wave.

The boys team is without point guard La’Devin Allen, who was injured in a house fire earlier this week (4:12). He has been hospitalized in Memphis, and coach Jeff Norwood said the team is going to try and carry on best it can in Allen’s absence.

Elsewhere on the hardwood, Brad has been impressed by the play of Houlka’s boys (6:37), who he saw play twice last week. Dashun Berry and Madarius Hobson have led the Wildcats, who are a well-rounded team. Brad also has an update on a pair of local teams – East Webster and South Pontotoc – traveling to Indiana to play in the famous Hoosier Gym (8:25). Plus, he and Dalton discuss the best teams in the area (10:42).

There’s a little football to talk about as well. Mississippi dominated Alabama last weekend in the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Classic (14:13), and today is the first day of the new early signing period, with a handful of local standouts inking with Division I schools (15:28).

The guys also present Athletes of the Week (17:46).

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#94: Houlka topples Ingomar; possible change in 1A football – 12/13/17

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Brad and Dalton pack a lot into this week’s episode, from football to basketball to softball.

Dalton looks back at last week’s Bernard Blackwell Classic All-Star Game (1:31), which the North won 13-0. Several area players played key roles, including Tupelo kicker Josh Smith (the offensive MVP) and North Pontotoc quarterback Clark Mills.

And this weekend, it’s the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game (3:28), which will see eight area players in action.

On the hardwood, Brad recaps the Houlka boys’ win over previously undefeated Ingomar (5:07). Madarius Hobson had a big game, but he also got plenty of help from his teammates. In girls action, freshman Sky Vaughn sparked Pontotoc in a division-opening win over Amory (8:35). And Brad has quick updates on the Belmont and Ingomar girls (11:10).

Back to football: Class 1A might soon look a little different (12:17). A proposal to go from four divisions to eight will go before the MHSAA in February. A big benefit of the move would be to cut down on travel costs for schools.

On the softball front, the MHSAA recently announced that the fast-pitch championships will be held at Southern Miss and Mississippi State starting in 2018 (14:35). It’s a move that several area coaches are happy about.

And finally, Brad presents Athletes of the Week (16:28).

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#93: West Point wins again; Saltillo basketball rolls – 12/06/17

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The football state championships were played last weekend, and Northeast Mississippi went 1-for-2.

On this episode, Dalton recaps West Point’s second consecutive Class 5A state title (1:37). Marcus Murphy had a huge game in the 41-15 win over previously unbeaten Hattiesburg. In 6A, Starkville came up just short against Pearl, 21-17 (5:37), but the Yellowjackets will return a load of talent next season.

On the basketball front, Dalton took in Saltillo’s dominating win over Baldwyn on Tuesday (7:34). Also, Brad has updates on Oxford’s boys (9:37), who are off to a 6-0 start, and Wheeler’s boys (11:27), who got a big division-opening win over Biggersville on Tuesday.

Back to the gridiron, Brad and Dalton preview the Daily Journal’s annual All-Area team and give details on how the format has been tweaked (12:34). Dalton also previews the upcoming Bernard Blackwell All-Star Game (15:17), which will feature several area players and coaches.

And finally, we have Athletes of the Week (17:18).

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#92: West Point, Starkville playing for state titles – 11/29/17

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The MHSAA football championships are this weekend in Oxford, and two area teams will be looking to bring home the hardware.

Reigning Class 5A champ West Point advanced by beating Olive Branch again (1:37), with the defense turning in another dominant performance. Starkville survived a close one with Madison Central (3:35), reaching the 6A title game for the second time in three years.

Starkville will face unbeaten Pearl on Friday (8:54), while West Point takes on Hattiesburg (10:54). Two other area teams were eliminated last week: Calhoun City lost a close one to Winona (5:17), while Okolona played Simmons tougher than anyone else has all season (7:00).

On the injury front, Tupelo football and basketball star Jett Johnson will be out several weeks with a stress fracture (15:49).

Brad and Dalton also talk hoops. Ingomar’s girls, the two-time reigning 2A champs, got a test from 1A champion Pine Grove on Monday (17:33). On the boys side, Nettleton shot the lights out Tuesday in a win over Mooreville (18:42).

The guys also present Athletes of the Week (20:11).

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#91: Four area teams vying for title game berths – 11/22/17

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Four Northeast Mississippi football teams are still alive in the MHSAA playoffs, with the North finals set for Friday. Brad and Dalton break down each of the matchups.

But first, they look back to last week. In Class 2A, Calhoun City got clutch performances from Keshun Parker and Davione Hull in a 34-32 win over Philadelphia (1:23). In 6A, Starkville’s offense finally got back on track in a 35-7 shelling of Horn Lake (3:39), and Okolona pulled out a 34-22 win over Brooks in 1A (5:oo), with QB Jacob Buchanan turning in a big game.

As for this week’s games, three of them feature rematches, including Madison Central at Starkville (7:09). The Yellowjackets won the regular-season matchup, 14-6. West Point, the reigning 5A champ, hosts Olive Branch (8:08), which has only one loss on the year – 51-7 to the Green Wave.

Calhoun City gets a shot at redemption when it visits Winona (9:27), which handed the Wildcats their only division loss, 31-20. And then there is Okolona, which must face two-time defending state champ Simmons (11:41). The Blue Devils have been a juggernaut since moving down to 1A in 2015.

The guys also talk a little basketball (16:09). The annual Lighthouse Classic tips off Friday in Corinth, and one of the area’s best players is headed to a prep school.

And we have Athletes of the Week (18:37).

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#90: Corinth pulls playoff upset; Tupelo exits early – 11/15/17

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The MHSAA football playoffs saw some intriguing results last week.

In Class 4A, Corinth pulled off a big upset of Pontotoc (1:30), rallying from a 21-point deficit and getting a game-winning field goal from Michael Baugus. In 6A, Tupelo saw its unbeaten season ruined in a first-round loss to Warren Central (5:52), as turnovers doomed the Golden Wave. And in 3A, Urriah Shephard and Houston bested Clark Mills and North Pontotoc (9:08).

So, six area teams remain the playoffs. Brad and Dalton preview some of the key games, including Philadelphia at Calhoun City (10:49), which is led by the dynamic rushing duo of Treshon Cooper and Keshun Parker. The host Wildcats are the reigning 2A state champs.

Houston will host Yazoo County (12:51), which is led by 3A Mr. Football Kenny Gainwell. And in 1A, Okolona rides a nine-game winning streak into its home matchup with Brooks (14:19).

On the basketball front, Tupelo’s boys rolled past Shannon on Tuesday, and the girls have lost a key player for the season (15:16).

And finally, Brad presents Athletes of the Week (17:50).

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#89: Houston-North Pontotoc highlights playoff slate – 11/08/17

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The football playoffs are in full swing for all classifications, and some big matchups loom this week.

In 3A, North Pontotoc hosts Houston in what could be a high-scoring affair (10:41). That game will feature two of the area’s top quarterbacks in Clark Mills and Urriah Shephard. There’s another all-area matchup in 4A, with Pontotoc visiting Corinth (12:38). That game pits Pontotoc’s stingy defense against Corinth’s prolific Wing-T attack.

Tupelo, meanwhile, opens the 6A playoffs against a tough Warren Central squad (8:53). The Golden Wave finished the regular season undefeated after taking down Oxford last week (4:48). That game was unaffected by a big storm system that moved through the area, but others had to suspend play until Saturday, like North Pontotoc against Humphreys County (1:44).

In other action last week, Baldwyn shut out O’Bannon in a 2A playoff opener (6:42).

Brad and Dalton also have quick updates on the state cross country championships (14:35) and the start of basketball season (15:10). And they present Athletes of the Week (17:53).

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#88: Playoffs begin for 2A, 3A, 4A teams – 11/01/17

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The football playoffs are here.

Teams in Classes 2A, 3A and 4A open postseason play this weekend. Brad and Dalton take a look at some of the bigger games, including O’Bannon at Baldwyn in 2A (7:34). The host Bearcats are the No. 1 seed but are playing without star tailback Johndrix Robinson, who was injured in a motorcycle accident last week.

In 4A, Shannon travels to Louisville (10:26) and is seeking its first playoff victory in seven years. And in a regular season game, Division 1-6A champ Tupelo looks to stay undefeated when it hosts Oxford (11:20), which must win to have a shot at making the playoffs.

The guys also take a look back at some key Week 11 results, including Tupelo’s win over Horn Lake (1:45), Corinth’s loss to Senatobia (4:00), and Ripley’s shutout of New Albany (5:24).

Brad also has an update on Biggersville football (14:16), as well as basketball, cross country and swimming news (15:42). And he presents Athletes of the Week (18:16).

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#87: Warriors top IAHS, face Shannon next – 10/25/17

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Pontotoc took care of business last week with a big Division 2-4A win over Itawamba AHS.

On this episode, Brad and Dalton look back at the Warriors’ victory (1:55). They also recap Houston’s offensive explosion against Aberdeen (4:22) and Okolona moving a step closer to winning the Division 1-1A title (6:07).

More big games are on tap this weekend, including Shannon at Pontotoc (8:23), where the visiting Red Raiders pit a prolific offense against one of the area’s best defenses. Tupelo, meanwhile, will try to wrap up the 1-6A title when it visits a tough Horn Lake squad (10:08), and Calhoun City hosts Eupora in a key 2-2A battle (11:58).

The guys also have updates on softball and volleyball (13:19), along with Athletes of the Week (15:45).

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