Newton Academy hosts seven-team jamboree Friday

By Staff
from staff reports
Aug. 14, 2002
Newton County Academy will host a seven-team football jamboree on Friday.
The teams playing in the event, which begins at 5 p.m. and has the last scrimmage starting at 8 p.m., are NCA, Lamar, Central, Sumter, Sylva-Bay, Oak Hill and Winston.
Lamar's games are at 5 p.m. against Winston and 6 p.m. against Sylva-Bay, while Newton faces Sumter at 7 p.m. and Central at 8 p.m.
Austin Bishop
Gators have girl on grid roster
Vicksburg High School has an unusual situation this fall on its football roster. One of the kickers is Brandi Head. A standout on the Missy Gators soccer team, Head is trying to become the first girl to suit for a football game for Vicksburg, which is slated to be ranked No. 1 when the preseason poll comes out.
One of the persons who encouraged her to try out is Missy Gators soccer coach Kevin Manton, who is also the special teams coach for the football squad.
"She really strikes the ball well," Manton said. "It has nothing to do with strength. It's leg speed. She can kick a soccer ball wherever she wants to."
Head, who is consistent from 30 yards in (extra points are 20 yard kicks), is backing up Sean McGowan.
"She's going to kick a lot," McGowan said. "She can probably kick a 40-yarder and I expect her to do really good this year."
"I trust my team to take care of me," Head said. "I've been in pressure situations before and I don't think it will bother me."
Marty Stamper
Saturday jam at Copiah
Copiah Academy will host a 10-team jamboree on Saturday. Wayne Academy takes on East Rankin at 4:30 p.m., and at 5, Copiah faces Columbia Academy. At 5:30, Wayne plays Central Hinds. The 6 p.m. matchup has ERA taking on Columbia. At 6:30, Central Hinds plays Prentiss Christian.
At 7, University Christian squares off with Chamberlain-Hunt. The 7:30 scrimmage has Prentiss Christian taking on Hillcrest Christian. At 8, Copiah meets University Christian and at 8:30, Hillcrest faces Chamberlain-Hunt.
Marty Stamper
Neal steps down at Terry
John Neal, known for putting the Piney Woods Country Life School on the high school basketball map, won't be coaching the boys' basketball team at Terry this winter.
For the first time in 22 years, Neal won't be coaching as he has taken an assistant principal position.
In 16 years at Piney Woods and six at Terry, Neal's teams were 447-244. At Piney Woods, he led teams to back-to-back Class 2A state championships in 1994 and 1995.
Brad Schut has been named to replace Neal. Schut was a graduate assistant at Mississippi College last year.
Terry head football coach David Virgil has resigned to take a similar position at Crystal Springs. Terry has named Jackie Williamson as his replacement. Williamson was an assistant at Vicksburg. Phatasis Winfrey has been named girls' basketball coach, replacing Eddie Pickle.
Marty Stamper
Pickens takes over at Leake
Brian Pickens has been named to replace Bobby Madden as head football coach at Leake Academy in Madden this fall.
Pickens was the head coach at Oak Hill Academy in West Point the last two years and was at Central Academy in Macon one year prior to that.
Pickens graduated from Starkville Academy in 1989 and from Mississippi State in 1995.
Madden was 8-15 in two years at LA including a 5-7 showing a year ago that included a berth in the Academy AA state playoffs.
Marty Stamper
Area trio honored by iHigh
The iHigh.com web site has named the Top 100 iHigh.com sites for the 2001-02 school year with Clarkdale, Newton, and Northeast Lauderdale being among 13 Mississippi schools to be recognized.
iHigh.com examined its top 1,000 school web sites and evaluated the number of stories, statistics, schedules, rosters, and traffic each school attained.
Other Mississippi schools in the Top 100 are Coffeeville, Corinth, Itawamba AHS, Loyd Star, New Hope, Okolona, Puckett, St. Andrew's, Starkville, and Tupelo.
Marty Stamper
Hinton to coach softball
Former South Natchez football coach Cloyce Hinton has been named girls' slow-pitch softball coach at Cathedral High School in Natchez.
"I've got a daughter going into the 11th grade, so it was kind of like a windfall," said Hinton, who spent 27.5 years in public schools. "Very few people get to do what they truly enjoy, and I'm in position to do it again.
Marty Stamper
"Maybe next year we can start looking at fast-pitch."
Billups headed to Noxubee
T.J. Billups has been named boys' basketball coach at Noxubee County. Billups, 24, is the son of Lanier coach Thomas Billups. The younger Billups played at Mississippi State.
Noxubee went 9-21 under Willie Triplett last year.
– Marty Stamper