Prep Notebook

By Staff
From staff reports
Feb. 13, 2004
Northeast Lauderdale High School placed seven players on the All-Division 4-4A girls soccer first team, which was announced recently after being selected by the district's coaches.
Forward Danni Smith, midfielders Candace White, Brittany Britain and Eliza Gavin, striker Ivy Rawson, defender Alyse Hopgood and stopper Sarah Roberts all earned first-team honors for the Lady Trojans. Forward Victoria Meek and defenders Dana Ducksworth, Nicole Jenkins and Lindsey Tingle each made the All-Division second team.
Quitman had the second-most first-teamers with six selections. Midfielders Amy Feliciano and Amy Skinner, defenders Nicole Creighton and Jamie Smith, sweeper Briane Boudreaux and goalie Karey Dickerson were named to the first team. Second-team honors were awarded to forwards Chelsy Culberson, Leah Moore and Krystyn Davis, midfielder Kimberly Dane and defender Jessica Creighton.
Five players from Northeast Jones made both the All-Division first and second teams. Defenders Jessica Roach and Megan Butler, forward Whitney Clark, sweeper Kayla Bradley and goalie Tracy Field were first-team selections. Second-team honorees were defenders Hilliary Walters, Jessica Crane and Megan Coats and forwards Jennifer Crane and Meredith Johnson.
Wayne County also had five players make the first team. Goalie Sabrina Mizell, defenders Samantha Hopkins and Maggie Chancey, striker Kristy Signa and midfielder Andrea Revette were first-teamers for the Lady War Eagles, and second-team honors went to striker Suzie Deubzor and midfielders Crystal McRae and Liz Carr.
Will Bardwell
Lady Knights set to vie for state crown
The West Lauderdale girls' soccer team will compete for a state soccer title in the program's second year of existence at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Clinton.
The Lady Knights (16-4-3) will meet Our Lady Academy (20-5-1) in the girls' 1A-2A-3A State Championship game at Clinton Junior High School.
Ridgeland and Gautier will play at 1 p.m. at Clinton for the 4A state title, and the 5A State Championship match between Tupelo and Gulfport will be played at 11 a.m.
Tony Krausz
Knights to meet Madision St. Joe
The West Lauderdale boys' soccer team will take on two-time defending 1A-2A-3A boys' state soccer champion Madison St. Joseph this weekend.
The Knights (23-1-1) will meet Madison St. Joseph (19-2) at 11 a.m. Saturday at Pearl.
In the 4A state title contest, Pearl will take on St. Stanislaus at 1 p.m., and Pascagoula will meet Tupelo for the 5A title at 3 p.m.
Tony Krausz
Prentiss forward may go pro
Prentiss forward Al Jefferson could be the next Mississippi high school player to skip college directly for the NBA.
Last week, Jefferson scored 62 points against Magee. The 6-foot-9 Jefferson is averaging almost 40 points a game this season.
On Tuesday, he had 52 points in an 88-75 win over Collins.
The deadline for high school and college underclassmen to declare for the 2004 NBA Draft is May 11. Players can retain their college eligibility by withdrawing a week before the draft, providing they don't sign with an agent. Once a player signs with an agent, he loses his amateur status.
Two Atlanta prep All-Americans, Dwight Howard and Josh Smith, are the only high school phenoms ahead of Jefferson in the NBA chase. The 6-foot-10 Howard is projected as the top overall pick.
Jefferson has signed with the University of Arkansas Razorbacks.
Marty Stamper
Singleton out
at St. John
Buddy Singleton won't be back as head football coach at Gulfport St. John this fall. St. John principal Bill Heath said Monday that the school board chose not to re-sign the head coach due to financial considerations.
Singleton was inducted into the Mississippi Association of Coaches Hall of Fame in 1994. In seven seasons at St. John, he posted an on-field record of 60-27. The 2001 Eagles went 13-2 and made the Class 2A state finals before losing 20-14 to Ackerman 20-14. St. John later had to forfeit eight of those victories due to the use of an ineligible player.
The Eagles went 4-8 in 2003, Singleton's only losing season on the field at St. John. St. John knocked off Philadelphia 16-0 in the first round of the state playoffs and came within two points of upsetting Enterprise and advancing to the third round of the 2A state playoffs.
Singleton, 63, said it was unlikely that he would return to coaching.
Marty Stamper
E. Oktibbeha hits 20-win mark again
It's been a 20-20 basketball season for the folks at East Oktibbeha High School.
The Lady Titans posted their 21st win of the season to go with five losses with a 53-44 decision over East Webster. The Titans hit the century mark, claiming a 100-35 triumph, their 23rd win of the season against four losses.
Marty Stamper
Ripley girls ready
Ripley girls' basketball coach Shane Montgomery is ready for the playoffs to begin.
The Lady Tigers are the defending Class 3A state champions, having beaten West Lauderdale in last year's title game.
Tuesday night, the Lady Tigers ripped Walnut 60-39 to improve to 26-1.
Marty Stamper
Lady Tide upends Red Rebelettes
Picayune caught Harrison Central by surprise in taking a 39-32 win between Class 2A girls' basketball teams Tuesday night.
Picayune made a defensive change and avenged a nine-point loss to Harrison earlier this season.
Harrison fell to 19-5, while Picayune improved to 19-7.
Marty Stamper
Ingomar boys beat Tupelo
The Class 1A Ingomar Falcons knocked off Class 5A Tupelo 66-64 Tuesday to improve to 24-4.
Tupelo, 19-9, trailed by as many as 12 points in the second half.
Marty Stamper
Ripley girls ready
Ripley girls' basketball coach Shane Montgomery is ready for the playoffs to begin.
The Lady Tigers are the defending Class 3A state champions, having beaten West Lauderdale in last year's title game.
Tuesday night, the Lady Tigers ripped Walnut 60-39 to improve to 26-1.
Marty Stamper