MERIDIAN —
There won’t be any special messages today from Alex George to his West Lauderdale girls soccer team.
Instead, as the Knights prepare to play Florence for the MHSAA Class 4A state championship game at 1:30 p.m. at Clinton High School, George just plans to tell his players to give it their best shot.
“It’s kind of surreal in that we’ve punched our ticket and now we’re going and anything can happen,” he said as West is ready to play for a state title for the first time since 2000.
“I think what I’m going to tell the girls pregame is, ‘There’s no reason to hold back now. Let’s just finish it and see what happens.’”
Not holding back will be the easy part. The hard part will be slowing the 15-6-3 Eagles. Led by senior forward Lindy Tabor, Florence possesses a wealth of talent up front that should challenge the Knights. However, West is also playing with a lot of confidence following playoff wins against Northeast Jones and Greene County, no slouches in their own right.
“Same song, second verse,” George said about the Eagles. “They’ve got a really good forward that we’re going to have to deal with. (Tabor) is a really good player, so we’re probably looking to neutralize her a little bit. They’ve got a good center-mid and their right mid, from what I understand, has a lot of speed.
“It’s going to be a similar task probably to Tuesday against Greene County in we try to neutralize them, and try to hit a few counters and maybe get a little lucky, and try to score.”
In helping West win the South State title against Greene County on Tuesday, senior defender Meagan Stewart had the chore of slowing down Wildcats’ star forward Darby Nettles. Her success – along with the help of her teammates – is encouraging for the Knights. In fact, defense has been the Knights’ strength all season.
“About halfway through the season, everything just started t come together and we started to score some goals,” George added. “Our defense, it has always been strong, but we started really finding the back of the net about mid-December, and since then everything has really been gelling for us.”
That improved offensive output, along with the ever-growing confidence, has West soaring high heading into today’s championship match. It also has been a surprising run. West has just two seniors in Kaylyn and Meagan Stewart, both Meridian Community College signees. The Knights also have just four juniors on a youthful roster.
“It’s been a nice surprise because we’re so young,” George said. “It’s been a nice surprise and we’re excited, but at the same time we’re very humbled about the opportunity to represent West Lauderdale and the community.”
Sports
Surprising West girls eye finish, state championship
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Roy shows big-league talent in win
Every youth leaguer dreams of being a Major League Baseball player. In Tuesday's Cardinals-Mets game, 8-year-old Trace Roy swung the bat and flashed some leather that looked like a glimpse into the future.
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Cougars fall in Game 1
A sixth inning rally by Lewisburg handed the Newton County Cougars their first lost of the postseason, 2-0, in Game 1 of the Class 4A baseball championship at Trustmark Park.
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Bulldogs win again, beat S. Carolina in SEC Tournament
Demarcus Henderson and Wes Rea both had RBI singles in the ninth inning to lift Mississippi State to a 5-3 win over South Carolina Wednesday night in the second round of the Southeastern Conference tournament.
The Bulldogs (42-16) loaded the bases with one out before Henderson and Rea drove in runs on consecutive at-bats for the second time in the game.
Mississippi State had beaten Missouri 2-1 in 17 innings Tuesday night, matching the longest game in SEC tournament history.
Reliever Myles Gentry (4-0) limited the Gamecocks (39-17) to a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth.
Gentry pitched 5-2/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits while striking out eight.
Rea was 3 for 4 while Henderson drove in three runs.
Mississippi State led 3-0 before South Carolina tied it up in the fourth.
Max Schrock drew a bases loaded walk and Brison Celek followed with a two-run single. -
Hogs top Ole Miss in SEC Tournament
For the second time this season the Rebels played an extra-inning affair with the Razorbacks, but with a different outcome as No. 21 Ole Miss (37-21) fell to No. 15 Arkansas (36-19) 2-1 in 10 innings on Wednesday.
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Fundamentals leading Newton County to Jackson
In 2006, Newton County baseball won the 3A state title. Since then, they've moved up a class but haven't had much luck – until now.
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Roy takes over as football head coach at Clarkdale
After nine years serving as an assistant on the Clarkdale football coaching staff, Wes Roy proudly considers himself a Bulldog. The coach has not only grown to love the team and its players, but also the Clarkdale community itself.
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Bennett stays on as softball coach at Clarkdale
In one season as the interim coach for the Clarkdale softball team, Britt Bennett has gone through what most coaches go through in a career. Over the past year, Clarkdale has dealt with the death of two students, a coaching scandal and the departure of two star players.
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Titles nothing new for Newton County
Newton County captured its seventh fast-pitch state championship, outscoring defending champion Houston 26-3 in two games. The Cougars took home the title despite not having a single senior on their roster –– still, few were surprised.
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Embry completes 5A title sweep
In his first year coaching the Neshoba Central softball team, Trae Embry won two state titles but wouldn't take all the credit.
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Morgan takes runner-up at Nationals
Meridian Community College golfer, TJ Morgan, from Bruce, MS, tied for the
individual medalist at the NJCAA D1 National Championship held in Lubbock, TX, but lost on the first hole of a playoff. TJ shot 7 under for the tournament with a 76 on the first day followed by 68, 67 and a last round 70. Aksel Olsen from Wallace State Community College won the playoff. TJ was named First Team All-American for his high finish. - More Sports Headlines
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