Perfect 43-0, let the debate begin

Southern Sports & Travel

The Starkville Academy Lady Vols have officially taken their seat at the table of the best MAIS girls teams in history following a 54-33 defeat of Presbyterian Christian yesterday at A.E. Wood Coliseum on the campus of Mississippi College.

Like a fine tuned machine Starkville shook of a 10-9 late first quarter deficit against Presbyterian and went on a 27-5 run that extended through the third quarter and virtually cemented a second consecutive Overall Championship.

Starkville extended their win streak to 52 games and became the first girls team to repeat since Jackson Academy in 2002.
Saturday's win completed a two year stretch that included two Overall Championships, two Class AAA State Championships and an 81-5 record.

The debate will now begin as to where this Starkville team falls with regards to best ever in the 44 year history of the MAIS girls basketball.

“They’re the best in the history of Glenn Schmidt,” said an emotional Starkville head coach Glenn Schmidt following the game. “I’m endeared to them for what they’ve done. We never wanted to compare ourselves to anybody else, we never wanted to go by other people’s goals.”

It will be hard to argue where this team stands as they had the best shooting guard in Maggie Proffitt, the best center Sallie Kate Richardson, arguably the best play making point guard Tiffany Huddleston and one of the very best all-around players in Anna Lea Little this season.

Facing Presbyterian for the fourth time this season, and twice in the last eight days, Starkville got off to a rather slow start which according to head coach Glenn Schmidt is not unusual.

Presbyterian looked to build off of their semi-final win over Leake Academy on Friday and got out to the start they had hoped for.

Hannah McCarter kicked off the scoring with a basket in the paint less than one minute into the opening quarter and Trista Magee’s driving lay-in at the 5:34 mark gave the Lady Bobcats an early 4-0 edge.

Hannah Sellers converted on one of two free throws to extend the lead to 5-0 before Starkville got on the scoreboard with a Sallie Kate Richardson 15 foot jumper with 4:53 left in the quarter.

Presbyterian pushed out to their biggest lead at 9-2 following a Hannah Sellers basket and a Lillie Waites transition lay-in at the 2:58 mark but the inevitable was on the horizon.

Anna Lea Little’s offensive rebound and put back was quickly followed by a Nora Kathryn Carroll 3-pointer from the wing to pull the Lady Vols to within a bucket at 9-7 with 2:12 left in the quarter.

Hannah McCarter’s free throw with 1:35 remaining gave Presbyterian a 10-7 lead but Starkville finished the quarter strong.

Sallie Kate Richardson scored in the paint and Tiffany Huddleston nailed a straight away 3-pointer from the top of the key with 47 seconds left to give Starkville their first lead at 12-10 as the quarter expired.

Starkville would totally dominate the second quarter.

Maggie Proffitt hit a 12 foot jumper from the baseline one minute into the quarter to start what would be a 12-0 Lady Vol run.

Tiffany Huddleston’s steal and lay-in at the 3:58 mark doubled up the score at 20-10 and Sallie Kate Richardson’s turn-around jumper in the paint capped a 12-0 run to give the defending champions a 24-10 advantage with 1:48 remaining in the first half of play.

Starkville closed the half on an Anna Lea Little long 3-pointer from beyond the top of the key with four seconds left to give the Lady Vols a 29-14 cushion at intermission.

Starkville opened the second half in stark contrast to how they opened the first quarter.

Sallie Kate Richardson served up an assist to Maggie Proffitt following a Lady Bobcat turnover and Anna Lea Little canned two free throws to extend the lead to 33-14 less than two minutes into the second half.

Richardson would score off an offensive rebound and Proffitt hit two free throws to finish off an 8-0 opening third quarter run that would give Starkville their biggest lead at 37-14 with 4:48 remaining in the quarter.

Starkville took a 43-23 lead into the championship quarter.

Presbyterian’s Reagan Dykes scored in the paint to open the final quarter but the Lady Vols responded with an 8-2 run to take what would be their biggest lead of the afternoon at 51-27 with 4:56 remaining in regulation and Presbyterian would get no closer than twenty one points down the stretch.

“We play in a really tough league and we don’t shy away from any of it,” said Glenn Schmidt. “I think that’s what has helped us with our ability to handle pressure.”

Maggie Proffitt led Starkville with a game high 17 points along with 5 rebounds, Sallie Kate Richardson added 12 points and 7 boards, Tiffany Huddleston had 9 points and 10 rebounds, Anna Lea Little had 9 points and 6 rebounds and Nora Kathryn Carroll finished with 7 points.

Trista Magee led Presbyterian (29-7) with 11 points, Hannah Sellers had 7, Hannah McCarter 5, Reagan Dykes 4 and Lilly Waites, Monica Breland and Holly Hawkins each had 2.

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Post Game with Starkville Head Coach Glenn Schmidt

Post Game with Starkville senior Anna Lea Little

Post Game with Starkville senior Maggie Proffitt

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Starkville Academy - 2013 MAIS Overall Champions