Golden memories for Lincoln County athletics

Published 12:00 pm Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Looking back after one complete school year of the 2013-14 season for our Lincoln County schools: Bogue Chitto, Enterprise, Loyd Star and West Lincoln. There were plenty of highs and a few lows during in each sports campaign.

The West Lincoln Bears enter into the season swimming in uncharted waters after moving from Class 1A to Class 2A.

Enterprise and Loyd Star welcome their long time Lincoln County rival, West Lincoln, to their region while concentrating on some newer but old faces that joined their division race like Bassfield, East Marion and Amite County.

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Bogue Chitto reign supreme in the Class 1A ranks as they took on some new faces in each sports while competing with the old familiar schools. In the Class 1A ranks with BC were Resurrection, Sacred Heart, Salem, Hinds AHS, Stringer, Mount Olive, Cathedral, Dexter and Lumberton.

Bogue Chitto:  In slowpitch softball, the Lady Cats had a good season as they fought through some tough competition to finish their season 17-14. BC managed to win the district crown and make the playoffs before being eliminated by Nanih Waiya.

In football, the Bobcats, lead by Coach Gareth Sartin, came out strong and plowed through the competition to secure a 9-0 record before losing three straight to conclude the season. The Bobcats finished as the No. 2 seed with a 7-2 record and secured a home playoff game in the opening round, but they suffered a bad taste in their mouth after falling to French Camp 37-34.

In basketball, Coach Christi Terrell’s girls had a great year their goal was to make it to the big house (Jackson Coliseum) once again but fell short of reaching that mark as they fell to Noxapater in the second round of the south state tournament.

For the boys’ basketball, the bobcats began the season with a new coach Mark Pitts. Coach Pitts’ team started the season off slow as many his players were on the football team. After Christmas break, the boys managed to find their groove and made a great run in the second half of the season. BC finished the season 10-19 but fought hard to make the playoffs.

In powerlifting, Coach Chad Norton and his Bogue Chitto Bobcats capture State Championship gold once again. They have two state championship and five south state trophies to their collection as they strive to collect more.

In baseball, Coach Russ Carter’s ball club experience a roller coaster season but managed to put it all together at the end to secure third place in their district run to make the playoffs. The Bobcats knocked off West Lowndes in the opening before being eliminated in the second round by French Camp.

In fastpitch softball, the Lady Cats experienced an Cinderella season overall, BC captured their third State Championship gold in five years. Coach Scott Leggett finished the season with a 29-8 record. They went undefeated in the district play at 6-0 and blew through the playoffs claiming a 8-2 record.

Enterprise:  In football, the Jackets experienced another rough year. They are currently riding a 22-game losing streak. Coach Brooks Burns and his Fighting Jackets look hungry and ready to make some noise in the upcoming season.

In basketball, the girls and boys teams had a good year overall. Coach Jill Nations’ ladies battled through a young, rebuilding year but made some big improvements during the season that will help them next year.

Coach John Knight’s men experience a successful season. The Jackets came out strong and managed to go undefeated at 7-0 in the month of November, before having a bout with the injury bug that changed their season. Enterprise has a good nucleus returning so the future looks bright for the ball teams.

In softball, the Lady Jackets, under the direction of coach Ashley Jones, worked hard in their youthful season. The girls fought hard during the season and made the playoffs as the third seed out of Region 7-2A. After the season, Coach Jones elected to step down as their head softball coach.

In baseball, Coach Cass Brister and his Diamond Yellow Jackets had a great year. The Jackets enter the season with a very young team, but when the district race begin the team turned up the heat by winning some close and exciting games to capture the 2014 district crown. Enterprise secured an opening round bye in the playoffs but fell to move further into the playoffs falling to Union in the second round.

In tennis, Coach Chase Wallace began his new reign as the head tennis coach. Coach Wallace’s team was very young but grew up fast. Three of his players advance to the individuals’ state tournament competition in Jackson.

Loyd Star:  In football, the Loyd Star Hornets battle through a tough year. The Hornets got off to a 1-5 start before their head football coach Randall Huffman elected to step away from his coaching duties. The football boys were shock from the announcement but did not give up, under the interim coaches of Jared Britt, Seth Britt and Dustin Sisco, the Hornets finished the season with a 2-3 run to make the playoffs.

In basketball, Coach Gene “Moochie” Britt had his hand full as he took over the girls basketball team and maintained his coaching duties as the boys’ coach. Both teams had a great year.

The Lady Hornets went 15-12 on the season, while finishing second in the Region 7-2A race with a 6-4 record. They placed third in the region tournament and advance to the quarterfinals of the south state tournament.

The boys’ basketball team finished 17-10 on the season with a 5-5 record in division play. The Hornets made the playoffs as a fourth seed out of Region 7-2A and were eliminated by Bay Spring in an extremely close contest.

In soccer, the boys and girls team had very productive campaign and looks to continue improving as next year test. In golf, the Hornets placed second in team action in Region 2A action. Sawyer Norton of Loyd Star finished second in the Medalist to advance to the State Tournament.

In tennis, the Hornet Netter had a great year. Loyd Star started off slow but managed to continue improving to make the playoffs. Loyd Star advance to the South State championship as a team but fell in a close 4-3 decision to Clarkdale. Four members of the tennis team advance to the individuals’ state competition contest in Jackson.

In softball, the Lady Hornets had a great year, under the leadership of Coach Jan Delaughter. Loyd Star finished the year with a 24-4 record, while staying perfect in region play at 8-0. The Lady Hornets won the district crown and earned a first round bye in the playoffs. Loyd Star knock off Richton in second round but saw their season come to an end in the third round falling to Enterprise-Clark in the decisive game three contest.

In baseball, the Hornets went through an up and down season until they found that chemistry that they needed to run a run in the district action to finish in second place. Loyd Star made the playoffs and advance to the second round before being eliminated by Taylorsville.

West Lincoln:  In slowpitch softball, Coach Andrew Redd kickoff the year in a new region. The Lady Bears went 21-8 on the season while finishing undefeated in the district action to win their first Region 7-2A crown. The ladies’ season came to an end in the second round of the playoffs against East Webster.

In football, Coach Willie Brumfield and his football team enjoyed a special year since joining the 2A ranks. The Bears finished 2-8 on the season but made a lot of noise at the end as they were on the verge of clinching their first-ever chance to make the playoffs after beating Enterprise and setting up a showdown with their Lincoln County and region rival, Loyd Star, for the final playoff spot in the final game of the season.

In basketball, the Lady Bears battled through a rebuilding year as they finished with a 5-21 record.

In boys’ basketball action, the Bears entered the season as the new kid on the block but did not let the new changes bother them as they stormed the season to finish 24-6 on the year. West Lincoln captured the regular season crown undefeated 10-0 but fell short in region championship to win the overall crown. The Bears suffered another bad taste in their mouth in the opening round of the playoffs falling to Taylorsville.

In fastpitch softball, the Lady Bears were looking to repeat their success from slowpitch as they came out strong. The girls completed the season 14-8, while finishing in second place with a 6-2 record. West Lincoln advanced to the playoffs, falling to Clarksdale in the opening round.

In baseball, Coach Steve Barrington and his baseball boys experienced an exciting year. The Bears posted a 19-9 record and placed third in the region with a 7-3 record. West Lincoln continued their magical run in the playoffs as they knocked off Pisgah and Lake before falling to eventual State champions Taylorsville in round three of the State playoffs.

In tennis, the Bear netters also had a great year. Under the direction of coach Karen Dunaway, West Lincoln won the Lincoln County tennis tournament and won their first region crown in 2A. West Lincoln advance to the third round of the state playoffs as a team before being eliminated by Clarksdale. The Bear netters had eight players to advance to the state individuals’ competition in Jackson. West Lincoln struck gold in the girls’ double event as freshmen stars Kara and Katy Clark won team gold.

In golf, West Lincoln enjoyed a great year. They captured the Region 2A crown and advanced to the State tournament competition at the Natchez Trace Golf Club in Saltillo.