JACKSON —
Bassfield began it’s current season six months ago with a spring game against defending Class 5A state champion Picayune.
Friday afternoon, the Yellow Jackets and head coach Lance Mancuso earned the title of state champs as well.
Bassfield became just the second team in Mississippi prep football history to post a perfect 16-0 record, and capped the historic season with a 35-0 win over Eupora in the Class 2A state championship game here at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium.
It was the third state title in the past decade for Mancuso, a Pearl River County native and 1989 graduate of Pearl River Centra. He also was the head coach at Poplarville for four seasons before moving on to Bassfield.
“It’s an awesome feeling. How do you even describe it?” Mancuso said. “When you take a group of young men and you start out with one goal and you build all year to get to this point, and to finish it off here in Jackson, Mississippi, it doesn’t get anymore special than this.”
He also led Bassfield to the 2A title in 2009 and guided Seminary to the 2A crown in 2003.It was the fifth state title for Bassfield, as the school becomes just one of eight in the state with five or more crowns in football.
“We’ve had some championship teams at Bassfield. This was the first group to ever win 15 football games in one season (at Bassfield),” he added. “And to cap it off with a perfect 16-0, this group will go down in history in Bassfield, Mississippi, even though we’ve had some great football teams.”
Bassfield jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back in the win. And this one may have been a bit more special for Mancuso as his son, Brandon, is the place-kicker and punter for the Yellow Jackets.
“It’s extremely special. When you can be here, and have your family be part of it each and every day,” Mancuso said. “My daughter’s on the sideline with us. This is why you do it.”
Sports
Jackets get a win
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Saints ready to practice with Payton again
Even as Sean Payton tried to make the best of his one-season bounty banishment from the NFL by spending time with his children, getting in shape and playing golf, he often compared his punishment to prison time.
He missed his work that much, his players say, adding that his return has infused Saints headquarters with a fresh intensity leading up to Tuesday’s opening of voluntary offseason practices. -
Wildcats honored for efforts
Ten Pearl River Community College baseball standouts have earned 2013 post-season honors with center fielder Braxton Lee and catcher-designated hitter Krisjon Wilkerson leading the way with All-Region 23 and All-MACJC first- team accolades.
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Season ends for Maroon Tide
Picayune’s magical playoff run came up just short of a spot in the state finals.
Homestanding Pascagoula, the defending Class 5A state champs, took a hard-fought 5-3 win over the Maroon Tidee in game three of the best of three South State finals here Saturday before a capacity crowd at Ingalls Field. -
Season ends for Maroon Tide
The season came to an end for the Picayune baseball team Saturday afternoon with a 5-3 loss to homestanding Pascagoula here at Ingalls Field in the third and deciding game of the Class 5A South State championship series.
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Tide stays alive
And it all comes down to this.
Picayune and Pascagoula will face off in a one game, winner take all
showdown today at 2 p.m., at Ingalls Field for the Class A South State
prep baseball championship and the right to play for the state title. -
Wildcats tring to win Region 23 title
Host Pearl River opened Region 23 Tournament play in dominating fashion here Thursday in Wildcat Stadium, demolishing top-seeded East Central 12-1 in eight innings and now faces second-seeded LSU-Eunice (La.) in Friday’s second round at 7 p.m.
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Panther pitcher shuts out Maroon Tide
Pascagoula’s Andrew Crane continued his dominance of Picayune Thursday night.
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Season ends for Lady Hornets
Poplarville's season came to and end in the Class 4A South state finals Tuesday night.
The visiting Lady Hornets fell to Newton County 10-2 in game two of the best-of-three series. -
Lady Hornets face Newton County
Two more wins, and Poplarville will be playing for the Class 4A state championship in fast-pitch softball.
The Lady Hornets have a chance at getting that first victory today. -
Polderman’s, Mitchell win titles
The Picayune Maroon Tide and the Pearl River Central Blue Devils both competed in the Class 5A South State track and field championships this past Saturday at Long Beach High School.
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