Starkville Yellow Jackets Prepare For The District Tournament

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — Starkville has the Gold Ball still on their minds after last season.

With district tournament play starting this week, the Yellow Jackets are rolling into postseason play.

“We started off a little bit slow, but lately we’ve been picking it up,” said senior guard Blake Rogers.

The Starkville Yellowjackets have been on a hot streak winning 19 straight games. The last loss came back in November to Okolona, but now it’s district play this week for the Yellowjackets, and the team feels confident leading up to the challenge.

“One of the hardest things to do is beat a team three times during the season,” said head coach Greg Carter. “And that’s what we have to do twice.”

“I think we are going to do pretty well in district,” said point guard Jordan Temple. “And hopefully win the championship on Friday.”

“I think we are the favorite in district,” Rogers said. “I think if we go out and just play our game I think we will come out on top.”

The last state championship for the Yellowjackets came back in 2015 during former Starkville High and current Mississippi State guard Tyson Carter’s days, and the seniors this season were just freshmen win they won that state title, but now this year’s team plays with a lot more of an advantage shooting the ball more.

“Tyson’s team had a little bit more size,” Temple said. “We are a little bit smaller. We shoot a lot of more three’s than that team. We just use that to our advantage.”

“We play a totally different style of play now,” Carter said. “Me and Tyson talked about it. He said he would love to play this style, and we playing fast. “A whole lot faster than what we use to play.”

Starkville came up one game short last season from the state tournament in Jackson, but coach Carter feels that this team this season can make it back.

“We got a chance to make the tournament,” Carter said. “If we keep shooting it like we’ve been shooting it, and keep defendingm and getting a few stops, then we have a chance to get there.”

Starkville returns to action on Friday when they play in the district championship game.