Sports – Page 68 – The Mississippi Link

Mississippi offers free fishing weekend

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is offering a statewide free fishing weekend June 1-2.

It kicks off National Fishing and Boating Week, which celebrates the importance of recreational boating and fishing in enhancing quality of life and conserving the country’s natural resources.

The Vicksburg Post reports the department, the Mississippi Wildlife Federation and the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science will also host the 11th annual Katfishin’ Kids Fishing Rodeo on June 1. […]

Local Sports

MVSU unveils plans to renovate HPER Complex

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Mississippi Valley State University is planning $17.5 million in renovations and expansion the R.W. Harrison HPER Complex.

MVSU officials say the work will include exterior repairs, life safety upgrades and accessibility upgrades. It will have 2,700 seats for athletic events and 2,800 seats for other programs, such as commencement.

The HPER Complex is the home for MVSU volleyball and basketball games. It has not been renovated or upgraded since its construction in 1977. […]

Mississippi State’s Renfroe wins Ferriss Trophy

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The first time Mississippi State coach John Cohen saw Hunter Renfroe play baseball, he marveled at his natural ability.

Three years later, he’s also in awe of his work ethic.

The two traits helped Renfroe have a breakout season. On May 20th, he was named the winner of the C Spire Ferriss Trophy during a ceremony at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

The award, voted on by a panel of professional scouts, college coaches and a media member, is given to Mississippi’s top college baseball player. The 6-foot-1, 216-pound Renfroe leads the Bulldogs with a .362 batting average, 15 homers, 51 RBIs and nine stolen bases. […]

Ex-Jacksonville WR Jimmy Smith serving prison term

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Former Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Jimmy Smith has begun serving a six-year prison term in Mississippi for drug possession and weapons charges, online state corrections records show.

The Mississippi Department of Corrections’ website says the 44-year-old Smith entered the prison system in late March and was recently moved to a facility in Yazoo City. He was sentenced by a Madison County court to two years for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and four years for possession of cocaine, records show.

WJXX-TV in Jacksonville, Fla., first reported Smith’s sentence. His tentative release date is listed as Nov. 8, 2018. […]

4th lawsuit filed against JSU athletics director

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The athletics director of Jackson State University is now facing four federal lawsuits related to allegations that she sexually harassed an assistant and fired other employees who supported the woman.

The first lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in August by Lolita Ward, who says Athletic Director Vivian Fuller subjected her to inappropriate comments, gestures and touching in 2011.

The lawsuit claims Ward was subjected to a hostile work environment and fired in October 2011 after rejecting the advances. […]

Mississippi's Henderson writes apology letter

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Mississippi guard Marshall Henderson has posted a letter on the school’s athletic website apologizing for some of his actions during a successful but turbulent season.

The 6-foot-2 junior averaged more than 20 points per game this season, leading the Rebels to their first NCAA tournament since 2002. But Henderson became more known for his exuberant celebrations and trash talking than his scoring ability. Multiple media outlets also reported that Henderson made an obscene gesture toward the crowd following the team’s season-ending loss to LaSalle. […]

Jackson State hires Brent to lead program

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Jackson State has hired Wayne Brent to be its men’s basketball coach.

The 45-year-old Brent is an accomplished high school coach, winning four state championships in six seasons with Callaway High School in Jackson. He was also an assistant coach at Mississippi for four seasons in the late 1990s and early 2000s, helping the Rebels advance to the NCAA tournament three times.

Brent was introduced on March 25, and will have a strong nucleus to work with next season, including guards Dundrecous Nelson (Ole Miss) and Julysses Nobles (Arkansas), who will both be eligible after transferring from the Southeastern Conference. He’ll also have several returning players from last year’s team that finished with an 11-18 record. […]

Ole Miss hires Kentucky women's assistant Insell

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Matt Insell, who has spent the last five seasons as an assistant coach with the nationally-ranked University of Kentucky women’s basketball program, has been named head coach of the Ole Miss women’s basketball team, athletics director Ross Bjork announced.

Insell has helped guide Kentucky to four 20-win seasons and four trips to the NCAA Tournament in his time in Lexington. The Wildcats have ended the last three seasons ranked in the top-25 and are currently ranked No. 7 heading into the team’s Sweet Sixteen game Saturday.

Insell, who was responsible for the guards while also having recruiting and player development duties, served as the top assistant coach and helped UK ink three top-10 recruiting classes and seven McDonald’s All-Americans. […]

Southern Miss tops Charleston Southern, 78-71

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Jonathan Mills tried to put away Charleston Southern. So did Neil Watson. Neither could do it.

Instead, it was four points in the final 20 seconds from unheralded Rashard McGill that gave Southern Miss a 78-71 victory over Charleston Southern in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.

The victory snapped a nine-game postseason losing streak that dates back to 1988. McGill hit an 18-foot jumper and two free throws – his first and only four points of the game – in the most crucial possessions of the night to seal the victory. […]

MVSU moving home games to Greenville

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Mississippi Valley State will play the remainder of its home baseball games at Greenville’s Legion Field.

Athletic director Ashley Robinson says unsafe playing conditions at Valley’s field in Itta Bena prompted the decision.

Robinson says playing field is not suitable or safe enough to have baseball players risking a possible injury. […]