By: Kayla Minor
March 19, 2020
STARKVILLE, Miss. (Take 30 News)— Starkville Yellow Jackets are back on top for a second time, in two years! The boys' basketball team, once again, advanced to the 6A State Championship in Oxford. Just like last year, The Jackets came out number one.
Starkville High School Men's Basketball Team brought back another state championship for the second straight year, the first time in school history. The Jackets beat the Murrah Mustangs, 58 to 51 in 6A State Championship Game in Oxford.
“The fact we won last year and most these guys were back up last year. So, for them to come out and win back to back first in school history, they grew up over the year and championship was the pay off," MVP Forte Prater said.
Prater said he had no doubt his team could achieve this special goal.
"I already knew we could win, because I knew what it took from last year and the people in front of me that I followed behind. So, I knew what it took to lead the team to win," Prater said.
Head Coach Greg Carter said his team didn't talk about last season at all. He told them when the season started, if you want something, you must go win it and a state championship became the goal.
“It was all about this year, this team. Even coming into this game, we weren’t talking about last year. The rings, that's what last year's team did. This team wanted their own rings and that's what their focus was," Carter said.
Prater says it meant so much to him to win state championship his senior year.
"It was very important, because like you said it never happened and I always wanted to be a part of history and be remembered. And it meant a lot to everybody, really. We already knew we was capable of it and a lot of people doubted us, that made us play really hard to get it," Prater said.
Coach Howard has made it to the championship game three times, as assistant coach, and won 2 back to back. He says he doesn't have any regrets.
"It’s probably always things you can change but the outcome paid off for us, so looking back I probably wouldn't change anything we did," Howard said.