Mississippi
How Mississippi State basketball signee Jamarion Davis-Fleming won Mr. Basketball and MHSAA state title
CLINTON — Canton’s Jamarion Davis-Fleming admitted that winning consecutive MHSAA state titles or Mr. Basketball awards never gets simpler — especially this year.
“It ain’t get easier,” he told the Clarion Ledger on Tuesday at the MHSAA Mr. and Miss Basketball awards ceremony. “This year was definitely tougher than last year’s.”
The Mississippi State basketball signee pointed to his team being young, and Canton’s early season struggles that made this season mean more. He said it was a combination that made him a better team player and leader this season.
“This year we had to play team ball, you know, I had a different team, young team,” the senior said. “We ain’t had the flashiest players, but we still had to cooperate to a state championship. We had that dog mentality.”
Canton is coming off its second consecutive MHSAA Class 5A state title after a 53-35 win over Holmes County Central last week. Davis-Fleming won his second 5A Mr. Baskeball award and helped Canton its its third overall championship.
The senior averaged 25 points, 13 rebounds, four blocks and four assists heading into the Tigers state title game. Davis-Fleming was selected twice for the Clarion Ledger Dandy Dozen list from 2023-25.
“I’m honored because of the things that he’s doing at Canton and bringing a positive light to Canton,” Canton coach BJ Townsend said. “To be Mr. 5A in two years, man, it just pays off to the hard work that he’s been doing on and off the floor, so I’m just proud of him.”
Davis-Fleming is still honored to receive any award, whether it be a state title or individual accolade.
“It feels amazing, though,” the 6-foot-9 center said. “Truly honored and blessed, being here two times in a row. Just ending my high school career being recognized as the top player in 5A, so, it was definitely a blessing to receive this award.”
Why Jamarion Davis-Fleming is excited for his future Mississippi State basketball career
When Davis-Fleming committed to Mississippi State basketball last October and later signed in February, he pointed to one area heavily — potentially earning playing time. At an elite level program, having to earn everything the hard way is a challenge he wants to accept.
“I’m just ready to go down there and work, and I’m gonna work my tail off,” he said. “Just play in front of Starkvegas, you know, I got to get my mind right, my body right. So just to have an opportunity to go up there and play, gonna try to play right away, and do some big things for Mississippi State.”
Townsend sees his former center excelling quickly under Chris Jans’ program.
“I think he’ll fit in well, especially with him going over there to play the four spot,” Townsend said. “His hard work and his work ethic, it’s gonna lead him to be a great player.
But they are also getting a great person as well.
“He’s not going to cause any problems or any distractions to the team. I just feel like he’s gonna be very, very successful at Mississippi State.”
Michael Chavez covers high school sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez.
One of the monkeys that escaped after a truck overturned on a Mississippi roadway on 28 October was shot and killed early Sunday by a homeowner who said she feared for the safety of her children.
Jessica Bond Ferguson said she was alerted early Sunday by her 16-year-old son who said he thought he had seen a monkey running in the yard outside their home near Heidelberg, Mississippi. She got out of bed, grabbed her firearm and her cellphone, and stepped outside where she saw the monkey about 60 ft (18 meters) away.
Bond said she and other residents had been warned that the escaped monkeys were potentially diseased, so she fired her gun.
“I did what any other mother would do to protect her children,” Bond, who has five children ranging in age from four to 16, told the Associated Press. “I shot at it and it just stood there, and I shot again, and he backed up and that’s when he fell.”
The Jasper county sheriff’s office confirmed in a social media post that a homeowner had found one of the monkeys on their property Sunday morning but said the office didn’t have any details. The Mississippi department of wildlife, Fisheries, and parks took possession of the monkey, the sheriff’s office said.
The Rhesus monkeys had been housed at the Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, which routinely provides primates to scientific research organizations, according to the school. In a statement, Tulane University said the monkeys do not belong to the university, and they were not being transported by the university.
The Jasper sheriff’s office initially said the monkeys were carrying diseases including herpes, but Tulane said in a statement that the monkeys “have not been exposed to any infectious agent”.
After also initially reporting that all but one monkey had been killed, the sheriff’s office said that three monkeys remained at large and were being searched for.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
FAYETTEVILLE, AR — Mississippi State football found itself in a familiar position.
The Bulldogs were in another tight game in the fourth quarter, like three of their previous four SEC games. All of those ended in losses, with MSU seemingly finding different ways to lose each time.
But this time, Mississippi State came out on top. The Bulldogs overcame a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Arkansas 38-35 on Nov. 1 at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
The MSU (5-4, 1-4 SEC) win was thrilling, with quarterback Blake Shapen throwing the game-winning touchdown to Anthony Evans III with 48 seconds remaining on a fourth down. Players were yelling and screaming in celebration as they entered the locker room afterward.
The win was more than an achievement on its own. It also snapped Mississippi State’s 16-game SEC losing streak that dated back to 2023 and was approaching the program record of 19. It was also second-year coach Jeff Lebby’s first SEC win.
The Bulldogs are one win away from their first bowl game since 2022 and can clinch it with one win in the next three games starting with No. 5 Georgia (7-1, 5-1) at Davis Wade Stadium on Nov. 8 (11 a.m., ESPN).
“It feels good to get a win,” Lebby said. “It absolutely does. I’ve continued to focus on this football team, this season and who we are in the moment. Not comparing ourselves to any teams in the past. Who are we today and what gives us the best opportunity to win every single Saturday. That’s been our focus. I guess the streak will not be talked about anymore, which I do love because we have a happy locker room and the guys played their butt off to go win.”
Kamario Taylor gets an assist after Blake Shapen injury
The Mississippi State offense struggled in the first half and the Bulldogs trailed 13-7 at halftime. Then on the first play of the second half, Shapen was removed from the game after taking a hard hit that drew a roughing the passer penalty. He was evaluated for a concussion.
In came freshman Kamario Taylor, who made numerous big plays that lit a spark for MSU. Four plays after Shapen’s injury, Taylor threw a 45-yard touchdown to Evans for a 14-13 lead. Taylor also scored a 20-yard rushing touchdown that cut Arkansas’ lead to 28-21 with 4:49 remaining in the third quarter.
Despite Taylor scoring touchdowns on two of his three drives, Lebby put Shapen back in the game once he was cleared in the third quarter.
“I just wanted to know what was going on with Blake and making sure he was OK,” Lebby said. “In that situation, I wanted to have the opportunity to have Blake, who’s done it and lived it and been around. I thought that was very important.
“What Kamario did was huge. It was big for us. We needed it in a big way, but I wanted to get back to Blake and it was able to work out.”
Shapen’s first play when he returned was an interception that deflected off the hands of his receiver. Arkansas (2-7, 0-5) turned that possession into a touchdown for a 35-21 lead with 13:43 remaining. However, the Razorbacks committed 15 penalties for 158 yards in the second half and that kept Mississippi State in the game.
Mississippi State scored 17 points on its next three drives led by Shapen — a Davon Booth rushing touchdown, a Kyle Ferrie field goal and Evans’ game-winner — to complete the comeback. Shapen also threw a 32-yard pass to a sliding Brennen Thompson on fourth down during the game-winning drive.
“It means everything because of the way the guy plays the game …” Lebby said of Shapen. “He puts it on the line every time he steps in between the white lines. That’s what leaders are made of. I just talked about it, tough people win. Blake’s a winner. He’s going to win in life because he has great toughness. He puts it on the line.”
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – The Mississippi Pork Producers Association demonstrated several different ways to grill pork on the grill! Local Farmer Sean Boe also shared different facts about our state’s pork industry and how much it helps the economy and to feed people.
Want more WLBT news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Please click here to report it and include the headline of the story in your email.
Copyright 2025 WLBT. All rights reserved.
First Financial completes $2.2bn acquisition of Westfield Bancorp
Nope, not pull-ups — this is the one bodyweight exercise you need to build strength and muscle in your back and biceps without weights
Tu Maza Kinara Movie Review: Suffers from poor direction and a story that goes nowhere
Trump backs Cuomo, threatens to cut funds for New York City if Mamdani wins mayoral race
She Lost 160 Pounds With Social Walking—Here’s How Strolls With Friends Can Boost Your Health
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Over one month into government shutdown and no end in sight – but predictions run rampant
Two dead as Typhoon Kalmaegi brings massive flooding in central Philippines
Trump Backs Cuomo, Threatens NYC Funds If Mamdani Wins – The Source with Kaitlan Collins – Podcast on CNN Podcasts
Video: The Nationwide Battle Over Electoral Maps
Trump backs ICE raid tactics, says they ‘haven’t gone far enough’
-
Milwaukee, WI6 days agoLongtime anchor Shannon Sims is leaving Milwaukee’s WTMJ-TV (Channel 4)
-
News1 week agoWith food stamps set to dry up Nov. 1, SNAP recipients say they fear what’s next
-
Alabama1 week agoHow did former Alabama basketball star Mark Sears do in NBA debut with Milwaukee Bucks?
-
News1 week ago1 dead, 6 injured in shooting at Lincoln University homecoming festivities
-
Austin, TX1 week agoDia De Los Muertos Austin: Parades, Altars & Events
-
Culture1 week agoVideo: Tyler Mitchell Breaks Down Three Photos From His New Book
-
Culture5 days agoVideo: Dissecting Three Stephen King Adaptations
-
Seattle, WA6 days agoFOX 13’s Aaron Levine wins back-to-back Jeopardy! episodes