Tupelo High School’s Max Holman has been named the state’s Gatorade Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year for the third consecutive year.

He was surprised to hear the news on Thursday.

“My dad texted me in the middle of class to let me know I’d won,” said Holman, a senior. “There are a lot of other great runners in the state who could have been chosen.”

He won his third straight state cross country championship last November at Mississippi College’s Choctaw Trails in Clinton and helped his Golden Wave team capture the program’s ninth consecutive state title.

Holman finished 56th overall this year in the Nike Nationals South Regional in 17 minutes, 24 seconds.

He won the state 6A title in 16:09. He also won the Memphis Twilight Run, Jesse Owens Classic, Mississippi College Invitational, THS Invitational and Corinth Invitational this season.

Off the road and track, he’s an “A” student and Eagle Scout who’s involved in church functions, school clubs and community projects, including the Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll Drive.

This spring Holman will run the 1,600 and 3,200 meters for the Golden Wave track and field team.

He was mum on his college recruitment other than to say he “might not stay in the SEC.”

North half sites awarded

- The MHSAA announced its North Mississippi basketball tournament sites and alternate sites Thursday.

Schools must win first-round North games in order to host the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals.

In Northeast Mississippi, Potts Camp (1A girls), New Site (2A girls), Belmont (3A girls), New Albany (4A girls), Myrtle (1A boys), Baldwyn (2A boys), Booneville (3A boys), Pontotoc (4A boys), Oxford (5A boys) and Starkville (6A boys) were awarded host spots, but only if they advance.

“It’s definitely an advantage,” said New Site girls coach Byron Sparks, whose team hosted last season’s North tournament and won it, beating eventual 2A state champion H.W. Byers. “Your kids don’t have to get out of their routine. You practice in your own gym. There’s a comfort level.”

Booneville boys coach Michael Smith says his program takes pride in hosting at its facility.

“It’s an honor and it’s also a big responsibility,” he said. “We want to do things right for the other teams and coaches.”

See page 2B complete lists of North Mississippi sites and alternate sites.

Clash pairings set

- The second annual Prentiss/Union County Shootout, featuring boys teams, is scheduled for Jan. 30 at East Union.

The headliner, which tips off at 7:45 p.m., is a battle between Ingomar (Union) and Baldwyn (Prentiss).

The remainder of the lineup features: 11 a.m., West Union vs. Jumpertown; 12:45 p.m., East Union vs. Thrasher; 2:30 p.m., Hickory Flat vs. Wheeler; 4:15 p.m., Myrtle vs. New Site and 6 p.m., New Albany vs. Boone-ville.

Last year’s tournament ended in a 3-3 draw between the rival counties.

Heavyweight matchups

- Two of the Daily Journal’s top-rated girls teams will face major tests Saturday in Ackerman’s Mid-Mississippi Challenge.

New Albany, the Journal’s top-rated 4A team and ranked No. 2 in the state, plays the state’s top-ranked 1A team, McAdams at 2:30 p.m.

New Site, the Journal’s top-rated area small school and ranked No. 1 in the state in 2A, plays the state’s No. 3 2A team, Scott Central.