Townsend signs with NWCC

By Myra Bean

South Panola Lady Tiger Sabrina Townsend signed Tuesday to become a Northwest Lady Ranger basketball player.

Witnessing the event were her high school teammates, who said, “Now you’re a Ranger,” after she signed the paper.

Shane Oakley, Northwest assistant coach, said they are excited to sign Townsend.

“She has a lot of great qualities as a human being, on and off the court,” Oakley said. “She has an athletic family background which has a legacy of great athletes.”

Oakley said with Townsend’s basketball background at South Panola, she will fit in with Northwest’s up tempo style offense.

“She will be a tremendous addition to our ballclub.” Oakley said.

By Angie Ledbetter

Jim Tyler Dalrymple, the senior quarterback for North Delta, signed to play football with Mississippi Delta Community College in Moorhead, Mississippi on Wednesday.

Dalrymple received a full paid scholarship to play as wide receiver for the Trojans at the Jim Randal Stadium. He will also get to punt after the current punter graduates next year.

Dalrymple said, “This day means a lot to me. I have been trying to get somewhere for awhile. I was invited to a combine down here two Saturdays ago and I received a call on Monday afternoon. They wanted to know if I would sign to play wide receiver and I said yes. I am very happy about it.”

Dalrymple will likely punt as this year’s punter will be a sophomore.

“This is a dream come true for me,” he said. “I just wanted to play football somewhere.”

Dalrymple said this was his way of climbing up the ladder.

“I had to start somewhere,” he added.

Outgoing North Delta Richard Russo was very proud of him.

“It’s real special anytime that you’re part of a young man’s life and you’ve helped him achieve some of his longtime dreams,” Russo said. “Whenever Michael and J.T. signed, it just helped fulfill their dreams. It gives them a chance to go on and do something that not a lot of people get to do, play college football. Whether it’s community college, division 3, division 2, or division 1, you’re still a college football player. There are only a handfull of them out there. A lot of people end their football career in twelfth grade. I am also very proud that their education is going to be paid for. It helps to work toward a college degree and that’s always special.”

The year before he came to North Delta, Dalrymple was  only playing wide receiver and did not get much playing time.

“He was a young kid but I knew when I timed him in the 40s, with his arm strength, he could play quarterback in my offensive system because he was very quick,” Russo said. “He had incredible ball skills that he showed in practice and that made him such a good defensive back. He just happened to try out for punter and I showed him the techniques that I learned at the coaching clinic from Frank Beamer, head coach of Virginia Tech. He really picked it up and did well. He’s an excellent high school punter.

Attending the signing were his parents Tim Dalrymple and Kim Jackson, grandparents Jimmy and Betty Herron and Harold Dalrymple, brother John Cody Dalrymple and Russo.