"Ri"igniting The Light
January 28, 2022 | Women's Basketball, Joel Coleman
Caterrion “Ri” Thompson helps the Bulldogs regain momentum.
STARKVILLE – There are times in life where you just need a reminder. You want some sign that, even when things seem dark, light very much remains.
For Mississippi State on Thursday night, one of those reminders came in the form of veteran guard Caterrion "Ri" Thompson. It was a display that illustrated a couple of things, starting with the fact hard work still absolutely pays off.
"It's very rewarding as a coach, probably for fans too that have gotten to know her here at Mississippi State," MSU interim head coach Doug Novak said of Thompson's play, which led to a 77-62 Bulldog win over Missouri. "While it was a fantastic game that she played, it's not that big of a surprise because of what she's been showing us in practice. She's had some big moments that maybe not everybody has understood how big they were whether it be a shot against Vanderbilt, a rebound here or there, but it has been a little bit more limited than what it was [Thursday]…It's not a fluke. It's not one of those imaginary nights. This was done weeks and months ago with her work ethic. It doesn't always work out this way, but I'm always internally rooting for that kind of player. These are special moments in a coaching career to be able to witness and watch the way it's supposed to be done – the way you're supposed to work and then have her get the fruits of her labor."
Thompson's final stat line Thursday? She started for the first time in over a month, played all 40 minutes and scored 27 points. She made 10 of her 15 shots, including going 7-for-12 from three-point range.
Thompson hit four of those 3s in the first quarter to set the tone for the night. When she sank one right at the buzzer when the first period came to a close, she said she knew it was her evening to shine.
It was a long time coming. This was a player that averaged just over nine minutes of action per game last season. Her playing time picked up this year, but there'd been nothing like Thursday.
"This meant a lot," Thompson said. "I know I have support from my coaches and teammates. Just having their support behind me was able to get me going."
Says Thompson's teammate, Anastasia Hayes: "[Thompson] is a leader on this team. She may not have played much, but I knew that her time would come. [Thursday] was her night and she stepped up for her team. I'm very proud of her for that."
Thompson's resilience reaped a reward. Her ability to keep going allowed her to bring to fruition her goals.
Now here's the second thing illustrated by Thompson's well-deserved moment. It was a micro example of a larger point. Never quit. Keep your head up and good things can happen. The lesson was, perhaps, just what this Mississippi State team needed at this moment in time.
Before Thursday, MSU had lost three straight games. In a season of speedbumps and potholes, the Bulldogs hit a few more in the days leading up to the contest against Missouri.
Now this year's State team is no stranger to overcoming odds. It did just that in games against Alabama and Vanderbilt when the Bulldogs were outnumbered and at a disadvantage, but still found ways to win. But the magic seemed to be running out lately.
Thompson might've been just the spark to relight the flame. Her personal achievement, leading to the greater team goal of beating Missouri, has kept the Bulldogs right in the NCAA Tournament hunt.
As of midday Friday, Mississippi State sits at No. 56 in the NCAA's NET rankings. ESPN's Charlie Creme's latest NCAA Tournament projections have the Bulldogs solidly on the bubble.
What all that means is this. MSU still has a path to go dancing in March. The upcoming schedule provides ample opportunities to add impressive wins to the resume.
Yes, it'll be hard. No. Not a soul will feel sorry for or take it easy on the Bulldogs as they continue to play with limited numbers and face trials and tribulations.
But they've got a shot. If the Bulldogs forget it down the road, they can always point back to Thompson's terrific Thursday in late January and remember if there are hurdles in your way, just keep jumping.
"You can choose to follow the distractions, or you can focus on the task at hand," Novak said. "Obviously [on Thursday], our team chose the latter."
Now, the Bulldogs will try to keep it up.
