Runnerup MAHS feels support of local teams
MURFREESBORO – MAHS' deepest playoff run in school history across all sports ended with a 62-52 loss to Clay County in the Class A title game of the TSSAA Bluecross Boys Basketball State Championships Saturday at Murphy Center.
The Lions began the year unsure if they'd be able to play at all, and began their season in late December, over a month after the first contest date for TSSAA teams.
But even though it got a late start, MAHS made it until the final day of the high school basketball season and competed until the end.
MAHS coach Vernard Watkins said that he felt the support from other coaches in Shelby County who weren't able to play this season.
MAHS' region, which normally has over a dozen teams, played with just three as Shelby County Schools decided not to play basketball. Only eight public schools in Shelby County played basketball this season, and most were located in the suburbs.
MAHS, a Shelby County charter school, was permitted to play because it has its own board separate from Shelby County Schools and has the autonomy to make its own decisions on sports and in-person learning.
“It means a lot. We know you don’t get the opportunity to play in the state championship (often),” Watkins said. “I talked to a lot of coaches and we had a lot of support in Memphis from all the teams that didn’t play. Got a lot of phone calls from different coaches and everything. They were saying it’s ‘once in a lifetime.’ We’ve got coaches who have never coached in a state championship game, so it means a lot to me.”
The Lions opened the game with a 12-0 run, but the lead evaporated by halftime as Mr. Basketball Grant Strong hit a buzzer-beater three. Strong, a 6foot-5 junior guard who finished with 29 points and ten rebounds, was also
named tournament MVP. He was also 10-for-10 from the free-throw line.
“He’s unbelievable. We saw a lot of big-time players in Memphis...” Watkins said. “But this guy is a smooth operator man, he can put the ball in the basket, he’s got a nice stroke and he works hard without the ball. That’s big for him.
“That’s what he does that I feel the other players in Memphis didn’t do. He’ll back cut you and get a layup on you and come of screens and he can shoot and he’s not going to miss a free-throw.”
Cameron Miller, one of the state’s top football prospects, was named to the all-tournament team. He had nine points, six rebounds, and two steals.
“It was just an honor to come down here, compete, win those first two games, and make it to championship Saturday,” Miller said.