Final View from the Big House 2024

Final View from the Big House

Lavel Johnson

March 11, 2024

It’s time to close the door on the 2023-2024 high school hoops season but before we do let’s take our annual review of the week of action that comprised the semifinals and finals of the MHSAA state basketball tournament.

As always our first order of business is to give the state championship teams their due. This year’s state champions were:

Class 7A: Boys: Meridian      Girls: Tupelo

Class 6A: Boys: Olive Branch  Girls; Neshoba Central

Class 5A: Boys: Canton        Girls: Laurel

Class 4A: Boys: Raymond       Girls: Tishomingo County

Class 3A: Boys: Booneville    Girls: Belmont

Class 2A: Boys: Ingomar       Girls: Ingomar

Class 1A: Boys: Biggersville  Girls: Blue Mountain

Congratulations to all. With a special congratulations going out to the Tishomingo County and Blue Mountain girls teams for capturing the first titles in their school’s histories.

Championship notes:

The big storyline, to me, for this year’s championships was the dominance of the North Mississippi teams. Nine of the Fourteen championships were won by teams from North Mississippi, displaying a huge dominance in the lower classes, winning seven out of eight in classes 4A thru 1A. Just as notable as the North Mississippi success was the noticeable lack of representation from South Mississippi. Only two championship teams, Raymond’s boys and Laurel’s girls are located south of I-55 with one of those two, Raymond being located slightly off of I-55 nestled firmly in its corridor. So for all practical purposes only one South Mississippi team tasted gold. To make matters worse, only six of the 28 teams in the finals were located south of I-55, with Terry’s girls, similar to Raymond’s boys being nestled right in the I-55 corridor, leaving only four true south Mississippi teams that even sniffed the finals. It should be noted that 1A is disproportionately aligned. Having teams as far north as West Tallahatchie and West Boliver that play in the South bracket and having only ten out of the forty eight teams in 1A located south of I-55. But nevertheless, still a dismal showing for the South Mississippi regions/teams.

This year’s tournament wasn’t very kind to teams looking to repeat as only the Booneville boys actually were able to repeat, winning their third straight 3A title. The Ingomar girls did also win a second straight title, however this year’s title was in Class 2A while last year’s was in 1A, and still a great accomplishment for the Ingomar ladies. The Yazoo City Boys, Coahoma County Boys, Booneville girls and Germantown girls all returned to championship games, but all fell in the finals, with Yazoo City and Coahoma County both competing a class higher than they did last year. Despite the losses, a great run for each team.

I also just want to take a moment to give a personal take. 

I HATE THE NEW 7A CLASS ADDITION!!!

There was no need for another class. in 4A thru 7A all it did was thin out the competition. All it amounts to is they added a participation trophy. And that take goes for every sport, not just basketball.

Now on to the Tournament Awards:

Best Game: 6A boys semifinal-Olive Branch 70 Terry 68 in overtime

This game had it all. Up and down action, late game drama, a number of high level player performances, overtime and not one but two buzzer beaters. Olive Branch played from ahead most of the game but never could pull off. Olive Branch would make a run and Terry would follow up with a run of their own to keep the game tight. The game turned into a duel between Olive Branch seniors Javion Stephens who scored 26 points with 6 3-pointers and Jerry Wall who scored 21 points and had 9 rebounds and Terry seniors Avery Thomas who scored 31 points and had 14 rebounds and Jaden Harper who scored 22 points with a big three pointer at the fourth quarter buzzer to send the game into overtime. Overtime was tight with neither team leading by more than 3 points and was tied going into the final minute. Terry got one of two free throws from Keijuan Mangum to take a one point lead, which they held until Olive Branch senior guard Zahir Gutierrez drain a game winning three at the buzzer to send Olive Branch into the finals.

Also deserves mention: 3A boys final-Booneville 46 Coahoma County 43 in overtime

Top Individual Performance: J.R. Yarbrough’s 28 points lead Meridian to victory in the 7A title game.

Yarbrough’s dominating performance gets my nod for best individual performance. Not only was it one of the highest scoring outbursts of the week, but every point was crucial to his team’s success, and to top it off he was clutch down the stretch as after the Wildcats fell behind late he reeled off six straight points to push them back in front and put them in control of the game.

Play of the Tournament: Olive Branch’s Zahir Gutierrez’s game winning shot at the buzzer to propel Olive Branch into the 6A title game.

We already gave the narration of how this moment played out earlier, but what else could be the play of the tournament but the buzzer beater to win the best game of the week.

Upset of the Tournament: Ridgeland over Pascagoula

Pascagoula came into the semi-final game riding a 29 game winning streak and sporting the no. 1 ranking in the state, but Ridgeland stared them down, never blinking as they ended the Panthers’ dream season prematurely. Defensively Ridgeland was able to slow down the Panthers behind the strong interior defense of center Ebo Wilson and the game was close throughout with a number of lead changes in the second half, but down the stretch Pascagoula went cold and Ridgeland behind the clutch play of junior guard Phil Nelson, who scored Ridgeland’s last eight points slammed the door shut on the Panthers.

Dunk of the Tournament: Yazoo City’s Tamarion Hoover takes a Provine player for a piggy back ride as he opens the game with a flush.

There were a number of nice dunks throughout the week, but most of them were in transition or a drive thru a spread out defense with no one there to really challenge the flush. Hoover’s flush was in the opening moments of the game as he executed a perfect backdoor cut, caught the ball off of a perfectly weeded bounce pass from a teammate and rose up with a Provine defender (who shall remain unnamed to leave him a teensy bit of self respect) draped on his back for a two handed flush for the first points of the game.

Usually I give out a best fans award here but this year I truly don’t think one set of fans stood out over any others. From the sell out between Canton and Yazoo City, to the hoards of fans who flocked down from the small towns of North Mississippi this was one of the best attended and fan supportive state tournaments I’ve seen. Everybody give each other a hand!!!!!

Boys State Tournament All Tournament Team

J.R. Yarbrough 6-2 Sr. G Meridian

28 points in the 7A State Championship game; 39 points in two games

Deandre Lewis 6-5 Sr. Forward Canton

33 points and 15 rebounds in two games in Jackson

Jamarion Fleming 6-8 Jr. C Canton

25 points in the 5A State Championship game, 38 points in two games

Javion Stephen 6-2 Sr. G Olive Branch

39 points in two games in Jackson

Jathan Hatch 6-3 Sr. F Biggersville

32 point and 16 rebounds in two games

Sixth Man:

Avery Thomas 6-7 Sr. F Terry  

31 points and 14 rebounds in semifinal loss

Girls State Tournament All Tournament Team

Kayllis Walker 5-9 Soph. F Laurel

41 points, 29 Rebounds and 8 blocks in two games

Nadis Norfleet 5-6 Jr. G Tupelo

37 points in two games in Jackson; 20 points in 7A championship game

Macie Phifer 5-11 Jr. G Ingomar

37 points and 20 rebounds in two games

Carlie Brock 5-2 Jr. G Belmont

34 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assits in two games

Keyauna Foote 6-0 Sr. F Blue Mountain

31 points in two games, 14 points and 7 rebounds in 1A championship game

Sixth Woman:

Alana Rouser 6-0 Sr. F Germantown

28 points 25 rebounds in two games