After having posted wins over SBEC and Elliston to advance to the semis of the regional tournament, the MUS varsity basketball team knew they had a great opportunity to advance to the State Tournament and possibly even win a region title.
Though they didn't take the region-tournament championship, the Owls would achieve their state aspirations with a 55-51 win over CBHS in the consolations Saturday afternoon after having lost to ECS, 63-53, in the semis.
Last Friday in the semifinals at MUS, the top-seeded Eagles jumped out to a strong start and led much of the first half as the Owls struggled to get much done offensively. ECS held MUS to just 30% shooting in the first half and led by 9 at the half, 31-22.
But MUS would ultimately fight back in the second half.
The Owls started the second half with three baskets from Ferrakohn Hall to get back into the game. Two three-point field goals each from Elliott Cole and Jay Martin also helped as MUS ultimately took the lead late in the third.
But Tim Johnson, who scored 25 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, and ECS’ inside game proved to be too much for the Owls as ECS advanced to the finals, which they ultimately won.
Cole led MUS with 17 points, while Martin scored 16, and Hall added 10 points and 8 rebounds.
The next evening, in the do-or-die consolation round, MUS faced archrival CBHS for a state-tournament berth.
After having jumped out to a ten-point lead early in the second quarter, the Owls saw CBHS fight back to cut the lead to 1 heading into the break.
In the second half, the Owls opened up by going inside on offense and switching zone and man defensive schemes to slow down the Brothers. Six fourth quarter free throws allowed MUS to maintain lead and advance to state with the hard-fought, rugged four-point win.
Cole again led the Owls with 14 points, while Peter Zanca added 11.
For their play, Cole and Martin were named to the Region All-Tournament Team as MUS claimed third.
At state, MUS will face a talented Brentwood-Academy squad in the opening round in a rematch of last-year's first-round matchup. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m. in Nashville at David Lipscomb Arena on Thursday, March 2.