For the first time in school history, the MUS varsity basketball team is state champions.
Behind a season-high 31 points by senior guard Elliott Cole, a total which included 5 three-point field goals and shooting 10-11 from the free-throw line, the Owls overcame a slow start in the state-title game and never looked back as they claimed the 70-50 victory over St. George's at David Lipscomb University in Nashville this past Saturday.
To advance to the title game, MUS had to win their semifinal game against The McCallie School this past Friday evening.
Though they started out slowly, trailing 6-2 just three minutes in, the Owls recovered quickly as they scored the next 5 points, and they never trailed again, defeating the Blue Tornado, 65-54.
MUS used a variety of half-court zone defenses and a zone press to confuse and frustrate McCallie, which ended with 27 turnovers. They shot only 38% from the field for the game as the Owls made the game up-tempo with the defense, limiting McCallie's 6'7" center, Ron Anderson, to only 12 points.
MUS took advantage of their defense to get good shots throughout the contest, shooting 50% for the game, including 5-11 from the three-point line. Cole, who led the Owls with 20 points, hit 4 of those three-pointers and added 3 rebounds. Robert Counce added 12 points and 5 rebounds, and Ferrakohn Hall tallied 11 points.
With the win, MUS advanced to its first-ever state-championship game. Their opponent would be St. George's, which had knocked off defending state champion, Brentwood Academy, in the quarterfinal round.
With a vocal student section backing them, MUS looked to build on its defensive momentum created in the semifinals.
But just as they had the previous day, the Owls started slowly as the Gryphons, led by Mr. Basketball finalist Elliot Williams, held a 19-9 advantage with mere seconds remaining in the first quarter. But a Cole three-point field goal at the first-quarter horn gave MUS momentum, and the Owls were different from that point.
Cole's buzzer-beating three-pointer ignited a 13-0 MUS run into the second quarter that turned a 10-point deficit into a 3-point lead with 6:20 left in the half. The Owls would not trail again.
Cole finished the first half with 24 points as MUS built on their advantage to lead, 37-26, at the break. His 16 second-quarter points helped the Owls outscore St. George's, 24-7, in the second period.
MUS expected a Gryphon run in the second half, but that run never materialized as the Owls kept increasing their lead.
Two John Stokes baskets early in the third quarter all but ended any Gryphons' hopes for a comeback as his second, a short jumper, gave his team a 15-point advantage.
Jordan Brown's lay-up at the end of the third quarter increased the lead to 18, and the rout was on.
In addition to his 31 points, Cole also added 8 rebounds. In fact, as a team MUS outrebounded St. George's, 40-20, as the Owls had 5 players finish with at least 4, led by Louis Amagliani's 9. MUS forced 20 turnovers and held Williams, who had averaged 28 points per game during the tournament, to only 19 points on 8-20 shooting. The Owls' biggest advantage was 27 points (63-36) as all 7 seniors logged minutes.
Cole was named the tournament's MVP, while Hall and Counce made All-Tournament.
Congratulations to Coach Peters, Coach Bakke, Coach Counce, and the team as they finished 25-9, won their last 8 games by double-digits, and claimed the school's first-ever basketball state title.
For a tournament summary, click here.