Briarcrest’s Michael Malone was the missing piece to the Saints’ title run
Playing beside one of the top premier point guards in the state of Tennessee in Kennedy Chandler, junior guard Michael Malone gets overlooked. Malone doesn’t have to score a lot of points because of the talent around him, but he…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingPlaying beside one of the top premier point guards in the state of Tennessee in Kennedy Chandler, junior guard Michael Malone gets overlooked.
Malone doesn’t have to score a lot of points because of the talent around him, but he made a name for himself on the defensive end in Saturday’s Division II-AA Boys State Championship game while guarding Brentwood Academy’s junior point guard Marcus Fitzgerald.
Malone made Fitzgerald work for any type of shot he wanted to take. Fitzgerald got the best of the matchup in the first half, scoring 13 points on 5 of 7 shooting. But in the second half, Malone held Fitzgerald to five points and Briarcrest outscored the Eagles (25-7) 35-17 in route to its first state title since 2008.
The win also ended Brentwood Academy’s quest for a fifth-consecutive state title under head coach Hubie Smith.
Malone finished with seven points, two rebounds, two steals, and one assist, and some of his points came at a pivotal time when the Saints needed them. Malone got a driving layup to fall to put Briarcrest up 49-47 with 5:37 left in the game. He made another one coming off the baseline. At that point, the Saints were up 52-49 and finished the game on a 13-5 run.
This year’s state title with Briarcrest marks Malone’s second state title as a player. As a sophomore last season, Malone won the 2A state championship with Hamilton High School in Memphis, Tennessee. He brought championship experience to a Saints team that fell short last season in the semifinals round against Baylor.
“It feels good to go back-to-back,” Malone said about his two state titles as a player. “I knew this would be their first time, so I just wanted to show them what it’s like to be a state champion. I just wanted to make coach (John Harrington) proud.”
Coach Harrington knew the importance of bringing in a player like Malone, who’s 6-foot-2 ½, with long arms and toughness to go along with his championship pedigree.
“The reason why I brought him in is because, every game we have played this year, he’s had to guard the best guard on the other team, and you don’t get a lot of recognition for that, when you have to be the stopper on defense. He did an outstanding job on Fitzgerald.”
It didn’t take much for Malone to buy into what Briarcrest was wanting to accomplish this season. It was relatively easy given the fact Malone came in with an unselfish attitude. Malone is all about winning, and his attitude resonated with his teammates as the chemistry improved throughout the season.
Guarding the opposing team’s best player is an everyday thing for Malone, who guarded Anthony Edwards of Holy Spirit Prep when the Saints played the Cougars in the Memphis Hoopfest back on Jan. 5. Malone also guarded senior guard and Xavier commit KyKy Tandy of University Heights.
“He brings even more toughness to us,” Harrington said. “We got some good ole Memphis tough kids. They really are. They play together. They’re humbled, but they’re tough kids, and I think Michael just came in and brought an extra dose of that for us.”
Briarcrest doesn’t lose any of its best talent from this season’s championship team. Kennedy Chandler, Marcellus Brigham, Omari Thomas, Rodney Newsom, and Malone will be back next season, with a good supporting cast around them.
The Saints finish the 2018 season 29-2.
All-Tournament Team
Omari Thomas (Briarcrest), Kennedy Chandler (Briarcrest), Marcellus Brigham (Briarcrest), Marcus Fitzgerald (Brentwood Academy), Randy Brady (Brentwood Academy), and Lewis McDaniel (Ensworth) were named to the Division II-AA Boys State All-Tournament team. Chandler was named most valuable player.
Chandler finished the game with 20 points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal, and went 8 for 9 from the free throw line. Brigham added 18 points, four rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and one steal. Thomas had 14 points, six rebounds, one assist, one block, and one steal and was a perfect 8 for 8 from the charity stripe.