Season’s end: Newton Mealer always felt Center Hill could win a state title
Before Center Hill played a game this season, the Mustangs head coach Newton Mealer felt like he had a team that could win a state championship. Fast forward to March 8, 2019, Mealer’s thoughts became a reality as Center Hill…
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Continue ReadingBefore Center Hill played a game this season, the Mustangs head coach Newton Mealer felt like he had a team that could win a state championship.
Fast forward to March 8, 2019, Mealer’s thoughts became a reality as Center Hill defeated the Olive Branch ‘Quistors by the final score of 75-73 to capture its first state championship in school history. The Mustangs needed a strong fourth quarter finish to top last season’s 5A state champion. Olive Branch, which was led by senior forward and Memphis commit D.J. Jeffries, played a huge role in his team’s rally.
The ‘Quistors forced some turnovers, and Center Hill’s senior guard Kevin Henry’s foot stepping on the line before he could get the basketball in play gave Olive Branch the break it needed to rally.
At one point, the ‘Quistors were down 72-67 with less than two minutes left in the game, but that deficit quickly turned into Olive Branch leading 73-72 after Jeffries put in a baseline two-handed slam.
But the Mustangs (31-3) never rattled.
“I was happy with how my seniors handled that stretch,” Mealer said. “I know whenever Jeffries gets a dunk, Olive Branch starts to get going offensively, but I was happy that we were able to sustain that.”
Kaeden Laws, who made the game-winning 3-pointer in the 5A District Championship game against the ‘Quistors, made another defining basket over Jeffries to put his team back up for good. Henry sealed the win from the free throw line by going 1 for 2.
After Henry’s free throws, 1.1 seconds were still left on the clock.
“I looked at my coaching staff and said ‘We are about to win a state championship,’” Mealer recalled uttering while glaring at the scoreboard following Henry’s lone made foul shot.
On the final play of the game, Olive Branch had to go the full length of the floor to get a shot off. On the inbounds play, Jeffries received the basketball near mid-court and launched a prayer that wasn’t even close to hitting the top of the rim. From there, the celebration of a state championship run Mealer had envisioned before the start of the season began right in front of his eyes.
The entire Center Hill roster quickly ran over to its fan base that filled the entire bottom section of the Mississippi Coliseum. Senior point guard and IUPUI commit Calvin Temple was named C-Spire Player of the Game after finishing with 24 points, eight rebounds, and three assists.
Temple had help from senior guard Kenneth Lewis, who provided 16 points on 6 of 13 shooting. Laws recorded a double-double (13 points, 13 rebounds), and junior forward Decorian Payton added 14 points and eight rebounds.
In the four games the Mustangs had to face the ‘Quistors, Mealer and his staff had a different game plan. After losing to Olive Branch 99-81 at home on Jan. 25, Mealer realized the best way to beat the ‘Quistors (26-8) was to slow the game down and limit their offensive possessions.
In the second meeting on Feb. 5, Center Hill game plan was working, but key 3s from Christopher Owens and Joe Cooper lifted Olive Branch past the Mustangs on Senior Night. In the third meeting, Center Hill was down by as many as 10 points with about two minutes to go in the game, but rallied, with Laws nailing the 3-pointer with 0.3 seconds left on the clock to end the Mustangs’ long and dreadful losing streak to the ‘Quistors.
“We changed things up in every game against them this season,” Mealer said. “And each time we did that, things went in our favor.”
Before tip-off Friday night, some of Mealer’s players noticed the entire Olive Branch team was wearing black shirts with “0.3” seconds stamped in gold as a reminder of what took place in the district title game. Even some of the fans in attendance to support the ‘Quistors were wearing the shirts.
Mealer didn’t notice anything until his players told him, but the shirts didn’t seem to matter once the final buzzer sounded. Mealer, his coaching staff, and players each took turns touching or holding the gold ball that all of them so desperately wanted.
“Olive Branch has a great team, but I always believed we were the best team in our district,” Mealer said. “And I always believed we would win a state championship.”
Too early for next year?
Mealer has to soon start preparing for next season. Center Hill is losing Temple, Lewis, Henry, and Cameron Goodwin, but Laws, Payton, and Morris will be returning as potentially the leaders of the team. The seventh and eighth grade teams at Center Hill Middle School have a handful of rising stars that could come in right away and make an impact.
“Kaeden Laws and Decorian Payton are going to be two of the top players in the state next season,” Mealer said. “Braxton Morris is a really good player. With those three coming back plus the three kids from the middle school coming in, I think we can get back to Jackson and win another state title.”
Olive Branch will be in 6A next season, so the Mustangs path to Jackson won’t be as difficult as this season’s path was.
Other notes
After shaking hands with Center Hill, the Olive Branch ‘Quistors received their tassels, but some of the players took theirs off before anyone could snap a picture. Junior forward Cameron Matthews, who was in foul trouble for the entire game, was in disbelief after the loss and took off his jersey and started heading to the locker room. His teammates followed suit, including their head coach Eric Rambough.
The team didn’t take a picture with its state-runner up trophy and banner.
Jeffries finished with 27 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists. Cooper added 20 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Josh Stephenson added 12 points, nine rebounds, and two assists. Owens provided 10 points off the bench.