Central High School's basketball team was fighting to prove anything is possible. After the school had just completed a back-to-back 3A football championship run, the Central basketball team was short-handed and off to an 0-8 season. Coach Bibby knew something the rest of the Sixth Region did not. He knew as the season progressed, so would his team as the football players settled in with the other players. Central made it to the Sweet Sixteen last year, but they had something to prove this time around. Nobody, I mean nobody picked the Yellowjackets to make it to the final. Central did not even win their district. There was one team that stood in the way of this soon-to-be historic moment if Central could become the first team in State history to win the 3A Football and Sweet Sixteen Championship in the same year. Well, it took two overtimes and a courageous effort on behalf of Covington Holmes to deny the Yellowjackets. Covington Holmes was in the title game last year so they understood the stakes. Although Central was the talk of the title game, Holmes left Rupp Arena with the loudest cheers.
Holmes captured the championship with a 67-63 double overtime thriller over Central. Central led 30-21 at halftime but Holmes outscored the Yellow Jackets 18-7 in the third quarter to take a 39-37 lead. The game went into overtime and Central’s Ridge Wilson hit a last second shot in the first overtime to force a second overtime.
Holmes shot 37.5% from the field including seven of 30 from the three point line. The Bulldogs connected on 18 of 27 free throws, pulled down 37 rebounds, and scored 14 points off 17 Central turnovers. Central shot 48.1% from the field including eight of 18 from beyond the arc. The Yellow Jackets connected on five of 13 free throws, pulled down 34 rebounds, and scored nine points off 11 Holmes turnovers.
6-7 Jr. Elijah Pittman led Holmes with 14 points and eight rebounds. 6-3 Jr. Jeremiah Johnson added 13 points and eight rebounds. 6-1 Sr. Dominique Johnson also recorded 13 points including three three point baskets.
6-4 Sr. Ridge Wilson led Central with 18 points and seven rebounds. 5-9 Sr. Alex Morrison added 15 points on five three point baskets. 5-10 Sr. Dawan Robinson chipped in with nine points and eight assists. 6-4 Jr. Tim patterson recorded nine points and five rebounds.
Holmes 7 14 18 12 9 7 - 67
Central 13 17 7 14 9 3 - 63
Holmes (67) - R. Johnson 6, J. Johnson 13, Pittman 14, D. Johnson 13, Riley 6, Housley 8, K. Rice 7.
Central (63) - Wilson 18, Robinson 9, Patterson 9, Morrison 15, Brown 7, Williams 5.
Story by: Jeff Allgood and Ron Harrison