MAIS officials have acknowledged that a game-tying shot in the AAA state championship game Saturday at the end of regulation between Columbia Academy and Leake Academy should not have counted.
CA head coach Dale Watts said Tuesday that there hasn’t been an official meeting as of yet regarding the call, but in preliminary discussions they have acknowledged that Leake’s shot came after time had expired.
“That much they conceded. Now, will they correct it or will anything be done? We’re still in the talking phase right there,” he said.
The Lady Cougars had seemingly accomplished the unimaginable Saturday afternoon, upsetting defending state champ Leake Academy (36-1) to capture the MAIS AAA championship.
With the game knotted at 36-36 and the clock nearing zeroes, Columbia Academy senior Lauren Rowley proved to have ice in her veins and made a short jumper with just 2.8 seconds remaining, was fouled on the shot and converted the free throw to give the Lady Cougars a 39-36 lead. Rowley and the team celebrated enthusiastically, expectant of raising the championship trophy in just a few moments time, despite being heavy underdogs.
But then Leake’s Molly Davis took the inbounds pass, drove just past midcourt and launched a 30-foot prayer. The shot swished through the net to send the game to overtime. Both teams scored just two points in the first overtime and went to a second, where Leake made three free throws to win 44-41.
The ending of regulation immediately sparked outrage. Multiple videos shot by CA fans anticipating a wild celebration captured the final sequence and unequivocally show the ball had not left Davis’ hands when the buzzer sounded. In fact her feet were still planted firmly on the hardwood when the clock hit zeroes before she jumped to launch the deep shot.
“After I looked at the video, it makes me angry,” Watts said after the game. “It really upsets me. I questioned my strategy down the line, but after I looked at (the video), I thought the girls did everything we could do to win. That would have been a monster (win).”
The game was nip-and-tuck the entire way with neither team conceding an inch. There was actually another controversial call prior to the last shot of regulation as well. With around 30 seconds left in the game and CA up 36-35, Rowley had broken free on an inbounds play underneath the basket and converted the layup that would have put the Lady Cougars up 38-35. However, Morgan Jones was whistled for an offensive foul on the screen that freed Rowley, with the ref saying she hooked the Leake defender with her arm.
Leake would go on to make one free throw following a foul by Macey Jones that set up the final sequence.
Rowley led CA with 13 points, while Macey Jones had nine and Gabby Sullivan and Morgan Jones both had eight.
Watts said Macey Jones did a great job battling through her knee injury, and all four seniors — Rowley, Sullivan, Morgan Jones and Victoria Pace — played their hearts out.
Watts said in the two years he’s coached the four seniors he’s been extremely hard on them because he felt like they had tremendous potential. He said he recognized the abundance of talent, but to conform the talent into a good team it took a lot of hard work.
“The biggest thing I have to say about all four of them is they wanted to do well and they wanted to sacrifice. They weren’t happy with me a lot, and I understand that. Their mommas weren’t happy with me a lot, but I was trying to push them to the point (of success). I think it paid off,” he said. “Their desire to do well allowed them to stay with the program, and I can’t say enough for them. Those four girls hung in there with it.”
Watts added it was a hard road, but he credits all four of them for staying the course.
Morgan Jones is heading to Southern Miss next year to play basketball on scholarship, and Watts said Rowley and Sullivan will both have the opportunity to play in college but doesn’t know if they will or not.
Pictured Above: Columbia Academy's Gabby Sullivan ties up Leake Academy's Sydni Tangle in the state championship Saturday. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
