STEENS — Defense isn’t an afterthought to RJ DeLoach or Jaborris Frazier.
Lessons from their fathers early in their basketball career helped the Columbus Christian Academy players to understand the importance of playing on both ends of the court. Columbus Christian boys basketball coach Greg Watkins appreciates everything DeLoach and Frazier learned because he, too, stresses defense and knows it often is the difference in a team’s ability to win a championship.
DeLoach and Frazier showed this season they were up to that challenge, as they played integral roles in helping Columbus Christian win its first Mississippi Association of Independent Schools boys basketball state championship. DeLoach and Frazier recently were rewarded for their contributions to their team when they were named to the MAIS’ Class AA All-State team. DeLoach was named the classification’s MVP and was joined on the team by Frazier, Claiborne Academy’s Tye Evans, Greenville Christian’s Mike Robinson, and Marshall Academy’s Malik Riddel and Cortez Love.
Watkins said DeLoach, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound sophomore, averaged a team-high 16 points per game.
“RJ didn’t start last year or his eighth-grade year, but he came in and got a lot of minutes and contributed a lot,” Watkins said. “He is one of those kids that when he is a senior they’re going to wonder why he is still a senior. He has played so long.”
DeLoach said the Rams were more serious at practice this season, which helped them have a memorable season. He said everyone knew at the beginning of the season that the team had a chance to win a state title. He said the concentration waned at Christmas break after a loss to West Lowndes, but he said everyone re-focused and was able to come together to make it happen.
“I didn’t want to be outworked,” DeLoach said. “I just wanted to outwork the next man.”
DeLoach said he made a concerted effort to set the tone on defense. He said his father, Ron Sr., stressed the importance of defense when he started playing basketball when he was 3 years old in East Columbus. He laughed and said he didn’t play any defense when he first started playing. He said it wasn’t until he was in the seventh grade that he started playing defense. In fact, he remembers the first time he “guarded” somebody and made a steal in a summer league game in Atlanta, which speaks to his commitment to shutting opponents down on that end of the floor.
“I like defense better because if you stop them from scoring they can’t beat you,” said DeLoach, whose given name is Ron. “With a better defense, you can beat any offense.”
DeLoach said his father was called “Big Ron” and that he didn’t like being called “Little Ron,” which is how he earned the nickname “RJ” as a 3-year-old.
Watkins said Frazier, a 6-5, 225-pound junior post player, averaged six points and 12 rebounds off the bench. Frazier agreed with DeLoach in that the team was more serious and more focused. He said he tried to set the tone in practice by controlling the paint and grabbing rebounds and blocking shots.
“Jaborris’ biggest contribution was on the boards and his defense presence,” Watkins said. “We could spread the defense out a little bit more, and I think at North State his size became a factor and he learned how to use his body and get in position to make blocks and alter shots without fouling.”
Columbus Christian (28-8) made history by beating Canton Academy 40-31 to win the Class AA state championship. It saw its season end in a 56-32 loss to Jackson Prep in the MAIS Overall State tournament at Mississippi College’s A.E. Wood Coliseum.
The loss didn’t take away from the run Columbus Christian had to make history. It rallied from a 19-point deficit to beat Sylva-Bay Academy, outlasted West Memphis Christian 57-55 in overtime, and then beat Canton Academy at Canton Academy.
DeLoach and Frazier should be counted on next season to play key roles in the team’s quest to win another title and get back to Clinton. Watkins knows the journey will be even tougher because many of the top teams in Class AA also will return a lot of experience, but he feels confident having two leaders who understand the importance of defense and the team concept the Rams stress.
“We won three North States in a row, and RJ has been a part of three of them and Jaborris has been a part of the last two,” Watkins said. “I think the exposure the kids had playing in big games and in big tournaments helped coaches see them.
“We preach many parts, one body. We don’t try to individualize any of the kids, but it is a real big honor for the MAIS to give them this honor. We are really proud of them. It took the whole team to win it all, and each one of them contributed in different ways. These two guys contributed big time.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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