JACKSON — Stick to the game plan.

That was the message from Columbus High School boys basketball coach Luther Riley in the second and the third quarters when the Falcons lost their momentum.

Instead of panicking as Starkville built a 22-14 lead early in the third quarter, Riley encouraged the Falcons to get back to the game plan. He also tweaked his lineup and opted to go with a double dose of point guards in seniors Javontae McDavid and TJ Gray.

Riley’s coaching decision and Columbus’ ability to keep its poise helped it re-gain the momentum and make history Saturday night by defeating Starkville 37-33 in the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A State championship at Mississippi Coliseum.

“We weren’t getting any rotation on the wings on defense,” said Riley, who earned his sixth state title, including a Grand Slam title he won as head coach at Jackson Provine High. “We had to get more quickness out there and they were able to do it.

“TJ and Javontae, I told them before the game win, lose, or draw I am going to love you regardless, so go out there and have fun and do your thing. Certainly they did their job.”

McDavid led all scorers with 13 points. He hit four free throws in the final 17 seconds to lift Columbus (26-5) to its first boys basketball state championship. Cameron Douglas (10 points) was the only other player in double figures in the game. Robert Woodard II, who had six points, earned game MVP honors.

Woodard II said Columbus had to get back to how it started the game after falling behind 22-14 after Tyson Carter (12 points) hit a 3-pointer with 6 minutes, 38 seconds left in the third quarter. Columbus used a 10-0 run to turn the tide and re-gain the momentum.

“We kind of got off track in the second quarter when we got up,” Woodard II said. “When we came back in the third quarter, we decided to focus on defense and get key rebounds that we needed and try to take over the game.”

Woodard II said there was “no doubt” in his mind McDavid was going to make all of his free throws to help the Falcons make history. After all, the Falcons grew accustomed to 6 a.m. practices and shooting plenty of free throws to help prepare them for situations just like the one they faced Saturday night.

“I wasn’t worried at all,” Woodard II said.

McDavid started the season with a splash, winning the 3-point shooting and slam-dunk contests at the inaugural Meet the Falcons night at the Columbus High gym. He said hitting two free throws with 17 seconds left and two more with five seconds remaining to seal it was a fitting way to end his senior season.

“We knew we made correctable mistakes,” McDavid said. “When we got into the locker room, we made sure we pointed those mistakes out so we could come back out and make sure we corrected those mistakes. We made sure we played together because we started being a little selfish in the second quarter. We made sure we came back out and listened to our coach and get the job done.”

The victory capped a season that started with Riley taking over for longtime coach Sammy Smith. Riley said when he was hired that his goal was to bring a state title to Columbus. He said there were ups and downs along the way, but he credited his players for persevering and sticking to the game plan, just like they did Saturday night.

“The entire community wanted a championship, and I expressed in my interview that I couldn’t guarantee one but that I was going to work my hardest to bring one to the city, and we were able to do it tonight,” Riley said. “You have to have it all and that makes it so much sweeter. I give the young me all of the credit. It was tough at times, but I saw them grow up and mature throughout the whole process. I told them to stick with the process and if they did they had a chance to be something special. They did tonight.”

Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor

Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.