JACKSON – It came down to the end, but Starkville is back on top.
Behind the second-half play of Jerwan McCarter and some key offensive rebounds, the Yellow Jackets rallied past Germantown, 40-36, to claim the MHSAA Boys Class 7A state championship on Friday night at the Mississippi Coliseum.
It’s Starkville’s (30-3) sixth state title in school history and first since 2021. Second-year head coach Anthony Carlyle has now won seven state titles as head coach at four different schools. Velma Jackson in 2013 and 2015-2017, Columbus in 2018, Yazoo City in 2023, his alma mater, and now Starkville.
“These guys have been fighting all year and at halftime we had to reset and continue to play at a high level and when we made a run that got us going to the end and pulled this thing out,” Carlyle said. “It takes discipline and a great group of guys that are willing to be coachable and in today’s youth that is hard to find. We had our ups and downs since I took over last year and the guys continued to fight and lead us and today, they were rewarded with all that hard work.”
It was a slow start for both teams that saw Germantown hold a 7-6 lead after one quarter.
The Mavericks were able to extend their lead throughout the course of the second quarter to take a 22-15 halftime lead.
Germantown went on a quick 6-0 run to begin the third quarter to extend their lead to 28-15, but Starkville responded by making four straight three-pointers to cut the Germantown lead down to 30-27.
The Mavericks held a 32-29 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter it was all Starkville. The Yellow Jackets went on a quick 7-2 run to take a 36-34 lead on a Andricus Howard three-pointer and a Ladanuel Jordan layup with 5:25 left.
After Sam Funches made a pair of free throws to tie the game up at 36, McCarter hit a jumper to give Starkville a 38-36 lead. Kobe Hendrix and Jaden Tate each made a free throw with under a minute left to give the Yellowjackets the 40-36 lead and seal the game.
“Our philosophy is 38 points or less on defense and if we can hold them to under 38 points we feel like we’re going to do enough offensively to win and we did that,” Carlyle said. “I preach defense and our guys stepped up in the fourth quarter and did enough to win at the end.”
McCarter had 10 points to lead Starkville and was named the game’s most valuable player.
“We had to get dialed in in the second half and fought until the end and got the win,” McCarter said. “We pride ourselves on defense and playing a team for the fourth time it came down to who wanted it the most. We came out here and got it done and to win a state championship my senior is a special feeling.”
Gonzaga signee Sam Funches had 12 points to lead Germantown (23-9).
“They killed us on the boards in the second half and that was the difference,” said Germantown coach Christopher Love. “Allowing them to get second-chance points and us not taking advantage of extending the lead when we had it is frustrating.”
ignee Sam Funches had 12 points to lead Germantown (23-9).
“They killed us on the boards in the second half and that was the difference,” said Germantown coach Christopher Love. “Allowing them to get second-chance points and us not taking advantage of extending the lead when we had it is frustrating.”
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