Thirteen has become a mantra for Independence ever since a 12-point loss to Memphis Overton in last year’s state championship game.
The Eagles rallied with a 14-0 run, almost 13, to beat Rossview 65-53 in the Class 4A semifinals at Middle Tennessee State’s Murphy Center in Murfreesboro on Friday.
“Everything we did in practice, it was 13 more because we lost by 12 in the state championship,” Eagles guard Jett Montgomery said. “When we were conditioning, it was 13 more.”
Independence (30-6) is one win short in its quest for the gold ball, which will end with a championship showdown against Cookeville (32-3) at 11 a.m. Saturday.
“The football coaches at Independence gave me the idea of you lost by 12 last year, (so) let’s go back and try to do one more, 13 more, so our kids have done that in conditioning,” Independence head coach Mark Wilkins said. “The kids spread out and they make 13 free throws, 13 3’s. They didn’t always love running extra, but they did it and knew it would pay off, and here they are again.”
Jacob Edwards’ dunk gave Rossview (25-10) its only lead at 40-38 with 6:33 left. Then, Dawsyn Miller started the pivotal run with two straight 3-pointers from each corner after friendly bounces on the rim.
“Some lucky rolls, some friendly rolls,” Miller said. “I’m a shooter and my teammates trust me, I’m gonna put the shot up when I’m open and those shots are gonna go in.”
Montgomery, Indy’s career scoring leader, led the Eagles with 23 points and four assists.
Korben Walling, a 6-5 senior forward, added 15 points and eight rebounds, and Miller had 12 points.
“Coach always preaches next-play mentality,” Walling said. “(Edwards) swung on the rim, almost hit me in the face and I was, like, yeah, we're about to come back. We always fought through adversity this whole year, and that’s adversity.”
Walling is a former point guard who moved inside after a growth spurt saw him gain 4 inches from his sophomore summer to junior summer.
“I kept seeing him every day in church and I was, like, 'he’s taller this week,'” Wilkins said.
Unbeaten in February and March, Indy extended its win streak to 16 games.
The Eagles ended the Hawks’ 14-game win streak.
“These are win-or-go-home games, and we want to go get this gold ball,” said Indy guard Tylan Lewis, who fouled out with nine points. “We can’t have any more slip-ups.”
Independence is trying to become the first Williamson County public school to win a state basketball title since Franklin took the Class AAA boys championship with a victory over Whites Creek in 1989.
Cookeville, which hasn’t lost since Dec. 28, enters the championship game with a 21-game winning streak.
“They’ve got tons of great players,” said Montgomery, a Southern Miss signee. “We’re gonna watch some film. We have the best coaching staff in fricking America. I think we’re ready, but we’ve got to show up tomorrow.”
Independence center Houston Hicks, the tallest player on the court at 6-foot-8, blocked six shots.
Edwards fouled out with a double-double, scoring 30 points on 13 of 22 shooting with 10 rebounds.
“I think Jacob, tonight, didn’t want it to end,” Rossview coach Johnny Jackson said. “I mean, 30 and 10, that’s something that will be remembered in state tournament history.”
Rossview missed six shots and Quamond Linsey got hit with a technical foul during Indy’s 14-0 run.
“We just couldn’t catch a break,” Jackson said. “Something would go against us, something would go against us, something would go against us, and that’s not making excuses. That’s just reality.”
Jackson said he will always question whether he should have held the ball out once the Hawks finally got the lead.
“But that’s not us, that’s not what we’ve been; we’ve been aggressive all year... and give them credit,” Jackson said. “They made big shots when they had to and free throws down the line.”
Indy outscored Rossview 22-9 at the foul line, including 15 of 21 in the fourth quarter.
Rossview’s Cameryn Ward scored 14 points, joining Edwards with over 1,000 career points.
Rossview made its first state tournament appearance in the 23-year history of the program.
“They’ll never be forgotten in Rossview history,” said Jackson, who is in his 16th year as head coach. “They’ll always be talked about.”
Rossview lost three of its top six players early in the year, but overcame the personnel losses with seven gritty seniors.
“I’ve always coached underdogs, but they didn’t have the skill level that these guys have,” Jackson said. “28 years (of coaching) and I’ve got this taste in my mouth, and I’ll never forget it the rest of my life. For the school, I know it’s huge to make it here. They were live-streaming it at school.”
Trying to beat Indy proved to be too a difficult task. The Eagles outdid the Hawks 8-0 in blocked shots.
“They’ve got two Division I guards,” Jackson said of Montgomery and Lewis. “(Indy) is very physical, and they shoot the ball so well. They spread you out so well.”