How Booneville boys basketball rallied in OT to win third consecutive 3A state championship
Booneville boys basketball coach Michael Smith didn’t have much time to get it together Friday. He also coaches the girls team, and the teams were playing back to back for MHSAA 3A championships.
With only 10 minutes between games to process a coaching blunder that he said cost the Booneville girls team a championship, Smith made all the right moves for the boys team in a 46-43 overtime win over Coahoma County for its third consecutive state title.
"Ten minutes is not enough to say what you want to say,” Smith said. “Or be respectful to their team (girls) but also get them (boys) prepared.”
The Blue Devils (29-2) had to overcome a three-point deficit in overtime against the Panthers (29-7), and senior guard Alec Nunley coolly hit a 3-point shot from the top of the key to give his team the lead and the win.
“I saw the skip,” said Nunley, selected the player of the game. “I knew my teammate was going to throw it and he trusted me to hit it, and I am thankful he trusted me to make the shot.”
DRAMATIC FINISH: How Belmont girls basketball's last-second steal dethroned Booneville for 3A championship
Nunley said the three-peat was Booneville's goal from before the first practice. The Blue Devils always focus on the team goal rather than individual accomplishments.
“The most valuable player part is because of my teammates,” Nunley said. “Any of us are good enough to get that award. I am grateful to them and for who they are. I will miss them going forward.”
Smith made a defensive adjustment on Coahoma County 6-foot-5 sophomore Caleb Hearn, who was the Panthers' leading scorer with 11 points but drew a crowd in overtime. Point guard Harlem Bell scored 10 points.
The Panthers kept Kedrick Simmons, Booneville’s 3A Mr. Basketball, in check, allowing him only 10 points.
Smith has coached the boys team to four state championships since 2011, and this was the Blue Devils' fourth consecutive trip to the championship game.
“This is a special group of kids,” Smith said. “These seniors have only played in the finals every year.”
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: MHSAA basketball: Booneville boys win third state championship in row
