Heading into this week’s MAIS Class 4A Boys Basketball Tournament at Clinton Christian Academy, Greenville Christian School coach Logan Collins believes this may be the most competitive state tournament he has seen in years.
Logan’s Saints open the tournament on Wednesday at 5:15 against Central Hinds.
I think this might be the strongest state tournament team wise of any that I've been a part of. Just about any of the 8 teams could come out on top. We're going to have to play our best basketball,” Collins said.
“Even though we haven't played Central Hinds, I've coached against their coach before when he was at Hillcrest, so we're both familiar with each other's style of play. That has its advantages and disadvantages. They have a player in Wesley Lindsay that can flat out play. We're going to have to defend well and finish possessions better on offense.”
Collins and his GCS Saints fell 31-28 to Canton Academy in the North State championship game Saturday. Pat Travis scored 10 points and had 10 rebounds. Ashton Powell had 8 points and 7 rebounds. Darius Williams had 6 points and 5 steals. Travis, Williams, and Powell were all named to All-Tournament Team.
“The biggest thing it came down to was execution on offense and defense, and they did that just a little bit better than we did,” Coach Collins said. “We had some opportunities to take control, but just couldn't get shots to fall. Canton did a really good job on defense keeping us from really getting in a rhythm on offense, and I didn't do a good enough job making adjustments to make things easier for us on offense. The guys played incredibly hard and left everything on the floor. I couldn't ask for anything more from them.”
North State Semifinals
Greenville Christian boys 49, Oak Hill Academy 24
In Friday’s North State Semifinals, Ashton Powell and Pat Travis each scored scored 12 points. Darius Williams had 10 points. Dylan Harper had 8 rebounds and 4 assists
Alton Riley had 6 assists. Tamarion Nichols had 7 points and 10 rebounds.
