David W. Healy
dhealy@ddtonline.com
NEWTON — The Greenville Christian School boys basketball team completed their rampage through the MAIS North 3A State basketball tournament on Saturday with a 81-59 victory over Tunica Academy. The Saints won their three games in the tournament by a combined 79 points.
GCS now turns its sights on defending its Class 3A state championship this week. This years 3A state championship tournament will be held at Greenville Christian, and the Saints begin the tournament on Wednesday against Wilkinson Christian at 7:45 p.m.
Despite his team winning by such large margins, Greenville Christian School coach Logan Collins said his team is not complacent, and he expects every team at this week’s tournament to give the Saints their best shot.
“We definitely will have the target on our backs, and we are practicing hard this week for it. I had to restart our practice today after 45 minutes because we were not doing it right.”
“The biggest improvement in our team is our defense. If we continue to play good defense and get some fast break looks than I think we can beat anyone,” Collins said.
Collins has coached the Saints to two state championships, in 2017 and 2021. The school also won the state championship in 2010 and 2011.
And, despite being such heavy favorites as this week’s Class 3A tournament, Collins said he and his players are not looking ahead to the MAIS Overall Tournament which starts next week. Last year, the Saints lost in overtime in the championship game of the Overall Tournament to Madison-Ridgeland Academy.
“We are not looking ahead at all. We are taking this one game at a time. We are going to play some great teams this week, and when you start looking ahead that is when you get beat,” Collins said.
Collins said this will be the first time “in many years” that Greenville Christian has hosted the state tournament, and he hopes the community will come out and support the event each day. Admission to the tournament is $10 per day.
“There is going to be some great basketball all week long,” Collins said.
