Arrows escape Southaven 58-56 to reach championship series again
By Danny C. Davis
For the second time in two years, the Clinton Arrows are headed to the Mississippi Coliseum to play for the MHSAA Class 6A State Basketball championship.
Last year, Clinton won the school’s first basketball championship since 1993. CHS has never won back-to-back state championships in basketball.
Clinton advanced to the state tournament thanks to tight 58-56 win over Southaven at the Clinton High Gym on February 25. The Arrows will meet Brandon Wednesday, March 2, at the Mississippi Coliseum. A win over Brandon will put CHS in the Class 6A State Championship on Saturday, March 6.
Clinton struggled at times against the Southaven Chargers, who entered the matchup 25-4. The Arrows didn’t seal the win until senior point guard Ashten Michael-neal hit two free throws with 3.5 seconds left to put CHS up 58-56. Southaven tried a tying shot at the buzzer that fell short and allowed Clinton to advance to the playoff tournament.
Clinton led 22-17 at the half and 42-36 at the end of the third quarter. But the game tightened, and the Chargers tied it 56-56 with 1:33 left. Then Clinton slowed things down and ran the clock until the final two free throws to take the final lead.
“I knew I had to hit both of the free throws,” said Michael-neal after the game. “We were tied, and I knew we had to have both shots to get back to the Coliseum to play for another championship. If I don’t hit both of them, they had time to come back down the court and make a shot to win.”
Clinton stuggled at the free throw line all night, but, in the end, made enough big plays to win. Senior Kimani Hamilton, a Mississippi State basketball signee, had 20 points, Jaylon Davis scored 13, Kari Hamilton scored 12 points, and Allen Hughes dropped in 11 points.
“We had been here before, and winning a tight game was nothing new to us,” said Hamilton. “We want to make history at Clinton High School and win back-to-back championships.”
“We just had to calm down and pull through and get out with a win tonight,” said Davis.
“These guys are hungry for another championship,“ said Arrow head coach Lenard Taylor. “I am proud of what we have accomplished this year. We will work hard in practice to clean a couple things up and be ready to go next week.”
