By Robert Wilson
Central Hinds Academy pulled off a rare double Saturday when the Raymond-based private school won both the MAIS Class 4A girls and boys basketball state championships at Canton Academy.
The girls defeated Washington School 38-22 for their second straight state title and the boys defeated Greenville Christian 39-33 for their first state title since 1996.
The girls defeated Winston Academy 68-49 in the first round and Amite School Center 37-29 in the semifinals.
The boys defeated Winona Christian 75-35 in the first round and Delta Streets 60-33 in the semifinals.
“As the athletic director, I’m so happy for the boys,” said Central Hinds AD Henry Gantz, who is also the girls basketball coach. “I’ve coached most of them and to see them experience a state championship is special. The town of Raymond has supported both teams with pride. When our won South State (at Central Hinds), it’s the loudest I’ve heard the gym in years.”
Gantz has led the girls to a 29-9 record and has won 17 games in a row. The Lady Cougars are 30-0 in the last season against 4A competition and 18-0 in the last two years in the playoffs. Central Hinds has won South State three of the past four years.
“We felt the pressure of repeating as state champions all year,” said Gantz, who is in his 10th season. “It wore on us mentally, but our girls are tough. They came together when it mattered, and we play for each other. The culture is strong.”
Central Hinds girls play Tunica Academy, the No. 3 team from Class 3A, Tuesday at 1:45 p.m. in the first round of the Overall Tournament at Mississippi College in Clinton. Central Hinds surprised 6A state champion Jackson Prep in triple overtime in the quarterfinals in last year’s Overall tournament and lost to eventual Overall champion East Rankin Academy in the semifinals.
Last year was Central Hinds’ first girls basketball state title in school history and also the first time the Lady Cougars had reached the Overall semifinals and won a school record 28 games, now topped by this year’s 29 wins.
Central Hinds is led by senior guard and East Texas Baptist signee Kathryn Strong – a member of the Tatum and Wade/Mississippi Scoreboard Preseason Metro Jackson Team – and senior guard Stella Havard. Senior guard Ramsee Evans, senior forward Ollie Grace McLendon and senior guard Amory Grzanich are the other starters. Sophomore Paylin Maw is the sixth man.
Said Gantz: “We’ve had five players sign college basketball scholarships in past three years.”
First-year Central Hinds James Crain – the second winningest boys basketball coach in Mississippi history who hasn’t coached in four seasons – have led the Cougars to a 27-10 record, are undefeated in the playoffs and are riding a 10-game winning streak. Four of Central Hinds’ losses are to defending Overall and Class 6A state champion Jackson Academy, and 6A teams Jackson Prep, Madison-Ridgeland Academy and Hartfield Academy.
Crain has 1,065 career wins and 10 state championships and one Overall title (at Simpson Academy) in 40 career seasons (23 at Mendenhall High, 6 at Hillcrest Christian and 10 at Simpson Academy).
“Our players are playing hard and get after it,” Crain said. “We’ve been playing pretty well since the playoffs started. We have had a few guys like (Southern Miss signee and 6-foot-6 senior) Wesley (Lindsey) and (senior guard) Price Foil step up and be vocal leaders. We get after on defense and don’t give in. Some teams might have thrown in the towel when we got down 14-5 in the first half in the championship game, but we kept plugging, got ahead at halftime, and stayed ahead in the second half. We had to start from scratch with this team. This program hadn’t had a lot of success in a while and these kids didn’t know how to win and play and practice hard. It took a while to instill that in them and to be successful. It finally paid off and kicked in for these guys. We will stay after you and we’ve got a few guys who can score.”
Central Hinds is led by Lindsey, who averages 21 points per game. Foil, Clinton Christian transfer and 6-7 senior center Cooper Loftin, senior forward Tyler Flynt, and senior guard Conner Purvis are the starters. Senior guard JR Hall, senior forward Landon Harvey and senior center Hayes Germany are the top subs.
Central Hinds boys play Lamar Christian, the No. 3 team from 3A, Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. in the first round of the Overall. Central Hinds defeated Lamar Christian 61-52 Dec. 27 at Copiah Academy this season.
“After we won Saturday, a lady came up to me who played for (the late) Coach (Shelby) Watts at Central Hinds and said Coach Watts was smiling from Heaven,” said Crain about Watts, who won the last state title for Central Hinds boys in 1996.
