Melrose Moves Closer To The State

Melrose Looking Capable Of Winning A State Title

Was this a big game for these two teams? Apparently it was as I recieved a phone call at 4:00 telling me that a line of about 300 people was forming outside of Central. The region crown was on the line and a chance to host a substate game at home as White Station and Melrose who has been looking every bit like the team that everyone thought they were early in the season. White Station got to the championship game beating their rivals, the Ridgeway Roadrunners coming back down 4 with 35 seconds left on Tuesday. Early on, Melrose made it clear that they would be going to Rucker often as he scored on 2 consecutive trips down court for a 7-5 lead for Melrose. An uncharacteristic tech on Nino Johnson as he and a Melrose player rolled on the floor, gave Melrose two free throws and the ball back and things never got better for White Station.  With Joe Jackson struggling to find the flow and Andre Hollins not in a groove, the Spartans found themselves looking down a barrell and his name, junior Chris Jones. Jones would score on 5 straight possessions and hit two free throws to end the half as he scored the last 12 out of 14 points for the Golden Wildcats. Down 44-24 to start the second half, Melrose cooled off a bit from the hot second half but White Station could not make shot either. There was that guy, Chris Jones again, knocking down two 3 pointers before Adonis Thomas hit a 3 to put them up 32, 59-27 with 3:20 left in the game pretty much ending any idea of a comeback for the Spartans. Oh yeah, Chris Jones hit for a 40 piece as Melrose went on to win it, 83-60 and a big game to determine a trip to Mufreesboro against Jackson Northside which features Florida signee, Casey Prather.

Adonis Thomas chipped in with 14 points. Julian Burton and Joe Jackson tied for the leading scorers for White Station with 10 points a piece.