As the clock struck all zeros at the Mississippi Coliseum, Callaway senior star Jahanna Wilson dropped to the floor in celebration, while head coach Ashli Sutton lifted her arms in triumph. The Lady Chargers had finally done it.
Callaway (30-3) secured its first-ever MHSAA state basketball championship Saturday night, edging West Jones (28-5) 51-46 to claim the Class 6A crown. First time, Jackson Public Schools has crowned a champion since the Lanier boys’ championship in 2021.
“It feels amazing,” Wilson said. “It’s a long time coming. We came here two years ago and fell short, but today we came with one goal — to win — and we did it.”
Wilson delivered a performance fitting of the moment, scoring 21 points and controlling the tempo in the fourth quarter as West Jones mounted a late push. Her composure helped Callaway withstand the Lady Mustangs’ rally down the stretch.
“When your senior is leading, there’s really nothing for me to do but trust them,” Sutton said. “I was out of timeouts, but not once did I worry. I knew my senior guards would take care of it for me.”
The title game carried added significance after Callaway’s loss to West Jones in the Class 5A championship to end the 2022-23 season. This time, the Lady Chargers flipped the script.
“It’s great,” Wilson said. “For it to be our first one, I wouldn’t have it any other way. It was a full-circle moment.”
Jernae Ringgold added 14 points for Callaway. For West Jones, MHSAA 6A Miss Basketball Jakera Ducksworth scored 20, while Lamirekal Russell contributed nine.
With the win, Callaway’s Lady Chargers etched their name into school history, closing out a dominant season with their first championship.