Ridgeland High School left little doubt in the Class 6A MHSAA Boys Basketball Championship on March 1, cruising past Olive Branch 79-53 to secure the first state boys title in school history.
The Titans were fueled by a standout performance from 6A Mr. Basketball, Phil Nelson, who poured in 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds. The Mississippi College signee was tremendous. Teammates Ashton Manuel added 20 points, while Marquise Williams chipped in 10 as Ridgeland’s offense proved too much to handle. The Titans shot an efficient 50.9 percent from the field and nearly perfect at the foul line, hitting 21 of 22 free throws.
Olive Branch was led by Tommy Callicut, who recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Xavier Poplar and King George each finished with 11 points, with George also pulling down eight boards. The Conquistadors shot 40.9 percent overall and converted 13 of 20 attempts from the free-throw line.
The game saw five ties and one lead change early, but Ridgeland took command as the night wore on. By the fourth quarter, the Titans had stretched the lead to 27 points, putting the finishing touches on a dominant championship performance.