Clarke Central High School boys varsity basketball player Deangelo Harris, a junior, drives into the paint during the Gladiators’ 56-53 win over Cedar Shoals High School on Jan. 21. While the win ensured that CCHS swept their crosstown rivals in the 2022-2023 basketball season, head boys varsity basketball coach Stefan Smith believes the Gladiators’ victory was more about Dr. Margaret Morgan, the recently deceased CSHS math department teacher and mother to CCHS player Jackson Hall. “She was very special to me because I actually talked with her, I’ve actually known her. I coached her son for basketball and she has helped me out with a lot of different things,” Smith said. “She always had my back.” Photo by Lucas Donnelly
In the Classic City Championship hosted in the CCHS Competition Gym, the CCHS girls varsity basketball team lost to Cedar Shoals High School 45-30, while the boys won 56-53.
The Clarke Central High School girls and boys varsity basketball teams played in the 2023 Classic City Championship against Cedar Shoals High School on Jan. 21 amidst a sea of passionate fans on both sides.
The CCHS girls varsity basketball team tipped off first, with the Gladiators going up early in the first quarter. However, the Jaguars came roaring back, scoring 12 unanswered points to put them up 14-4, a deficit CCHS never recovered from.
“(It’s) not a good feeling right now, not a good feeling at all,” CCHS head girls varsity basketball coach Carla Johnson said. “I thought in spurts we put forth effort, but not enough for four quarters.”
Clarke Central High School girls varsity basketball player Breyanna Williams, a sophomore, dribbles down the court during the Gladiators’ game on Jan. 21. This season, head girls varsity basketball coach Carla Johnson has tried to focus on improving performances, but believes work at practice hasn’t translated to the games. “(We had) a lot of unforced turnovers. They put on that half-court press and we’ve been repping that not just for this game but for the majority of the season,” Johnson said. “I was disappointed that our kids continually just (didn’t) space the floor, (cut) hard to get to the open areas and (be patient) to get to the ball. We keep repping that at practice, (but) we haven’t changed.” Photo by Lucas Donnelly
The loss to their crosstown rivals leaves the Lady Gladiators in a precarious position, having lost eight straight games en route to a 2-18 record on the season. However, in spite of this poor run of results, CCHS power forward Ayanna Lonon, a senior, felt the team has tried their hardest to turn things around.
“I am upset because this was our last time playing (CSHS), and this, like the other times, was a winnable game, but I can definitely say that I’m proud of how I played. If the rest of my teammates can say that, then (we can go) onto the next game,” Lonon said.
After the girls game finished, attention shifted to the boys. Just before the start of their game, a moment of silence was held in honor of Dr. Margaret Morgan, the recently deceased CSHS math department teacher and mother to CCHS player Jackson Hall. After the Gladiators’ eventual 56-53 win, CCHS players and coaches alike dedicated their performance to Morgan and Hall.
““We was like, ‘We gotta win it for Jackson.’In my heart, when they were talking about it before the game, I was like ‘We gotta get this (win).’ Jackson does so much for us and his mom helped out, she was a big person to the community, so the least I can do is help him win. I (wanted) him to go home being happy.”
— Marcus Gillespie,
CCHS point guard
“We was like, ‘We gotta win it for Jackson,’ CCHS point guard Marcus Gillespie, a sophomore, said. “In my heart, when they were talking about it before the game, I was like ‘We gotta get this (win).’ Jackson does so much for us and his mom helped out, she was a big person to the community, so the least I can do is help him win. I (wanted) him to go home being happy.”
Clarke Central High School students cheer for the Gladiators after CCHS point guard Marcus Gillespie converts a layup to put the Gladiators ahead late in the Classic City Championship on Jan. 21. Gillespie was one of a number of CCHS players to struggle from beyond the three-point arc, but late in the game, he made several crucial layups and free throws which ensured a Gladiator win. “If my shot wasn’t fine, (then I would) just drive,” Gillespie said. “I don’t think nobody can guard me one-on-one and stop me from scoring in the paint.” Photo by Izzy Duncan
After the tribute, attention turned to the game at hand. The Gladiators built up an early lead, but the Jaguars slowly chipped away at it until they pulled even in the third quarter. It looked as though CSHS might have stolen the game with a late dunk, only for Gillespie to pop up with a crucial three-point play that put CCHS ahead for good.
“We had a conversation at halftime with the kids, just about having pride, playing hard, staying together, playing with enthusiasm and just playing. In the second half, they came out and answered the bell,” CSHS head boys varsity basketball coach L’Dreco Thomas said. “I’ve never been more proud of a loss (for) a team.”
Throughout the game, both sides were cheered on ferociously by their teams, and when CSHS missed a late buzzer-beater to tie the game, CCHS students briefly flooded the court before being forced back by security. The game was doubly significant because it ensured that the Gladiators swept their crosstown rivals on the season for the first time since the 2020-2021 basketball season.
“We’re city champs, so that’s big, that’s one of our goals,” CCHS head boys varsity basketball coach Stefan Smith said. “Overall goal is just to defend our (Region 8-AAAAA) championship as best we can. Our mindset is we’re gonna win it.”
