As midnight approached on the evening of March 12 at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson, a celebration broke out on the court.
The Columbus Falcons had just turned back Starkville High School in a fiercely contested, if less than artistic, Class 6A Boys Basketball Championship game.
As soon as the final seconds of that 37-33 victory ticked away, the Columbus players, coaches and a few dozen of their most devoted fans emptied onto the court to celebrate.
As post-game celebrations go, it was fine.
But given the historic nature of the victory, a bigger celebration seemed in order.
That moment came Tuesday night, as the city of Columbus staged a “Celebration of Champions” Parade downtown. The parade, which included the Columbus High Band and ROTC, city and school officials and — of course — the players and coaches, drew hundreds of fans who turned out on a pleasant evening to acknowledge the historic feat.
The Falcons claimed their first state championship with the win over Starkville. Based on the prevailing mood during Tuesday’s parade, they are not content with just one title. With a strong nucleus of returning players, CHS hopes repeat the feat next year.
It’s best not to get too far ahead, though. The Falcons and their fans should enjoy the moment.
They should also remember how they got here.
Some championship teams roll through the competition and impose their dominance through the playoffs.
But for the Falcons, the journey was far more difficult — never more difficult than in the title game against Starkville, which was bidding for back-to-back titles.
The game was nothing short of a war, with both teams imposing their defensive will on the other, as the low score indicated. That the Falcons were able to overcome an eight-point third-quarter deficit in such a low-scoring game is testament to their mental toughness, poise and determination.
Hard-fought victories are always the sweetest, of course. Tuesday’s parade was a fitting way to share those emotions with their fans.
We congratulate the Falcons, and we also pause to acknowledge other champions from our area: Columbus Christian Academy boys basketball team; Oak Hill Academy girls basketball team; Hebron Christian girls basketball team; and Hebron Christian boys basketball team. Each of them won state championships in their Mississippi Association of Independent Schools classification.
We also would like to point out that the both the girls and boys teams from West Lowndes High School made it to postseason play in Jackson.
It was a great day to be a Falcon on Tuesday, and great seasons for many area teams.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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