JACKSON — DeAnthony Tipler made a promise to his coach.
After losing to Shaw High School in the semifinals of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 1A State tournament last season, Tipler told coach Rolley Tipler that Ashland High was going to return to Jackson and win the whole thing.
But when DeAnthony missed a track meet, Tipler, who coaches basketball and track, got after his cousin.
“He didn’t show up for one of the events and I said, ‘You’ve got to make it up to me.’ He said, ‘Oh, I’m going to make it up to you. We’re going to get that state title.’ He held up his word,” Rolley Tipler said.
DeAnthony Tipler scored a game-high 23 points Thursday to help Ashland beat West Lowndes 60-49 for the MHSAA Class 1A State championship at the Mississippi Coliseum.
Last season, Ashland suffered a heart-breaking end to its season in a 73-71 overtime loss to eventual champion Shaw. That loss stuck with all of the Blue Devils, especially DeAnthony Tipler.
“It hurt last year to lose,” Tipler said. “I worked hard over the summer with my AAU team, Da House.”
DeAnthony Tipler delivered when his team needed him the most. Trailing 32-29 midway through the third quarter, the sophomore knocked down a 3-pointer to tie the game at 32. After West Lowndes’ TyShun Spencer made a free throw to give the Panthers (25-9) the lead, Tipler made another 3-pointer to give the Blue Devils (26-7) the lead for good.
Tipler was 9 of 21 from the field, 3 of 10 from 3-point range, and 2 of 4 from the free-throw line to earn C Spire Player of the Game honors.
“I’ve had him since he was in the sixth grade,” coach Tipler said. “I’m just used to that. That’s DeAnthony.”
DeAnthony Tipler feels like his coach is more like a dad than his coach or cousin. He likes the relationship he has with Rolley because he feels he has improved.
“He stays on me,” DeAnthony said. “He knows I can be a great player if I work hard. He stays on me at practice, off the court, on the court. He gets on me all the time.”
The Blue Devils scored the first five points on a three-point play by Richard Brooks (11 points) and another layup by Brooks. The Panthers then finished the quarter on a 12-6 run to take a 12-11 lead.
In the second quarter, a steal and a layup by Rodriquez Reaves (13 points) before the buzzer helped Ashland take a 26-21 halftime lead. The Blue Devils led 41-35 after the third quarter.
“We didn’t change anything,” Rolley Tipler said. “Like I told my boys, I said, ‘You don’t have to change anything up for them. They’re going to have to change up for us. We’re going to get up and down the court, and that’s something they are probably not used to doing.’ ”
Juwan Martin also had 11 points for Ashland, which played six players, something coach Tipler said he has done often this season.
The starting five returns for the Blue Devils, so coach Tipler is excited about what that means for next season. He hopes to repeat.
DeAnthony Tipler has the same hopes, but he said the preparation for 2016-17 won’t change because the program has won one title.
“The same thing we did this year, just work hard and win the gold ball again,” Tipler said.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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