WEST POINT – Oak Hill Academy senior basketball player Sarah Dill received some encouraging words from her coach Brian Middleton during her junior season.
“At the start of my junior year, he told us we could win a state championship,” Dill said. “He said with no seniors (that season), that would be a building year. Then (this year), we would have a chance to win a state championship. He made us believe.”
With Dill leading on the court and Middleton coaching on the sidelines, the rich Oak Hill Academy basketball tradition had a first this season. The Lady Raiders won the first-ever Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AA state championship.
Oak Hill Academy finished 29-11, with 54 wins in the last two seasons. Today, Dill is being honored as The Dispatch’s Small Schools Girls Basketball Player of the Year, while Middleton is being honored as The Dispatch’s Small Schools Girls Basketball Coach of the Year.
“I had never ended a season satisfied until this one,” Middleton said. “I guess that is what happens when you win a state championship. That moment when I came into the locker room (after a state championship win over Carroll Academy) and had a chance to be with the girls for the first time after winning (the title) was so awesome. I will remember it for the rest of my life.
“When you see the smiles and you know all of your hard work has paid off.”
Dill averaged better than 20 points per game this season and scored more than 1,800 in her two seasons playing under Middleton. For her career, her coach estimates she scored 2,500 points. She did it through hard work and a lot of hours in the gym. There were no AAU tournament teams, just a young lady working hard to perfect her craft.
“I am really sad that it is over because I love playing basketball,” Dill said. “We accomplished a lot as a team. We did everything that I wanted us to do. When coach told us two years ago, we could win state, we really took that to heart. Still, you really don’t know if you can do it or not. We just kept working hard.”
Oak Hill Academy only had nine players on the team this season. Of that group, only two were seniors. Middleton said other coaches asked about his depth. He simply replied by saying he hoped “togetherness” would be the difference.
Dill knew right away the bond being formed would be lasting.
“We all got along,” Dill said. “I had never played on a team this close. I have been on some teams that didn’t get along in the past. There would be a rift between some players. We knew we had to work together and we had to work hard to reach our goals. It if hadn’t been for everybody on the team, (winning state) would not have happened.
“We worked hard my whole junior year. We worked hard in camp. We had a chance to be good. It’s one thing to think you can be good. It’s another thing to become good. We worked hard to reach our potential.”
Already coaching the boys’ team at Oak Hill Academy, Middleton knew his best player when he added the girls’ team to his duties two season ago. One of the first talks he had after becoming head coach was with Dill about becoming a leader.
“We knew we would go as far as Sarah carried us,” Middleton said. “We talked about leadership. She is not a vocal leader, so I challenged her to lead by example. When you have no seniors, it is hard to identity that team leader. So we really pushed Sarah into that role. We encouraged her to step up and take ownership of the team.
“Midway through her junior year, she did just that. We were looking at that year as preparation for this season. This year, we were fortunate because (junior) Tanner Grubbs really stepped up and became our vocal leader. It was a great combination. That was so much respect between each of the players. Sarah led by example and Tanner led vocally.”
Dill began playing the sport in sixth grade. Her parents (Ken and Kerry) and brothers (Buddy and Cameron) have formed a strong support group at home. Her faith in God has also shaped her attitude on the court. The encouragement of her head coach took her game to another level.
“Coach Middleton told me I had to step up and become a leader and motivate the other girls,” Dill said. “He told me to stay positive but to stay hungry. The biggest thing I could do was set an example in practice of how we were going to do things. We really wanted (the state championship) more and more each day.”
In the state championship game, Oak Hill Academy erased a 12-point halftime deficit to defeat Carroll Academy. The Lady Raiders had fallen to Carroll Academy in both the district tournament championship game and the North State championship game.
Middleton said his team’s desire made the difference in the final matchup of the season.
“(The state championship game) was awesome,” Middleton said. “You see that all of your work is going to pay off. It is something you can’t believe. We had talked all year about having the opportunity. They wanted another shot (at Carroll Academy). We won the district (regular season), lost the (district) tournament and North State to Carroll. That is who they wanted to play again for the title.
“The burden lifted off of us. I still get chill bumps when I think about going in and seeing those nine girls. We did it the right way. Hard work and determination through adversity. That is what sports teaches. In society, it is hard to come by things that teach lessons like that.”
A loss to Bowling Green Academy in the 2015 state championship game paved the way.
“We had some battles early,” Middleton said. “That made us tougher. Resiliency finally came to the front with this team. In the East Webster holiday tournament, we lost to East Webster at the buzzer. Sarah fouled out and we had some young players who didn’t handle the big spot well. In the state championship game, Sarah had four fouls and those players were ready to step up and contribute.
“When we lost to Bowling Green, everybody was hurt. However, we knew Bowling Green was the better team. We had our core group back. Sarah had to step in and lead us. I knew how competitive she was. I have coached very few kids with her competitiveness and drive.
“She won a lot of awards individually but her goal was always the blue (state championship) trophy.”
While Dill now prepares for her time as a student at Mississippi State University, Middleton is also moving on. After eight seasons at Oak Hill Academy, Middleton was recently tabbed as the new girls’ basketball coach at Tishomingo County.
Middleton, wife Becky and children Baylon and Luke, were scheduled to move this weekend.
“This is a great opportunity for me professionally and for my family,” Middleton said. “It is a chance to get into public school coaching. My family is from West Point, though, so this will always be home. Both the Oak Hill boys and girls have a bunch of players returning and both teams should be great next season. The new coach will be blessed with some really hard-working players.
“For me personally, I look forward to the new challenge but will always be thankful for this opportunity. It was an incredible experience.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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