Choctaws earn Region 7-AAA title with 79-74 win

On Thursday night in the Region 7-AAA championship game, Dyer County and North Side went to battle for the fourth time this season.

The Choctaws put on a great show in front of the largest crowd Bolton High School has had this season to defeat the Indians 79-74 behind a solid team effort and another double-double by Dyer County big man and tournament most valuable player Cedric Janes.

"I don't know if there is a more improved player in the state of Tennessee than Cedric Janes," said Dyer County head coach Derek McCord. "Cedric went from an overweight young man who didn't know his favorite move, to a polished post man with a whole repertoire of moves."

With the win, the Choctaws secured their third region title under McCord in four years, and the right to host the sub-state matchup against White Station on Monday at the friendly confines of Dyer County High School.

"When we made the jump to triple-A everyone started to doubt us because of our size and our youth," said McCord. "The only group that didn't buy into that was our players and our fans, and that really means a lot to us."

The Choctaw nation was loud and proud on Thursday, thanks to the administration at Dyer County who loaded four buses full of energetic fans ready to cheer their squad to victory an hour and a half down the road.

"Our fans are special. When you come to a game and your fans are lined up an hour and a half before tipoff it's unbelievable," said McCord. "It gave me goose bumps. I told the guys that's special, so let's go out and play special."

Choctaws Robert Hubbs, Cedarius Taylor, John Hudson, Janes and Koty Gross all scored in double figures for Dyer County, while six other members of the fast and furious squad chipped in with at least two points.

"From the start of the season until the region championship tonight, balance has been the key to our success," said McCord. "We had five guys in double figures, and I couldn't be more proud of our guys and their effort."

The matchup started with the Choctaws jumping out to an 8-0 lead on the Indians behind six straight points by Janes and two free throws by Hudson.

The Indians responded with a 15-3 run of their own led by sharpshooter Rod Long, who knocked down a deep 3-pointer at the buzzer to give North Side a 15-11 advantage going into the second quarter.

The Choctaws scored five straight points to open the second frame, retaking the lead at 16-15 with just a minute gone in the quarter.

Dyer County stretched its lead to 30-21 midway through the quarter when Choctaw Tay Kennedy came off the bench and caught fire from the field, knocking down back-to-back 3-pointers, sending the Choctaw nation into a frenzy.

"Tay came off the bench tonight and was instant offense for us," said McCord. "I think our depth really wore them down tonight."

The Choctaws hit five 3-pointers in the second quarter, and eventually took a 38-27 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Dyer County increased the lead to 46-32 early in the third quarter after Choctaw forward Koty Gross connected on two 3-pointers, which was followed by another deep 3 by Taylor.

North Side's Rod Long kept the Indians in the ballgame in the third quarter, but the Choctaws still took a 61-49 lead into the final frame.

Dyer County was able to stretch their lead to 77-57 with under three minutes left in the fourth quarter, before Florida signee and arguably the most talented player in the state, Casey Prather decided to take over.

Prather scored 17 of his game-high 31 points in the fourth quarter, trimming the Choctaw lead to 78-71 with 43 seconds left in the game.

"We knew Casey Prather wasn't finished going into the fourth quarter," said McCord. "We knew he was going to make a late charge, and he did, because that is what great players do."

The Choctaws were able to knock down free throws when it counted late, as Dyer County secured the victory and one more home game in front of the loudest crowd in West Tennessee.

Dyer County will host White Station on Monday at 7 p.m. in Newbern for the chance to make their third trip to Murfreesboro in four years under McCord.

"We are not finished yet," said McCord. "It has been a tradition at Dyer County to still be playing basketball in March, but our goal is to get to Murfreesboro."

Fans will not be allowed to enter the school until 5:30 p.m. on Monday due to TSSAA regulations.