DC edges Brighton for sixth straight title

The last two years, the 13AAA district championship has come down to Brighton and Dyer County. For the second consecutive year, Dyer County proved it was the better team as they defeated Brighton 73-70 to claim their sixth consecutive district title. The game was a thrilling affair that saw 21 lead changes throughout the contest.

"When you don't play your best game and still come away with a win in a game like this, it's huge," said head coach Derek McCord.

The Choctaws were led by all-district and all-tournament MVP Robert Hubbs, who had 26 points. Together with junior LaMarcus Mosley, who hit six 3's off the bench, Hubbs lifted the Choctaws past the Cardinals despite a subpar performance from seniors John Hudson and Cedarius Taylor, who went a combined 1 of 23 from the field and only accounted for four total points.

"It seemed like every time LaMarcus had the ball he lit it up tonight," said McCord. "This is why it's a team game; not everyone played their best game but other guys step in and have big games."

The game featured a fast-paced tempo that did not let up for 32 minutes of basketball. Brighton opened the game up with a big 3 that set the pace for nine 3-point baskets from five different players on the evening. However, Dyer County (30-1) matched the up-tempo game and after trailing early 7-4, Hubbs hit a 3 that tied the game at 7. The Choctaws would claim their first lead with 4 minutes remaining in the first quarter at 11-9.

The Cardinals would continue to battle and would hit another 3 to reclaim the lead, but the Choctaws would get their first dunk on the night from Hubbs with two minutes left in the quarter to go back up 17-16. Mosley followed Hubbs' dunk with back-to-back 3's, 30 seconds apart to put the Choctaws ahead 25-18.

Brighton would score the first six points in the second quarter to tie it at 25. The Cardinals would go on to outscore the Choctaws 22-12 in the second quarter to take a 41-37 lead into the locker room. The most glaring statistic at halftime was turnovers, with Brighton only committing four turnovers while Dyer County committed 11.

However, the Choctaws would come out and play fast and furious basketball in the third and outscore the Cardinals 20-12 in the period to take a 57-53 lead into the final period. Brighton would score six straight points in the opening minute and 20 seconds in the fourth quarter to regain the lead 59-57. The lead changes would continue throughout the fourth until Hubbs made it a 67-66 game with 3:28 left to put Dyer County up for good. Hubbs would miss three critical free throws in the last two minutes of the game but the Choctaws would hang on to win their sixth district title.

"It feels great," said Hubbs. "Hopefully we can continue playing well into regionals and go on to state."

The victory also gives the Choctaws an impressive milestone. The Choctaws are now 30-1 on the year but the team is an impressive 180-21 over the last six years. This is also the third consecutive senior class that has won the district championship during all four years of their high school career.

Hubbs' counterpart on the evening, Mosley would finish with six 3's and a season-high 21 points.

"It just felt right tonight," said Mosley.

The Choctaws will return home on Saturday to face Arlington in the first round of the Region 7AAA tournament. The game is a rematch of an earlier contest this season won by the Choctaws 93-80. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.

DCHS 25 12 20 16 -- 73

BHS 19 22 12 17 --- 70

Dyer County (73) - Robert Hubbs 26, LaMarcus Mosley 21, Jamaal Ahmad 12, Fred Yarbrough 10, Taylor 4, Fisk, Hudson, Miller, Pitts, Pugh

Brighton (70) -- Johnathan Stark 16, DeMarius Adams 13, Tony Brooks 13, Rickey Foster 12, Harper 7, Middlebrooks 6, Muex 3, Hunt

3-pointers -- DC: Mosley (6), Hubbs; B: Adams (3), Brooks (2), Stark (2), Harper, Muex