Three years ago, the South Side Hawks boys basketball team was steamrolling their way to a state championship. They had completed their postseason run by winning both the district and region tournaments as well as the sub-state game that punched their ticket to Murfreesboro. Then Covid-19 hit and the world shut down. The Boys state tournament – like every other basketball season at every level – was canceled. The Hawks were left with a 32-0 record and a lot of “what-ifs”.
I was still officiating TSSAA high school basketball back then, and I called several of South Side’s games that year. I can say with confidence that 2020 was their year; no one was beating them in Murfreesboro. The Hawks had previously won a state championship in 2014, but what made 2020 so special was the fact that they hadn’t lost a game all year. Their pursuit of perfection was a captivating story.
Fast forward to present day and a team from South Side has made it through the regular season, district tournament, and region tournament without suffering a loss. This time, however, it’s the Lady Hawks who are on a collision course with history. And, barring a global pandemic, they may very well get their shot at an undefeated season and state title in Murfreesboro later this month.
Led by a talented and tenacious roster, the Lady Hawks play with an intensity that is incredibly difficult to match. Coach Brent McNeal establishes the tone as well as the expectations for his team, and rarely do they fail to match the bar he sets.
On the way to their current 30-0 record, 29 of those wins were by double digits. The only game that was close was the first time the Lady Hawks played South Gibson. The Lady Hawks escaped with a three point win. The next time the two teams met, it was a 16 point win for South Side. They collided again in the District Championship where South Side won by 14 points and completed the sweep in the Region Championship by beating the Lady Hornets by a 38 point margin. It’s hard enough to simply beat the same team four times in one season, but the Lady Hawks dominated their closest competition when it mattered most.
Speaking of domination, through 30 games this season South Side has scored over 1800 points and is averaging just over 60 points a game. On the flip side of that, their opponents didn’t touch the 1000 point mark for the season and only averaged around 30 points a game. For all of us who struggle with Math, South Side outscored their opponents by an average of over 30 points a game.
Anchored by three seniors – including 3A Miss Basketball Finalist Ti’Mia Lawson – the Lady Hawks are one game away from punching their ticket to the TSSAA State Tournament. On Saturday, March 4, South Side will host Murfreesboro Central Magnet School at South Side High School.
Last season, the Northside Indians (boys) and the South Side Hawks (boys) both earned a trip to the state tournament. It was great for Jackson, but loyalties were understandably split. This year, though, our city needs to get behind a team that has an excellent chance to make history.
In my ten years of officiating, I had an up close look at the program that has been built at South Side. Coach McNeal and Coach Adrian Comer have instilled a passion for the sport that is evident each time the Lady Hawks step on the floor. The full court pressure is suffocating; the lane penetration is aggressive and precise. Scheme is important, but intensity is paramount. From the opening tip to the final buzzer, the team Does. Not. Stop.
This Saturday night, the Hawks Nest is going to be packed. The crowd noise will be heard from Pinson to City Hall, and if you can’t be at the game in person, tune into 96.5 because it’ll be carried live on our website, app, or your FM radio dial.
Lately, it feels like we’re finding ourselves at odds with one another – whether that’s a belief system, political system, or social preferences. This conflict seems to have seeped its way into Jackson recently. Maybe on Saturday, we can collectively focus on something that we as Jacksonians can be proud of together – a dominant team that has a chance to represent us all in Murfreesboro.
Something special is happening down south. Don’t miss out on it.
