How Mr. Basketball Will McCrary led Jackson County boys to first TSSAA state title
Here's how Mr. Basketball winner Will McCrary and Jackson County boys joined a storied girls program as TSSAA basketball state champs.
MURFREESBORO — Jackson County's Will McCrary had long dreamed of lifting a gold ball, and the reality proved equally as sweet as imagined. The Mr. Basketball winner dropped 18 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Blue Devils past Humboldt, 52-39, and claim the Class 1A TSSAA boys basketball state championship , the first state title in program history.
"I'm just so proud ... to be able to bring a state championship to the community is just awesome," coach Kevin Thomas said. "Tonight was their 100th win as high school kids, in their career, it's just been a great ride.
We knew this goal was out there for us and you just feel so blessed to reach it. "You know there are some good teams out there, and they don't get to bring home the hardware and you do, that's something they can't take away from you. " More: Jackson County's Will McCrary leads TSSAA basketball tournament top performers While it's the first state title in program history, there is plenty of basketball tradition permeating throughout the halls of Jackson County.
The girls basketball program has won eight state champions, while finishing runner-up five times, a legacy which the boys team now adds to with a gold ball of its own heading back to Gainesboro. It was the crowning moment of a near-perfect senior campaign for the Blue Devils' leading scorer McCrary. On March 10, he became the first ever Mr.