Columbia boys’ basketball coach Dr. Phillip McCrary stands in front of his five championship trophies. His 32-year career now includes 700 career victories after the Eagles won the Dale Burns Classic in Freeport, Bahamas for the second consecutive season. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The Columbia Eagles repeated as the William “Dale” Burns Classic champions in Freeport, Bahamas over the Thanksgiving holiday giving longtime Columbia basketball coach Phillip McCrary his 700th career victory in a 47-46 thriller over Oak Ridge (TN).
Deontae Hill got a steal and hit one of two free throws with 18 seconds left to give Columbia (5-0) a 47-44 lead as the Eagles rallied from a 36-33 third quarter deficit.
Oak Ridge pulled within 47-46 on its next possession and after a timeout got a turnover in the final 4.1 seconds to get a potential game-winning shot off that bounced off the front of the rim as the Eagles held on for the win.
Tournament Most Valuable Player Trevian Callaway hit for 13 points and All-Tournament selection Jamarcus Hatcher went for an 11-point, 15-rebound performance in the victory over Oak Ridge (4-1).
McCrary entered this season with a 695-240 record after a 30-2 semifinal finish a year ago and now sits at 700-240 (74.5 win percentage) as he coaches his 32nd season at Columbia. The Eagles reached the playoffs 19 consecutive seasons under McCrary who took four years off from coaching (2013-2016) after coaching from 1988 to 2012 and returning in 2017 to present.
The DeKalb County boys’ basketball leader in wins has five state titles (2006, 2008, 2010-12) and his teams only missed the playoffs in six seasons during his tenure. The Eagles have also made the state semifinals 12 times and reached the championship game eight times while winning it all on five occasions.
McCrary has just two losing seasons on his resume (1995 and 1998) and his squads won 11 games both seasons. He has 17 seasons with 20-plus wins and six with 30-plus victories. In the run to the state title game three consecutive seasons (2006-2008) his teams went 93-6 capturing titles in 2006 and 2008. A three-year reign as state champions from 2010-12 his teams went 89-9.
He was inducted into the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 following his three-run to state championships.
Columbia is second in program wins in DeKalb County at 903-379 overall with McCrary at the helm for 700 of the victories. The 900th program victory came in a 57-20 win over Lakeside (Atlanta) in pool play of the Burns Classic on November 23.
Columbia is dedicating the high school gym to McCrary tonight at 5:30 prior to the girls’ game as Columbia takes on Miller Grove.
The Eagles had to rally from behind in the semifinal against Jonesboro (GA) to advance to the championship game for the second consecutive season with a 48-46 victory.
Columbia boys’ basketball coach Dr. Phillip McCrary guides his team’s offense in a game last season. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Brandon Bigsby went to the line with 12 seconds to play to put the Eagles up 48-46 after rallying from a 33-30 deficit heading into the final quarter of play. Jonesboro missed its last shot and Columbia got the rebound as time ran out to clinch the win.
Callaway hit for 16 points, Jamarcus Hatcher had his fourth double-double of the tournament with 12 points and 14 rebounds and All-Tournament selection Quay Wallace dropped in 10 points.
Columbia reached the semifinals by knocking off host Tabernacle Christian Academy 53-29 behind the trio of Callaway (15 points, 5 assists), Hatcher (15 points, 16 rebounds) and Wallace (14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks).
The program’s 900th win came in that 57-20 win over Lakeside in the second game of pool play. Callaway led the way with 16 points (6 assists, 4 steals) followed by Hatcher (12 points, 17 rebounds) and Brandon Bigsby (10 points).
Columbia opened its season with a convincing 63-44 over St. Georges (Bahamas) to start pool play. Callaway again was atop the scoring with 24 points (8 assists) followed by Hatcher (22 points, 18 rebounds) and Tahmar Mann with 13 points.
Callaway averaged 16.8 points per game (84), 5.8 assists (29) and 2.4 steals (12) to earn the MVP award in the tournament. Hatcher averaged a double-double of 14.6 points (73) and 16.0 rebounds (80), 2.4 assists (12) and 2.2 blocks (11) and Quay Wallace put together averages of 6.8 points (39), 5.8 rebounds (29) to go with 1.6 steals, 1.8 assists and 1.0 blocks per game to earn All-Tournament selections.