It was a family affair as Columbia High School dedicated its gym and floor as Dr. Phil McCary Gym and Court on Tuesday. Joining McCrary (third from left) were son Colonel Marcus Starks (former Towers QB), Constance McCrary (wife) and son Phillip “Clint” McCary Jr. Both sons attended the Naval Academy. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The Columbia Eagles celebrated Dr. Phil McCrary day by giving their head coach his 701st career basketball victory 88-57 over the Miller Grove Wolverines on Tuesday night at Columbia.
Before basketball action got underway with the girls’ game opening the night, the Columbia family recognized McCrary for his longtime dedication and work to the students and building a basketball powerhouse since 1988. The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners proclaimed November 28, 2023, as Dr. Phil McCrary Day and the school officially dedicated the Dr. Phil McCrary Court and Gym.
Columbia (6-0) ran its home victory streak to 104 consecutive wins using a 10-3 run in the final 1:43 of the first half to pull away to a 17-point lead (37-20) at the half. Back-to-back three-pointers by Tahmar Mann and Trevian Callaway and a steal and layup by Brandon Bigsby keyed the late run to pull away.
Miller Grove (0-5) closed within 13 (46-33) on a layup by Xavier Lewis following a steal by Amore’ Randolph with 3:23 to play in the third quarter and it was as close as the Wolverines would get the rest of the way.
Columbia’s Ja’Marcus Hatcher (24) gets inside for a layup against Miller Grove’s Jimmy Mattox IV (25) and another Wolverine defender. Hatcher finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds in the 88-57 Columbia win. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Columbia went on a 14-0 run keyed by Callaway who had eight points including a three-point play and a three-pointer. Ja’Marcus Hatcher’s basket with 3:09 to play sparked the run as he completed his sixth consecutive double-double of the season as he finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
The Eagles went to the final quarter of play up 62-35 and used a 10-1 run early in the period to remove any doubt of getting the win on their Coach’s day. Hatcher had four points in the run while Quay Wallace added three.
Callaway finished the night with 20 points to lead the Eagles followed by Hatcher with his 16-point, 12-rebound double-double and Tahmar Mann added 13 as 10 Eagles got in the scoring column and 13 pulled down at least one rebound.
Miller Grove’s Amore’ Randolph hit for a game-high 21 points (4 three-pointers) and Xavier Lewis knocked down 16 more. Jimmy Mattox IV added six points and eight rebounds.
Columbia’s Kerselin Anderson (left) and Miller Grove’s Arieyona Christon (right) chase a loose ball during Columbia’s 74-20 home court win on Tuesday. (Photo by Mark Brock)
(G) Columbia 74, Miller Grove 20
The Columbia Lady Eagles did their part to continue the celebration for McCrary as Coach Eric Bell’s squad improved to 4-1 on the season with several big runs in a 74-20 victory over the Miller Grove Lady Wolverines (2-1) in night’s opening game at Columbia.
Columbia went on a 13-0 run to open the game as Kerselin Anderson kickstarted the run with a three-pointer at the 6:41 mark of the first quarter. Aalon Turner put six points up in the run with two assists from Nia Anderson and one a steal and pass from Kendall Campbell.
Bother Andersons hit three-pointers in the quarter to go with six points by Campbell (4-4 free throws) to take a 23-8 lead into the second quarter.
Kaeslyn Benjamin scored four of the Lady Wolverines eight first-quarter points including a drive with 32 seconds left.
Nia Anderson knocked down seven points in the second period including going 4-4 at the free throw lane in a 10-0 run to open the period. She later added a three-pointer. Keamaura Robinson and Aalon Turner added four-points each in the second quarter.
Kamiya Moore’s three-pointer at the 4:29 mark of the second quarter provided the only points of the period for Miller Grove.
Makiya Jones and Arieyona Christon scored a basket each to open the second half for Miller Grove but Columbia responded with a 13-0 run keyed by two three-pointers of the hands of Nia Anderson.
Jones had the only basket of the fourth quarter for the Lady Wolverines and it came with just eight seconds to play. Robinson had six points as Columbia finished off the game with a 14-0 run to open the fourth quarter.
Columbia had five players in double figures led by Nia Anderson with 18 points (8 assists), Aalon Turner 17 points (9 rebounds), Robinson 13 points (8 rebounds), Kendal Campbell 12 points (12 rebounds) and Kerselin Anderson 10 points (6 assists).
Makiya Jones led Miller Grove with six points.