Eagles add another state title to trophy case

Make it two for two in state championship games for the Smoking for Jesus Christian School boys athletics program.

The Eagles (21-9, 10-1) beat Corpus Christi Annapolis Christian School 34-30 for the Texas Christian Athletic League’s boys basketball championship Feb. 26 in Cedar Hill. SFJCS had already repeated as the TCAL state title winners in football in 2020 and 2021.

“The seniors set their minds to winning a state championship,” assistant coach Charles Frazier said. “From day one, that was our goal. We wanted to get it done. And we wanted to win in both sports.”

This was the fourth meeting between the two teams this season. ACM won the first contest 52-46, SFJCS won the second game 64-58 and the third 65-64, which was the regional championship.

In the state championship, the Eagles raced to a 16-3 lead after the first quarter that went to a 19-10 half-time advantage.

Frazier noted SFJCS made a crucial change in its defense for this contest, opting to play man-to-man instead of its full-court press. That’s what led to the big first-period lead, he added.

The Warriors (20-14, 5-2) responded with 17-3 third quarter behind some hot 3-point shooting for a 27-22 advantage headed into the final period. But instead of being apprehensive, coaches reminded the players they knew how to play from behind and win, that it was more important now than ever for the players to keep composure and their heads up.

“We had been there many times — that’s our whole season,” Frazier said. “We’ve been down 20 points and come back. We’ve been here. (Head coach Jonathan ‘Boo’ Maxwell) kept them in line, kept them focused on making the comeback.”

Then SFJCS junior guard Isaac Legier, who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, took over.

“Isaac drove in, scored and got fouls,” Frazier said. “He penetrated to the basket. We started putting them in foul trouble.”

Senior Marvin Glaspie III connected on a critical 3-point play late in the contest by making a basket as he was fouled and then connected on the free throw that gave the Eagles the four-point winning margin. That’s when they celebrated.

Now athletes and coaches turn their attention to winning a state title in track and field. And Frazier noted how special and difficult it is to win one state championship, much less two in the same academic year.

“It’s an elite group,” Frazier said. “To win it in football and basketball, it’s just amazing.”