Top five storylines from Chattanooga Prep’s second straight Class 1A state championship run

With Saturday’s 27-point win in the Class 1A BlueCross Basketball title game, Chattanooga Prep became the area’s first boys’ team to repeat as TSSAA state champions since Tennessee Temple in 2002-03.

Here are the top five storylines that played a crucial part in helping the Sentinels walk away from MTSU’s Murphy Center with their second straight gold ball.

1. Bowman’s comeback

Demarion Bowman had to watch the final two games of the Class 1A state tournament from the bench last season as he sat out due to being ejected in the fourth quarter of the quarterfinals. The junior was laser-focused this go-around, scoring a team-high 15 points in this past weekend’s semifinal and finals victories, combining to shoot 10-of-18 from the field, 3-of-6 from 3-point range and 7-of-7 on free throws.

Bowman finished with authority around the rim, which included a big moment in the title game against Hillcrest when he blocked a shot on defense and powered his way for a basket on the other end.

One of three new starters for Chatt Prep this season, Bowman not only shined athletically but also maintained an A-average and scored 27 on the ACT.

2. One big family

While other teams at the state tournament ran out one-by-one to their pregame starting lineup player introductions, the Sentinels sat together on the bench as a starting five until all of their names had been called out before taking the court together for tip-off.

Chatt Prep has dominated on the court by building a strong culture inside their program. Head coach Christian Collins’ mother even performed the national anthem before the team went on to steamroll Hillcrest in the finals.

Despite a move up to Class 2A next season, the Sentinels should have a strong shot to three-peat as state champions with their entire starting lineup returning.

3. Another MVP for “Big 30”

Derrick Roberson certainly has made sure the entire state knows his name as the 6-foot-6 junior has won back-to-back state tournament MVPs for the Sentinels.

Roberson’s defensive power was on full display as he had eight blocked shots in the team’s three state tournament games, and he emphatically helped seal another championship run with a pair of alley-oop dunks in the last 1:30 of the third quarter in Saturday’s finals.

On the biggest stage, Roberson was unstoppable again as he made 16-of-27 field goal attempts over the three victories to finish with a team-high 38 points in Murfreesboro. The Mr. Basketball finalist should be the area’s top prep basketball recruit going into his senior season.

4. Second-half wizardry

Sophomore guard Austin Jones, who caught fire from 3-point range at last year’s state tournament, was able to provide the difference in Friday’s semifinal victory over Humboldt.

Helping break a 24-all score at halftime, Jones produced all 13 of his points in the second half in which he made all four of his field goal attempts while dishing out five assists compared to just one turnover. Also a star quarterback in football, he filled the stat sheet with 13 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in a dogfight of a victory.

5. Team captains go out in big way

Ta’suade Williams and Jaydan Parker, the team’s lone seniors, helped ignite the Sentinels in their final game.

Williams had his teammates jumping off the bench after he ripped a steal away in the corner to assist a fastbreak layup to Parker. Just moments later, Williams drilled a 3-pointer to provide a commanding lead over Hillcrest.

Parker’s made all five of his field goal attempts in the title game, while adding three assists, two steals and a block.

Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.