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FHS Boys Basketball makes school history

State Bound Thursday

The Jackets made a big comeback in the fourth quarter, scoring 21 of 23 from the foul line, for the school’s first win at Sectionals on March 6 to advance to Thursday’s State Tournament.


By Nancy Stephens

Main Street Fairview

FHS Head Boys Basketball Coach Trey McCoy makes final cut to the net after defeating Gibson County March 6 to secure school’s first state tournament berth in basketball.

The Yellow Jacket Boys Basketball Team rewrote Fairview High School history books on March 6. For the first time in school history, the Jackets earned a berth in the Boys Basketball State Championship Tournament.
The Jackets were able to clinch the berth with an on-the-road 59-51 win over Gibson County in the Class 2A Sectional. The Pioneers trailed at the half-way mark but took the lead in the third quarter. At the start the fourth quarter, Gibson County led 44-39, but that quickly changed as Fairview scored 21 times out of 23 from the foul line to take the win and extend their season.
FHS Head Coach Trey McCoy said, “This team getting to state is bigger than the moment. It will take a long time for the players, even me, to appreciate what an achievement it is. I’m just proud that our program has been able to make a lasting mark on the community I love so much.”
After the game, a large crowd of enthusiastic fans cheered the coaches and players as they “cut down the net” on their home court goal to officially commemorate their history-making accomplishment.
“There was a time when a district title seemed like an unreachable goal, 6 years later and 5 titles later, it’s become the expectation. The same thing goes for this trip to state. While we’re happy to make it, we want to show we belong and more importantly, that’ll we’ll back again and again,” stated Coach McCoy.
The Jackets are up for the challenge coming on Thursday despite the absence of two essential players. Leading scorer, junior Mays McCoy, also oldest son of Coach McCoy, suffered a season-ending injury in the District Championship win while senior Jack Estes received an automatic two-game suspension after a last-minute technical at the Sectionals.
“The success since losing Mays just reinforces the notion that these boys play for each other and there is a fine line between roles for any of the players. You don’t make it to State with one good player. You must have a team that buys into the team concept. That has been at the heart of our success both before and after Mays’ injury,” said Coach McCoy.
He continued, “At Gibson County, we had a lot of excuses to give up. We only had a few options to turn that game around and the boys followed that plan flawlessly. Nathan Dillingham stepped up going 12-12 from the line and popping off for 12 of his 23 in the final quarter along with a game clinching block. Defensively Jon Sawyer, Grayson Estes and Jacob Neal made big plays when we needed them. Guards Jack Estes and Jax McCoy combined for 19 to be 2nd and 3rd top scorers. It was the final five minutes that needed to go about perfect for us – and it did!”
The Jackets play the Brainerd Panthers, out of Chattanooga, Thursday morning in the BlueCross Boys Basketball State Championship Tournament.

STATE TOURNEY DETAILS
Class 2A
Fairview (26-6) vs. Brainerd (24-7)
Thursday, March 16 at 11:30 a.m.
At MTSU Murphy Center
Tickets are $12 per day in advance on GoFan app, or $15 per day if purchased with cash at the gate. There are reserved seats available on GoFan app. Everyone age five and older must purchase a ticket.

FHS Athletic Director Ricky Jones shared, “First trip to the State is super exciting. Hope this is just the beginning of many more trips to the Glass House!”

The Fairview High School Boys Basketball Team will be representing Fairview in the BlueCross State Tournament for the first time in school history on Thursday, March 16, 2023.