For the first time since 2017 Meridian will be playing for a state championship.
Behind the play of guards D.J. Johnson and J.R. Yarbrough the Wildcats held off Germantown 41-31 in the Semifinal Round of the MHSAA Boys Class 7A basketball playoffs at the Mississippi Coliseum on Thursday afternoon.
Meridian (23-9) will face the Brandon-Clinton winner for the Class 7A State Championship on Saturday night at 8 p.m.
“I’m so proud of how our guys persevered and kept fighting. They jumped on us early and we tied it up. After the second quarter are guys settled down,” said Meridian coach Ron Norman. “Our senior guards stepped up and took over. They are small in stator but tough as nails.”
Germantown jumped out to an 8-0 lead to begin the game, but Meridian responded with an 8-0 run to end the quarter to tie the game 8-8.
The second quarter saw only four made field goals, but the Wildcats opened the quarter on a 5-1 run to take a 13-9 lead and held a slim 17-14 lead at halftime.
The third quarter is when Meridian began to separate themselves as the Wildcats outscored the Mavericks 11-5 to stretch their lead out to 28-19. Johnson made three three-pointers in the frame.
In the fourth quarter every time Germantown cut into the Meridian lead the Wildcats had an answer. Meridian built their lead up to 10 points on two different occasions. Johnson hit a pair of free throws with 41 seconds left to give the Wildcats the 41-31 lead and put the game away.
The Wildcat defense was sufficient holding Germantown to 12-of-35 shooting from the field (34 percent) and 2-of-10 for three-point range.
“We had a plan to come out in man and changed to a zone-press and it bothered them a little bit and that got us in rhythm,” Norman said. “JR and DJ just kept shooting and made some big plays. Now we get to play for a state championship.”
Johnson had 13 points to lead Meridian, while Yarbrough added 12 points for the Wildcats.
“We knew we could in here and get it done even when we got down 8-0, we never put our heads down. Just kept playing,” Yarbrough said. “Once we were able to get going it was hard to stop us. We’re a defensive team because if we can get stops offense will come. Feels good to be playing for a gold ball.”
Sam Funchess had 14 points to lead Germantown, while Joseph Anthony added eight points for the Mavericks (14-16).
“Third quarter we had good looks and shots wouldn’t fall and they made shots. Two other sequences where we got two straight stops, but then turned the ball over and you have to make plays in those situations,” said Germantown coach Christopher Love. “It was heckuva run to get this far and no one expected us to here, so hopefully it’ll fuel our guys coming back to work and get back here next year.”