4A boys basketball state championship: Mills wins fifth title in school history, third since 2020

A fourth quarter surge proppelled Mills to its fifth championship in school history

Tommy Land

Mills (35-1) trailed after each of the first three quarters, but a late surge in the third continued in the final frame as the Comets won their third state championship since 2020 with a 56-51 triumph over Morrilton (25-9) Friday afternoon at Bank OZK Arena.

Mills senior guard Zaylin Rowland was named the 4A state tournament's Most Valuable Player and finished the afternoon with 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Marshall Walls led Mills with 19 points, plus pulled down six rebounds, while Anthony Hester nearly compiled a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds.

Morrilton junior Isaiah Templeton had 19 points and seven rebounds for the Devil Dogs, while Ty Wright added 12 and Zay Hill had 10.

The Comets were down 37-36 after three, but had the momentum heading into the fourth then outscored the Devil Dogs 20-14 that frame. Mills finished the day shooting 43% of the field to Morrilton's 34% and outscored the Devil Dogs 34-20 in the paint.

Pregame

Only the 1A game features two boys teams with more combined state final appearances than Mills and Morrilton. Mills is in the final round for the 10th time, and Morrilton is right behind the Comets with their ninth.

Mills coach Raymond Cooper led the Comets to championship wins in 2017 and 2021, and the Comets split with Magnolia during the 2020 COVID-outbreak season. Cooper has finished runner-up three times at Mills.

Morrilton's Keith Zackery led the Devil Dogs to the title game in 2021, where they fell to Cooper's Comets.

While there have been some close calls, Mills (34-1) has refused to lose, save for the one blemish at the hands of Class 5A finalist Benton back in November. The team has won 19 in a row since. Some of the victories include 6A finalist Bryant, Little Rock Central and Conway as well as 5A's Catholic and Sylvan Hills. Additional triumphs include ones over 3A finalist Melbourne, as well as Friday's opponent, Morrilton, a couple of weeks ago in the 4A-3 Regional Tournament Championship game. The Comets have hardly been challenged since that victory as they won their three state tournament contests by no fewer than 18 points.

Part of the reason for Mills' consistency is the amount of experience it brought back, starting with senior leader Anthony Hester (14 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2 spg). Junior Zaylin Rowland (11.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.8 apg, 2 spg) and senior Joseph Bell (10.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.8 apg) are additional double-digit scorers who provide plenty in other areas. Juniors Marshall Walls (9.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1 spg) and Maziyah Curry (9ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.3 spg) have been standouts.

It took Morrilton (25-8) some time to get going, but the Devil Dogs benefited from plenty of lessons learned while playing against a host of higher-classification teams during the nonconference slate. Around mid-January is when everything started to click and a win streak began. A few weeks after the run started, tragedy struck the team when junior CJ Clemons, along with his mother and sister, was killed in a car accident in early February.

Playing for their fallen teammate, the Devil Dogs have won 16 of their past 17 contests, the lone loss to Mills in the aforementioned 4A-3 Regional Championship game. Junior Isaiah Templeton (19 ppg, 8 rpg) has been huge for Morrilton, as have classmates Jamarcus Sandidge (10ppg, 3 rpg) and Ty Wright (13 ppg, 4 rpg, 4 apg). Templeton has received an offer from the University of Central Arkansas, and Sandidge and Wright also have received college interest.

(Updates will appear here after the game starts.)

FINAL: Mills 55, Morrilton 49

Mills wins its fifth state championship in school history. Walls and Templeton led all scorers with 19 points.

Fourth quarter

Mills 55-49, :08

Darian Toneygay commits the intentional foul on Hester, Hester hits both free throws.

Mills 53-49, :10

Hester hits one of two crucial free throws to give Mills a two possession advantage. Morrilton calls time on the other end.

Mills 52-49, 1:28

Rowland misses a jumper, but Walls was right under the basket to clean it up. Templeton missed a three on the other end, then Mills Coach Raymond Cooper calls time.

Mills 50-49, 2:07

Hester connects on a three from the right wing, then Templeton returns the favor and Morrilton calls time.

Mills 47-46, 3:00

Hill is back at the line and hits both free throws.

Mills 47-44, 3:19

Zay Hill is fouled on the fast break layup attempt, it was deemed intentional and Hill hits both free throws to cut the Mills lead to three.

Mills 47-42, 3:40

Mills made some defensive adjustments and it is giving Morrilton issues as the Comets have increased the lead to two possessions. Media timeout.

Mills 39-38, 7:06

Hester gets the lead back for Mills on a three-pointer from the right wing. Morrilton calls time on its next possession and will inbound the ball from their side when we return.

Third quarter

End of 3rd: Morrilton 37-36

Morrilton still has a slim lead, but Mills has the momentum heading into the final frame following consecutive layups by Walls, and then Cunningham at the horn. The Comet faithful are feeling it and Bank OZK is shaking.

Morrilton 37-32, :17

Back-to-back steals and fast break buckets by Mills cut the Morrilton lead to three. However, a technical foul on Rowland puts Templeton at the line and he hits both.

Morrilton 33-27, 3:17

Quick break in the action after a scary fall by Anthony Hester on an attempted dunk. He walked off under his own power.

Morrilton 33-27, 3:49

Morrilton strings together a 4-0 run powered by two free throws via Zaylin Rowland, then a layup by Walls. Media timeout.

Morrilton 33-23, 4:49

Jamarcus Sandidge scores to get Morrilton the double-digit advantage back.

Morrilton 27-21, 6:39

Walls gets another layup and is fouled, and-one is successful.

Morrilton 27-18, 7:14

Templeton connects on a three-pointer, then Walls responds with a fast break layup

Halftime: Morrilton 24-16

Mills' Marshall Walls attempts a three from the top of the key at the horn, but it hits off the front of the rim. Templeton leads all scorers with 11. The Comets are shooting just 29% from the field and are 0 of 8 from three. The Devil Dogs are connecting on 42% of their shots from the field.

Second quarter

Morrilton 24-15, :42

Vance Cunningham rejects a Templeton shot in the paint with authority, but is called for the foul. Both of Templeton's free throw attempts are successful.

Morrilton 18-12, 3:34

Mills is on a 4-0 run following a layup from Anthony Hester. Media timeout.

Morrilton 18-8, 5:13

Ty Wright gives Morrilton an even bigger cushion with a three from the right wing, then Wright gets fouled on the ensuing possession. Both free throws are good and it is a 10-point Devil Dog advantage.

First quarter

End of 1st: Morrilton 13-8

The Devil Dogs hold the advantage after one, but Maziyah Curry's successful jumper at the horn halts Morrilton's run. The Devil Dogs are shooting 50% from the field, Templeton still leads everyone with seven.

Morrilton 7-4, 3:50

Vance Cunningham cuts the Devil Dog lead to a possession and we've reached the first media timeout.

Morrilton 7-2, 4:44

The Devil Dogs jump on the Comets and have a quick fove-point lead. Isaiah Templeton has five of the seven points.

We are underway!

Download the SBLive App

To get live updates on your phone — as well as follow your favorite teams and top games — you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App | Download Android App