Ingomar edges Bogue Chitto to clinch 2024 MHSAA 2A Championship

Jack Denton's clutch bucket with 13 seconds to go was enough to lift the Falcons to the program's seventh state title

The Ingomar Falcons are state champs for the first time in four years.

Jack Denton drove in the lane and made a clutch bucket with 11 seconds left to lift Ingomar to a 48-46 win over Bogue Chitto in the MHSAA Class 2A title game Friday night at the Mississippi Coliseum.

It’s the Falcons (27-9) seventh state title in school history and first state title since 2020. JoJo Petty earned MVP honors with a game-high 18 points.

“We were playing down three or four points down the stretch and we found way to tie the game," Ingomar coach Jonathan Ashley said. "Jojo (Petty) stepped up and made plays. We wanted it more in the fourth quarter. This is my first state title in this building. I almost hate this place. Finally something good as happened down here for me.”

Bogue Chitto held a slim 13-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter the Bobcats stretched their lead out to 26-19 and a 26-21 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter midway through Bogue Chitto was able to get to their largest lead of the game at 35-29, but Ingomar went on a 6-0 run to end the quarter to tie the game 35-35.

The Falcons went on a 6-2 run to begin the fourth quarter to take a 41-37 lead. Shomari Jenkins hit a corner three-pointer to give Bogue Chitto a 42-41 with 2:27 left. 

The game was tied at 46-46 when Denton made the final bucket. Bogue Chitto got off one final three-pointer that would have won the game, but it came up just short.

For Jonathan Ashley and Ingomar, it was almost déjà vu all over again.

In 2021, his Ingomar Falcons lost to Biggersville on a buzzer-beater in the 1A state title game, but this time, with five seconds left, Bogue Chitto’s Noah Magee shot bounced off the front of the rim as time expired.

“I swear when that kid popped out in about the exact same spot and it seemed like the ball stayed in the air an eternity," Ashley said. "When it bounced off it was big sigh of relief. We’ve been on both ends of that, and it’s tough. Proud of the effort, and we weren’t going to be denied. It wasn’t pretty but glad we got it done.”

Petty may have received the MVP nod, but that distinction could have gone to several Falcons. Denton added 11 points and 15 rebounds for the Falcons.

Petty fouled out with a little less than two minutes left in the game, but he said he knew his teammates could get it done.

“I knew they were going to step up and they did,” Petty said. “Jack is a dog, and everyone on the team worked hard to get stops and got the job done. This feels great being a sophomore winning a state championship.”

Shomari Jenkins had 18 points to lead Bogue Chitto, while Noah Magee added nine points for the Bobcats (29-2).

“It was a physical game and these poured their heart and soul all year and came up two points short and we had a call go against us,” said Bogue Chitto coach Marc Howard, alluding to the foul call on Denton's final bucket. “Ingomar played hard and they do it the right way. I’m super proud of this team because they put a lot of work to get here, and we will be back.”