The Observer

For the fourth consecutive year – and first under new head coach Nick Coln – the Olive Branch Conquistadors captured the Division 1-6A boys’ basketball title, defeating Horn Lake, 61-47, on Feb. 12 at Southaven High School.

“I thought our reserves did a great job,” Coln said. “They came out and did a good job.”

Playing without leading scorer and second-leading rebound Tevin Moore, who reinjured his knee in the Feb. 10 win over Southaven, the Quistors held a 16-15 advantage after one period. The second period was all Olive Branch, as the Quistors outscored the Eagles, 22-7, to take a 38-22 lead into the break.

Horn Lake, however, held Olive Branch scoreless through the first two-and-a-half minutes of the second half, cutting the Quistor lead to seven, 38-31. At the end of the quarter, Olive Branch clung to a slim, 44-43, advantage.

“We got out of our rhythm,” Coln noted. “I think we let down a little; we knew they were going to make a run, so we had to pick the defense back up.”

 The Quistor defense definitely stepped up in the fourth quarter, holding the Eagles to only four points in the final eight minutes.

D.J. Biggs paced the champs with 14 points, followed by D’Arthur Cowan’s 12. Also contributing were John James, 10; LaDarius Waits, eight; Jaylon Moore, six; Kadeem Cole, five; Torrey Gill, three; Tristan Wakefield, two; and Adrian Brown, one.

Darius Woods and Kendrick Moore were in double figures for the Eagles with 19 and 11, respectively.

Both Olive Branch and Horn Lake advance to the first round of the playoffs. The Eagles travel to Greenville to face Division 4-6A winner Greenville-Weston, while the Quistors host Vicksburg at 7 p.m. on Feb. 16.

Greenville (13-13) upset favored Vicksburg (24-3), 61-56, on Feb.11.

“They’re No. 2 in the state,” Coln said of the Gators. “It’s going to be a tough game and we’re going to have to play our best.

“It’s a good matchup for us and we’ll be at Olive Branch in front of our own fans,” he added. “If we play with intensity, it should be a good game.”

The Quistors, who started the season at 12-0 before hitting a mid-season slump, have regrouped and are playing some of their best basketball of the year.

“As a coach you talk about peaking at the right time,” Coln observed. “Basketball’s all about peaking at the right time, and I think we’re peaking at the right time.”