Back-to-back for Blue Devils

The Ashland Blue Devils have done it again – brought home the gold ball from the “Big House.”

An 88-57 shellacking of Shaw last Thursday marked the Blue Devils’ second straight state title in Class 1A.

DeAnthony Tipler scored 16 points and dished out seven assists to lead Ashland to another championship at Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.

Ocquavion Agyekum, Cadarrious Crumb, and Juwan Martin each scored 14 points for Ashland. Richard Brooks added 12. Martin also pulled down 12 rebounds.

Crumb, who added nine rebounds and two blocked shots, was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Brooks was awarded Scholar-Athlete of the Game.

“I’m just happy that we showed what type of team we really are,” coach Rolley Tipler said. “We had five or six players in double digits, and that shows that we are not a one-man team.

“I’m proud that my players were able to put together another memorable season, and I’m glad I was there to share it with them.”

The Blue Devils started the game on a 10-3 run and grabbed the first--quarter lead, 15-11.

At the half, the Blue Devils were up 38-26.

In the third, the Blue Devils added 20 more points to Shaw’s 16. The Devils held the big advantage, 58-42, going to the final period of play.

And the Blue Devils didn’t let up in the fourth. They kept pounding away. Ashland outscored Shaw 30-15 in the fourth to capture a 31-point victory and set off a huge celebration.

Anthony Davis Jr. scored 18 points for Shaw. Anthony Jackson had 13.

The Blue Devils finished the season with a 28-6 record.