Devils fall in finals

The last four minutes of the third quarter doomed Ashland Thursday afternoon in the Class 1A state title game.

That’s when top-ranked Okolona, leading by just four, went on a 23-7 run to take a 20-point lead. The Chieftains kept on clicking and dethroned the Blue Devils, two-time defending champions, 80-59, at Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.

“We felt good at halftime (trailing 34-26),” said Rolley Tipler, head coach of the  Devils. “But Okolona is a very talented team with a lot of experience. I told our guys we have to be in the game going to the fourth quarter. If not, we can’t pull it off.

“We had to keep them on the ropes, and we were not able to do that.”

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