Advertisement

MLK's Brown King named Midstate girls coach of the year

MLK coach Lindy Brown King led her team to the Class AA state title.

MLK coach Lindy Brown King led her team to the Class AA state title.

Martin Luther King Magnet girls basketball coach Lindy Brown King had a simple goal for her squad this season.

The weather didn’t want to cooperate, but the ultimate goal was achieved.

“I told the girls that our goal was not to be finished until March 7,” said Brown King, referring to the date the TSSAA state basketball tournament was scheduled to conclude with its championship games.

Thanks to winter weather that forced the tournament to be pushed back a day, March 7 turned out to be the Class AA state semifinals and a matchup with No. 1-ranked and unbeaten Elizabethton.

“That’s the night we played Elizabethton, and I said, ‘(March 7) can’t be the real end,’ ” Brown King said.

MLK comes from behind to capture Class AA title

She was right. MLK upset Elizabethton 69-57 to earn a trip to the state finals, where the Lady Royals completed their state championship run with a 58-51 win over McMinn Central in the championship game.

The postseason success capped a 28-6 season for MLK and earned Brown King the honor as The Tennessean’s Midstate girls coach of the year.

“It’s a tribute to the kids,” said Brown King, who had a senior-dominated squad. “It was so exciting to watch these kids from middle school through their senior years and see their development.”

MLK won the state title despite losing in the District 10-AA semifinals to Lipscomb (57-52) and then in the Region 5-AA finals to Westmoreland (47-44).

Needless to say, the Lady Royals were hot at the most opportune times.

“I think the loss to Lipscomb helped us refocus a bit,” Brown King said. “In the region finals, we lost to a great Westmoreland team. I have so much respect for (Westmoreland coach) Cherie (Abner).”

MLK gives Elizabethton first loss, makes AA final

All MLK did after the region finals loss was knock off two unbeaten teams, including Christ Presbyterian Academy in the sectional. A state quarterfinal win over Cannon County set up the upset over Elizabethton.

“Having to travel to CPA was tough,” Brown King said. “We never talked about being underdogs. We always stressed that on any night anyone can be beat. We had played Elizabethton in a summer league game within three, so we knew we could play with them.”

Brown King’s philosophies seemed to work all season, including keeping her players from a letdown in the finals after beating the state’s top-ranked teams. In the end, the eighth-year head coach was rewarded with a state title.

On March 8, that is.

“This team was led by seniors, and they weren’t willing to give up,” Brown King said.

Reach Cecil Joyce at 615-259-8017 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.

More News