Clarksville Academy reaches state after 8-year absence with 'work to do'

Matt Wallace admitted that he and his team would smile for only a few hours Wednesday night after his team's 69-58 victory over Franklin Road Academy in the Division II, Class A, West Region tournament opener at Proctor Gym.

The smile was for accomplishing a huge preseason team goal -- to reach the state tournament.

With Wednesday's win, the Cougars accomplished that goal, advancing to the program's first state basketball tournament since back-to-back seasons in 2008-09 and '09-'10, when the Academy captured the Class A state title in Division I.

"We have a ton of basketball to play between now and state," Wallace said. "We'll smile for an hour, maybe, and I'm going to get something to eat. Then it's back to work. The fact that we're one of 12 teams still standing (in D-II) is amazing but there's always work to do."

Jakobi Milan led the way for the Cougars with 25 points and six rebounds while Daniel Loos scored 24 points and grabbed seven boards. And after the game, both Milan and Loos were stone-faced.

"We knew we could do this," Loos said. "We have such a close team and great coaches and it's been about business for us, really. Our focus has been really on since the postseason started."

Before state begins next week, Clarksville Academy (23-8) turns its attention to the rest of the region tournament. It'll play Friday in the region semifinal at Webb School in Bell Buckle. The region consolation and championship games will be Saturday. If the Academy wins out, in region, it'll earn a first-round bye in the 12-team state tournament next week.

But Wallace isn't thinking about next week and his players are in step with their coach.

"Taking care of business as each game comes is what's made us successful," Milan said. "That's the message coach has been giving us. So we're going to keep doing that."

Reach Prep writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com or (931) 245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.