Middleton's Maurius Reaves hits shot when it matters to win 14-A basketball crown

Michael Odom
Jackson Sun
Middleton teammates celebrate with Maurius Reaves after his made a three point shot at the buzzer in overtime during the district 14-A Boys Championship game, Tuesday, Feb. 20. Middleton defeated Peabody, 62-59, to become the District 14-A Boys Champion.

While most of the scoring for the Middleton boys basketball team is left up to players like Tylandrius Parks, Kelan Jones and sometimes Kentavious Berry, the Tigers have other players who have the ability to step up and hit big-time shots.

There is a sense of confidence when games are in tight situations that someone will hit a clutch shot.

On Tuesday night, that player was senior Maurius Reaves.

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In the final seconds of overtime, Reaves sank a 3-pointer to give the Tigers their third straight district championship, 62-59 over Peabody.

"I am kind of overwhelmed right now," Reaves said right after the win. "In the previous game, I missed a shot like that, but we still took the 'W.' I am still processing it. I was  open man, so I had to step up and hit the shot."

Middleton (22-4) hosts Greenfield in a Region 7-A quarterfinal on Friday at 6:30 p.m.

"We needed one, and he got us three," Middleton coach James Burkley said. "He came off of a screen, and he had time to knock it down for us.

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"We tried to go for home run plays throughout the fourth quarter and overtime, but we just needed to make the right play."

Burkley said the play wasn't drawn up for Reaves. The No. 1 option, Parks,  was guarded, but Reaves is an experienced player with the Tigers and ready to hit the open shot.

Peabody's Jadarius Harris attempts to make a shot over Middleton's Maurius Reaves during their game, Friday, December 8. Middleton defeated Peabody 68-61.

Reaves wasn't having his best shooting night, and up to that point, he had two points in the game.

"You just have to keep shooting, and your shot will come," Reaves said. "I had to have the confidence to knock it down."

He is a hard worker at the other end of the floor, and that kept his mind going.

"He is a kid that once he gets into the flow of the game, he can disrupt the offense for the other team," Burkley said. "He does things that don't always show up on the stat sheet. He is guarding the best player."

Guarding Jadarius Harris is no easy task, as Harris can score 20-25 points against any given opponent.

Reaves is usually a starter for Middleton, but recently he has accepted the role as the first man off the bench to provide a spark on the court whenever Burkley needs him.

"He does some things for us that I like when he comes off the bench," Burkley said. "He has played that role really well, and he has no problem with it. I think he cherishes that spot. and we get better when he comes off the bench."

Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.