Why Ridgeway basketball loss in 3A state title game turned into another life lesson from coach

MURFREESBORO – None of the Ridgeway boys basketball players were hiding their emotions. Their coach, Curtis Wooten, wasn’t hiding them either.

Towels on heads, slumped shoulders, tears in their eyes. But whenever they were addressed, they’d look whoever asked the question in the eye and share their thoughts.

Just as Wooten has taught the Roadrunners, especially his five seniors.

The sting of Saturday’s 68-47 loss to Fulton in the TSSAA Class 3A state championship game at MTSU’s Murphy Center was palpable. But the Roadrunners (27-6) stuck to what they were taught by Wooten.

The Roadrunners' loss  to Fulton came in their first championship game appearance since beating White Station in 2008. Ridgeway is now 4-2 in state championship games all-time.

Before the season, Wooten wrote out the definitions of character, life and school. When the Roadrunners (27-6) geared up to make the trip here, Wooten checked the boxes of the goals that he and the team set.

“Did the grades go up, did the discipline get better,” Wooten said. “Did we learn the game, of course. I’m talking about the other side of things, playing together, getting through adversity. Those are the things; I was able to check every box.”

Wooten wanted to instill the life lessons to his players that they’ll carry with them beyond their basketball days. He wants them to go forward in life and become great men. The basketball part of all of it is big, but it’s not everything.

The loss in Saturday’s championship was another example of the teachings Wooten has shared.

“It was just teaching us how to be a man,” said senior forward Brian Carter, who had 12 points. “It’s all about life after basketball, thinking about college and how to go to college and get eligibility, whether you play sports or not. I feel like it’s been a big part off the court, but it really teaches us how to be a man and helps us on the court.”

Senior guard Marlon McShane, who transferred in from Hamilton, was able to pick up on the lessons quickly from Wooten.

“Just never giving up,” he said. “Just keep pushing and everything eventually comes to you.”

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Wooten has been working to change the mindset of his team to put them in a position where they are able to go to college. In the 2022-23 academic year, Shelby County had an 81.5% graduation rate, up from 80.1% the year before.

Wooten wants to keep pushing that number up. Basketball is an excellent avenue for that.

“I need to be training them on life, that’s important,” Wooten said. “I’m not going to just focus on basketball. Like we say, ‘Next play,’ there’s a next step to life.”