Independence completes year-long mission to earn program's first-ever 'gold ball'

Mark Wilkins wasn’t even born yet the last time a Williamson County public school won a state title in basketball.

That was way back in March of 1989 when Franklin took the Class AAA championship with a victory over Whites Creek.

Wilkins was born six months later in September, and he ended a 35-year wait when he coached Independence to the Class 4A title with a 53-44 win over Cookeville at Middle Tennessee State’s Murphy Center in Murfreesboro on Saturday.

“That’s crazy,” Wilkins said. “Same year.”

After finishing as the state runner-up last season, the Eagles (33-6) completed their mission for a gold ball with their 17th straight win.

“We came up short and that one definitely stung,” Wilkins said of the 2023 loss to Memphis Overton in the final. “But our kids, to their credit, went back to work even faster than I did. These kids were even a little bit more resilient than I was.”

Indy tied a school record for wins with last year’s team that finished with a nearly identical 33-5 record.

Wilkins said the Eagles were special because they never lost belief or got nervous.

With nine seconds left, Wilkins began to realize Indy was about to win its first state title in basketball.

“This will be something we remember for the rest of our lives,” Wilkins said.

Independence guard Jett Montgomery led the way with 28 points, including an 11-for-11 showing at the foul line, to earn the Most Valuable Player award. He set the record for most consecutive free throws made at the state tournament with 23 in a row. 

The Southen Miss signee finished his career as Indy’s all-time leading scorer with 2,680 points.

“Well, obviously, I remember sitting in this exact seat crying last year just because my seniors were leaving and we lost,” Montgomery said. “I love winning this, but more than that, this brotherhood that we’ve made over the last four years.”

Montgomery said people throw around the word team, but Indy exemplified it in the truest fashion.

“There was no selfishness,” Montgomery said. “(The gold ball) means so much more because of the journey it took.”

Indy guard Tylan Lewis got emotional as the clock wound down on the Eagles’ season.

“I just started crying, not because of the fact that we won, but that this great team is just coming to an end,” Lewis said. “I’m just sad that it came to an end, but I’m glad that we took all this time out of this year to end up with a gold ball.”

Wilkins’ dad, Mitch, (Gibson County) and brother, John, (McKenzie) have both coached two teams to girls state titles.

“I guess I can finally get a seat at the table now,” Wilkins said. “My oldest brother lost to my dad last week or he could have won one, too. That’s an incredible story that we’re going to cherish, but I don’t want to ever take anything away from these guys and this moment.”

Independence’s Houston Hicks, the tallest player on the court at 6-foot-8, made only one basket, but it was one of the biggest of the game as the senior’s 3-pointer from the right corner gave the Eagles a 45-38 lead with 2:45 left. The bucket came after Cookeville’s 5-0 run had cut the lead to four, and it ignited a roar from the Indy fans.

“I mean, it was wide open,” Hicks said. “Nobody was guarding me, so I had to shoot. I think (Coach Wilkins) would have gotten more mad if I didn’t shoot it.”

Hicks led all rebounders with 11 and broke the school single-season records for charges taken and blocked shots.

Indy beat LaVergne 88-74 in the semifinals Friday before winning a defensive struggle in the championship.

Eagles assistant Jeremy Whaley told Montgomery the Indy team hadn’t had “a Jett game” in a while and the senior delivered.

“I was, like, you’re right,” said Montgomery, who picked up three early fouls. “It felt good today.”

Montgomery hit a 3-pointer with three seconds left in the third quarter to give Indy a 36-33 lead. The Eagles never trailed in the final eight minutes.

“There’s no argument in my mind he’s the best player in the state,” Wilkins said. “I don’t want to take anything away from Emerson [Tenner of Cordova, the 4A Mr. Basketball] or anything like that, but in my mind he’s one of the best, we’ll say, in the whole state, with what he’s done for four years.”

Cookeville (32-4), competing in its first state tournament in 70 years, shot 58% from the floor in the first quarter before slipping to 35% for the game.

“Our shots just didn’t fall,” Cookeville coach Josh Heard said. “Shooting (35%), that’s not indicative of what we’ve done all season.”

Joseph Owens led the Cavaliers with 11 points and Josh Heard added 10. Jalen Heard scored nine points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Cookeville made its first state final appearance in school history.

“We talked about leaving your legacy, leaving something that people can’t forget, hanging banners in your honor and they’ve done that,” Coach Heard said. “They fought through the struggles all four years. They showed the true nature of a Cavalier.”

Cookeville had never won a state tournament game before winning its first two this week.

“It’s never been done in Cookeville history, so it means a lot, especially our senior year,” Cookeville forward Josh Heard said.

Containing Montgomery proved to be too difficult.

“He’s kind of stocky, and he can get by a lot of contact,” Heard said. “He’s really deserving of that MVP award. He was the difference in today’s game.”

All-Tournament Team

Independence: Jett Montgomery, MVP, Tylan Lewis, Houston Hicks, Korben Walling; Cookeville: Colin Ayers, Bennett Reeves, Josh Heard, Jalen Heard; Rossview: Jacob Edwards; Bartlett: Christian Alston

This story was first published by our sister publication The News.