Any questions about the legitimacy of the Counselors hot start were put to rest after a remarkable comeback against a highly talented Central Hinds squad. The Muddy River Counselors defeated the Central Hinds Academy Cougars by a score of 84-80, advancing their record to 16-0 and extending the winning streak to 20 games.
Heading into the matchup with Central Hinds, the Muddy River Counselors sat at an impressive 15-0 record, while the Cougars had a 10-7 record.
Central Hinds Academy hired head coach James Crain in May, bringing the second winningest coach in Mississippi history out of retirement. His 1,048 wins are second only to Richard Duease, the head basketball coach at MRA. Crain made his career beginning in 1981 at Mendenhall High School, then followed by Hillcrest Christian and Simpson Academy. He had been out of coaching for four years as he retired after the 2020 season, where Simpson Academy won the 2020 MAIS Overall Championship.
The Cougars lost their first four games as it went alongside the closing of football season, where the Cougars made a playoff run. Since then, the Cougars had been 10-3, led by Southern Miss commit Wesley Lindsey, standing at 6’6″.
This was the third matchup between the two squads in the last three seasons. They split the first two with the Counselors winning in December 2023 with a 58-53 victory.
This year, the Counselors began the game the way they have begun the season – hot. By three minutes into the game, the Counselors were out to a 13-4 start. Central Hinds made it a game by the end of the first with a 20-14 deficit after one.
The second quarter was an exciting one that favored the Cougars. Lindsey went off for 16 points in the quarter on his own and the Cougars put in 33 points as a team to lead 47-38 at halftime.
The Cougars picked up right where they left off at the beginning of the third, as they pushed the lead to fourteen, 56-42. Foul trouble was even an issue for the Counselors, as Luke Sanders picked up his fourth foul midway through the third.
Muddy River dug in and cut the lead to seven, but another big run by the Cougars pushed the lead out to eleven as the third quarter ended, 66-55.
As the fourth quarter began, the situation looked bleak for the Counselors. But a quick scoring run cut the lead to seven with six minutes left. Then back-to-back treys from Sun Michael Williams cut the lead to a narrow 72-69 deficit. This gave Williams 25 on the game with his sixth three pointer.
Then came the point where it was time for Caleb Sanders to cook. Sanders had played well throughout the game but only had 6 points up to that point. With the Counselors down 76-74, Sanders drilled one to give Muddy River their first lead since the second quarter. After a response from Wesley Lindsey, Sanders laced another one, giving the Counselors an 80-78 lead. The Counselors then made a stop and Sanders got another bucket driving baseline, which gave the Counselors an 82-78 lead. The Cougars made it 82-80 behind Lindsey’s 37th point. Both teams had turnovers but the Counselors sealed the deal with Williams’ pass to Caleb Sanders on the inbound for the finish. Counselors win 84-80.
The Cougars were stunned. Leading by 11 going into the fourth, this was a game they did not want to lose. Especially with the opportunity to knock off an undefeated team.
Sun Michael Williams finished with 25 points, 9 assists, and 6 rebounds. Caleb Sanders finished with a triple double: 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. Luke Sanders and Ethan Veverka contributed mightily as well, with 19 and 13 points respectively. The Counselors are now on Christmas break.
How sweet it is with a 16-0 record.
