Alabama State Championships: Bob Jones Grinds Its Way To State Title

Ivan McDowell, Southeast/Mid-South Editor

Harris takes over down the stretch to lead Lady Patriots to 6A crown

March 4, 2008 - The Lady Patriots of Bob Jones High saw their dream of winning its first state championship come to fruition last Friday, with a hard fought 48-42 victory versus Clay-Chalkville. For 1st year Coach Tim Miller it was his second straight; Miller won the 6A title two years ago at Jeff Davis in Montgomery.

Bob Jones’ best two players, point guard Jala Harris and forward Kellie Cook opened the scoring with a three-pointer and a lay up respectively, that forged an early 5-0 lead. Back-to-back trey’s by Cook later in the quarter gave BJ a 20-16 advantage after one period.

The Lady Patriots win the schools' first ever state championship in basketball.

The lead changed hands a few times in the second, followed by Clay-Chalkville ’s CeCe Kennon (17 points), who stepped out from beyond the arc and nailed a three of her own. The Lady Cougars held the slim lead 35-33 late in the third quarter when Harris began to assert herself.

The opening few minutes of the fourth became Jala Harris’ personal testament of will, heart and determination. Having played the entire game to this point, Jala, normally the facilitator for others, looked for her own shot when her team needed it the most.

Jala Harris drives for two of her seven fourth quarter points.

“In games like this you can’t worry about being tired,” said Harris, who scored seven points in just over a minute to give BJ a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Harris’ consecutive dribble drives for two and a lead-changing bomb from the top of the key seemed to knock CC back a little on their heels and forced a time out at the 1:50 mark of the fourth.

From that point the Lady Patriots began to milk the clock and forced the Lady Cougars to foul, putting Bob Jones in the bonus and Kellie Cook at the line. The junior knocked down six straight free throws in the closing seconds to secure the win.

“It’s a great feeling to win our first state championship,” commented Cook.

“We’ve said all year that we could do more,” noted Miller. “We felt like we didn’t want to go back home having not won the state championship and that rubbed in our face, especially by Sparkman.

“We talked about that coming into this final four and it was a motivating factor in us winning.”