Jackson Boys Win Second Consecutive SEC Basketball Title

Tyler Selby (2) of Jackson High School hit the winning shot in an 83-81 win over Chelsea on Tuesday. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(February 21, 2023 11:12 PM) Jackson High School head basketball Coach Milton Barnes said a year ago Tyler Selby may have panicked with the basketball in his hands in the finals seconds of a tied game.

This year the senior hit a 12-foot jumper with 2 seconds remaining in the game for an 83-81 win over Chelsea on the road Tuesday.

The win gives Jackson its second consecutive Southeastern Conference White Division title. Last year Jackson tied with Tecumseh and Chelsea, and this year the Vikings tied with Chelsea for the top spot. 

Jackson slowly took the ball up with approximately 20 seconds remaining in a tied game at 81-all. A timeout was called by the Vikings with just over eight seconds remaining and Barnes drew up a play.

“It was supposed to go to Savonn Campbell, but he was covered,” Barnes said. 

The ball ended up in the hands of Selby who drove just inside the lane for the winning shot. 

Barnes said a majority of the seniors played at the varsity level for the last three seasons.

“We took some beatings over that time, but we learned to grow and get better together,” Barnes said. “Tonight we recognized the open guy and nobody took bad shots.”

Jackson appeared to be in cruise control, up by five points with 85 seconds remaining in the contest. But Chelsea hit the front end of a 1-and-1, and two steals by the Bulldogs later the score was even.

Senior Tavion Tanner led the scoring with 24 points. Campbell added 19 points and Terrell White finished with 15 points.

Gibson Drummond gave the Vikings a lift off the bench with 10 points.

All four of the players are seniors for the Vikings.

Jackson is 16-4 overall and finishes 8-2 in the league. The Vikings finish the regular season at Lumen Christi next Tuesday and at Skyline March 2.