Tylan Brown's 'heart over height' leads Columbus to MHSAA basketball 5A state championship
· Yahoo Sports
On the court, Tylan Brown is easy to overlook, literally.
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In the MHSAA 5A boys basketball final, the 5-foot-6 Columbus guard was the shortest player on the hardwood, but his impact for the Falcons (27-5) was massive in their 52-38 win over Holmes County Central (27-6) at Mississippi Coliseum on March 7. It’s their first state title since 2018.
“Just heart. Heart over height,” Columbus coach Phillip Morris said of Brown. “Every time we come out on the court, he’s the smallest player on the court, but he’s usually the toughest player on the court. … And that’s why we trust him.”
Brown played the whole game and led his team in points and rebounds. He finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and three steals, and he won the game’s MVP award.
“I feel good,” Brown said. “I feel like I helped my team win today. I feel like I played a big role in helping us win.”
Brown’s impact on the game went beyond what showed up in the box score. As the Falcons’ primary ball handler, Brown was tasked withstanding the Jaguars’ aggressive perimeter defense. He also masterfully navigated a full-court press and several attempts to trap him in the corner.
Morris’ also noted that Brown was the catalyst for Columbus’ tight defense that held Holmes County Central to 30.4% shooting from the field.
“He made plays early. He got us going early with the defense. … We talked to him on the side, told him what we needed to do on that side from that standpoint. … We got it going, defense going to offense with Tylan starting us off at the top, so it was big.”
Even after the kind of game he played, Brown was surprised to receive the MVP award. Other candidates were Davie Verdell, who totaled 15 points and four rebounds and Mike Hood, this year’s 5A Mr. Basketball winner, who scored 13 points with six rebounds.
“I ain’t even expect it,” Brown said. “I didn’t even know I was going to get it. I’m just proud of myself. … Crazy. I did not think I was going to get most valuable player. … But that’s what hard work do.”
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on X @tiareid65.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Tylan Brown leads Columbus to MHSAA 5A title with 'heart over height'