Parents, community leaders, coaches, and others celebrated the Huntingdon Middle School Fillies’ second state championship win in a row with a net cutting at the Bill Ezell-David Hale Gymnasium on Sunday, March 29.
Huntingdon Special School District Director of Schools Dr. Jonathan Kee, state Rep. Brock Martin (District 79), and Huntingdon Mayor Chad Edwards were among those who spoke at the ceremony.
Head coach David Wilkins opened with a prayer before turning the program over to Mayor Edwards.
“We’re celebrating heart, hustle, and a whole lot of ‘did you see that’ moments,” Edwards said.
Edwards praised the coaching staff for what they built beyond wins and losses.
“You’ve built confidence, character, and a team that knows how to win with grace and lose with dignity,” he said.
“Today we celebrate you not just as athletes, but as teammates, leaders and role models,” he added in closing. “Keep God as your point guard.”
Huntingdon Council Member Lori Dillahunty assisted the Mayor as he presented certificates to each team member and a plaque to Coach Wilkins on behalf of the town.
Rep. Martin congratulated the HMS Fillies on behalf of Governor Lee and the State of Tennessee.
“I grew up playing middle school, high school, college basketball,” he said. “but I never played for a championship of any kind.”
He told the team that it is exciting to see schools in his district winning so many championships, namely Huntingdon.
He pointed to the faith-driven culture around the program as central to its success.
“It starts with Coach [Wilkins] and a director of schools that allows that conversation to happen,” Martin said, “and that’s something we should not take for granted in this community.”
He also noted the reach the team has beyond the gym.
“My third-grade niece looks up to you girls like the girls on TV, the WNBA stars,” he said. “That’s what you guys are now.”
Dr. Kee read Theodore Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” speech, and recasted it for the occasion as “The Young Lady in the Arena”.
He then spoke about what the net would mean to these players decades from now.
“I’ve got a net at home that I was able to experience when I was in college, when we won a championship,” he said. “Every time I look at that net, I don’t even think about the championship. I think about the people I got to do it with.”
He challenged the players to hold on to the harder memories alongside the trophy.
“Don’t forget the journey,” Dr. Kee said, “because that’s what you’re going to remember one day.”
Coach Wilkins recapped the season, which began with questions and ended with gold.
After graduating a large group of eighth graders from the prior championship squad, the Fillies dropped just one game all season with a two-point loss to South Gibson. They went on to defeat South Gibson twice more, including in the conference tournament championship.
The state championship game told a different story. The extended school closure at the end of January had kept the team out of the gym for weeks, and Wilkins said the rust showed.
The Fillies found themselves in overtime after Columbia Academy hit a tying three-pointer as time expired.
Wilkins described the moment one of his players processed the situation.
“She put her hands on her head, like, ‘oh my, what’s just happened?'” he said. “And just as quickly, she put her hands back down and sprinted to the huddle.”
HMS dominated the extra period, with June Dillahunty hitting four straight free throws to seal the 36-31 victory.
Wilkins said one detail from the season stood out above the rest. Before the year began, the players asked to run onto the court to a praise and worship song.
“When those girls on their own said, ‘Coach, we want to run out to praise,’ I said, okay,” Wilkins recalled. “And God blessed us.”
After the speeches, each member of the HMS Fillies cut a piece of the net off the home side rim. Afterward, they each enjoyed cake and refreshments.
