Mineral Wells Area News

Price Horton’s 27 points leads CCS to TCAF basketball title

By DAVID MAY

Special to Mineral Wells Area News

FORT WORTH – Playing his final high school basketball game, Price Horton saved his best for last.

The Community Christian School senior point guard scored 27 points Monday to lead the Warriors to the Texas Christian Athletic Fellowship Division II state basketball title. CCS downed the Trinity Christian Academy (Paris) Warriors, 77-60, at Lake Country Christian School before a large and loud crowd, most of them wearing CCS purple.

Horton knocked down four three-pointers and helped seal the win with 11 made free throws in the final period when TCA tried fouling their way back into the game. He also registered six assists, five rebounds, four steals and two deflections. For his effort, Horton was named the title game Most Valuable Player.

“It feels good, sir,” Horton said after helping deliver CCS’ first boys basketball state championship since winning the Texas Christian Athletic League title in 1995. “I knew we would make it this far.”

The Warriors finish the year with a 27-6 record with a second-place finish in TCAF District 5.

CCS head coach and Athletics Director Brian Rodricks won his third state basketball title overall, having won back-to-back TCAF Division I championships in 2014-15 and 2015-16 leading the Nazarene Christian Academy Lions. Rodricks said winning championships never gets old.

“We knew we had a good chance,” Rodricks said, acknowledging the team navigated some in-season hiccups and challenges. “Step by step, it’s a process, as we know.”

Rodricks said winning a championship means everything for CCS.

“It’s huge for us,” he said. “(Administrator) Doug (Jefferson) and the administration … we are such a small, little school. They do everything with pride out there and I just appreciate them giving me the opportunity to come over here to teach and work with them and these young men. It means the world to us as a small community.”

Jefferson, who was boys head basketball coach for a number of seasons before hiring Rodricks in 2019, said winning a state championship is big for the school and community, but he spoke of a higher impact and purpose playing and winning has on the players and the school.

“One of the most important things (we are teaching them in life) is that through Christ, I can do all things,” said Jefferson. “That is what we are teaching these boys. I love state championships, but more important is the character of those boys – like Price Horton, and Jonathan Blackburn and Braden Maness – those guys overcame obstacles and are learning they can do all things through Christ. For me, their character is the most important thing.”

Horton, Blackburn and Maness are seniors who will leave big sneakers for others to fill next season.

Blackburn averages a double-double per game and did it again Monday when it counted the most. The senior post knocked down 16 points, collected 10 rebounds and dished out four assists. He was named to the All-State team.

There is talent returning next season, especially in the form of current junior swingman David Blackburn and Josiah Marquez, a 6-foot-4 eighth grader. Both have played big roles offensively and defensively throughout the season and both will be called on to help lead next year’s team.

Just 13 years old and perhaps the tallest eighth grader in the nation, Marquez talked about being a state champion and what it took for the team to win the title.

“It feels pretty good said,” said Marquez, who scored 14 points and was credited with seven rebounds, three blocked shots and three steals. “It took a lot of work and dedication. I know our team was very well put together. I think we deserved this.”

He sees an opportunity for the Warriors to return next season and make another run at a championship.

“I think if we dedicate the time. We have enough experience with David and (mine), we can probably bring the state championship back home,” he said.

David Blackburn agreed, after scoring nine points in Monday’s game. He talked about being able to play with his older brother and win a state championship together.

“This was his last game so it was really cool to play with him,” he said, adding, “I think we should be pretty strong next year.”

Junior swingman Aiden Sipes contributed seven points and Maness had four in support of the winning effort.

CCS outscored TCA 26-12 in the opening frame which set the tone for the contest. CCS went into the halftime break up 42-28. Trinity Christian made a couple of third-quarter runs to try and pull themselves back into the game, but CCS withstood those rallies and held Trinity Christian at bay, especially in the fourth period, when CCS scored 18 of their 22 points at the free throw line.

TCA finished in first place in District 3 with a 5-1 mark and saw their season end with a 24-8 ledger overall. Their senior post Judah Moore averaged 19 points a game on the year, but he was held scoreless in the first period, and finished with just 10 for the game.

As a team CCS shot at a 54% clip from inside the arc (19-of-35) and 62% beyond it, making 5-of-8 deep balls. At the charity stripe, the Warriors sank 24 of 37 free throw attempts for 64%. They totaled 29 rebounds, including 12 offensive boards, 13 assists, nine steals and six shots blocked. CCS played clean, committing just nine fouls and 13 turnovers.