Wilson, Marshall helped Decatur Heritage return to Final Four
Mar. 22—It was February of 2024 and the Decatur Heritage boys basketball team had just watched its season end in the Sweet 16.
A Sweet 16 appearance is a respectful finish but the Eagles, their star player Brady Wilson and head coach Jason Marshall weren't satisfied.
"We knew we could be better. We expected to be better," Wilson said.
They indeed, were better.
Wilson and Marshall are The Decatur Daily's Class 1A-4A player and coach of the year as the duo helped lead the Eagles to the Final Four. It was the team's first Final Four appearance since 2022.
"The beginning of the year was really tough because we played a lot of good teams, but our guys never wavered," Marshall said. "Our ultimate goal was to play for a state championship and unfortunately we fell a little bit short. But that doesn't take away from how great of a year it was."
Wilson finished the season averaging 17 points and eight rebounds per game, helping lead his team to a 20-9 record.
"There's a lot of memories from this season that I'm going to remember forever," Wilson said.
So what was the difference between last year and this year? Point guard Jordan Davis was healthy, for starters, and the team also added Karter Jeffries.
However, Wilson said the biggest difference was off the court.
"This year we had a little more maturity," Wilson said. "Me, Paxton (Tarver), Hayden (Page) realized we needed to lead by example and always be there for our guys, just encouraging them.
"Everybody on this team from the starters to the last guy on the bench was bought in. We were going to make it back to Birmingham."
The defining moment of their season came in the Elite Eight. To get back to the Final Four in Birmingham, the Eagles had to go through the Tanner Rattlers, the same team that had eliminated them in the Sweet 16 a year prior.
Tanner led the game at halftime, but Wilson responded with the best game of his career, scoring 36 points and grabbing 18 rebounds as he earned Regional MVP.
"That game was such a blur," Wilson said. "All I remember was I didn't want to lose."
His coach wasn't surprised.
"Brady's a well-rounded player. He can shoot, handle the ball and play in the post," Marshall said. "He was a weapon and we tried to use him as much as we could. That game he just took over."
Wilson is moving on from the Eagles as he will head to Auburn University where he will play baseball for the Tigers.
Even though he's played his last game in the purple and white, the senior believes that Heritage's return to the Final Four, the program's fourth appearance in the last seven years, will eventually lead to another state championship.
"We talked about the time we went to the state championship a few years ago, when I was a freshman, all the time. We wanted to get back," Wilson said. "Even though we didn't come away with a trophy, I feel like we planted a seed that will make the younger kids have that same desire to get back.
"Hopefully they'll be able to win that championship."
— caleb.suggs@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2395. Twitter @CalebSuggs2
-
Boys basketball: Dawson-Boyd Blackjacks battle with returning Heritage Christian Academy
Mar. 18—MINNEAPOLIS — After ending a 34-year state absence, the Dawson-Boyd boys basketball team is zoned in. Fresh off a 59-52 win over Hills-Beaver Creek in the Section 3A championship, the ...Yahoo Sports - 5d -
Breaking down Tennessee basketball's chances for 2025 Final Four, Elite Eight, Sweet 16
Breaking down Tennessee basketball's chances to make the 2025 Final Four, Elite Eight and Sweet 16 in March Madness.Yahoo Sports - 6d -
Arkansas, Calipari end St. John's dream season to advance to Sweet 16 in upset win
Arkansas HC John Calipari got the better of his old rival Rick Pitino once again to return to the Sweet 16.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Bethel College punches ticket to NAIA Sweet 16
Bethel University men's basketball team won at home Saturday to earn a berth in the Sweet 16 of the NAIA National TournamentYahoo Sports - Mar. 15 -
Surprising BYU will face a high-scoring SEC team Thursday in a Sweet 16 matchup in New Jersey
BYU and Alabama, two of the highest-scoring basketball teams in the country this season, will face off Thursday in a Sweet 16 game in Newark, New Jersey.Yahoo Sports - 5h -
KHSAA Sweet 16 2025 schedule set: Kentucky high school boys basketball state tournament
The schedule is set for the UK Healthcare Boys Sweet 16 to be played March 26-29 at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.Yahoo Sports - 5d -
Injured Butler wills UK 'underdogs' to Sweet 16
Lamont Butler battled through multiple injuries Sunday to help Kentucky reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019 and in Mark Pope's first season as coach.ESPN - 2h -
Can FGCU reach Sweet 16 in Women’s March Madness? Predictions for why and why not
Can FGCU women’s basketball team reach the Sweet 16? Our 2025 March Madness bracket predictions show how Eagles can make a run in NCAA Tournament.Yahoo Sports - 4d -
Inside Lady Vols basketball's upset of Ohio State in March Madness to return to Sweet 16
Talaysia Cooper scored 19 points as Lady Vols basketball upset Ohio State in the second round of March Madness to return to Sweet 16.Yahoo Sports - 4h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Erin Cuthbert brings Chelsea a needed boost of ‘desire’, giving ‘her heart and soul every game’
Erin Cuthbert is known as the “aggressivity booster” on the Chelsea squad. She’s someone who sets the tone, drives standards and holds her team-mates to account. When head coach Sonia Bompastor ...Yahoo Sports - 45m -
Fabrizio Romano declares ‘”it’s over” for two Chelsea players in brutal outgoing updates
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has declared that it’s over for two Chelsea players in some brutal outgoing updates this weekend.Romano has been putting his latest info out on his YouTube channel ...Yahoo Sports - 46m -
Commander Peter Bruce, naval engineer and racing yachtsman who sailed to win
Commander Peter Bruce, who has died aged 83, was a naval engineer, accomplished skier and a highly successful racing yachtsman.Yahoo Sports - 59m -
San Antonio faces Detroit on 3-game win streak
Yahoo Sports - 1h -
Golden State visits Miami following Wiggins' 42-point game
Yahoo Sports - 1h
More in Sports
-
Sources: Texas nearing deal with Xavier's Miller
Less than a week after appearing in the First Four of the NCAA tournament, where it lost to Xavier, Texas on Sunday informed coach Rodney Terry that he has been fired, with athletic director Chris ...ESPN - 32m -
Hurley: UConn's historic run ends with 'honor'
UConn coach Dan Hurley said there was "some honor" in the end to UConn's 13-game tournament win streak, which was halted in a narrow loss to Florida on Sunday.ESPN - 32m -
Sources: Curry joining Dubs in Miami; status TBD
Warriors star Stephen Curry is traveling to join the team in Miami, and his status for Tuesday's game against the Heat will depend on how his pelvic bruise responds to treatment over the next two ...ESPN - 32m -
Queen's buzzer shot sends Terrapins to Sweet 16
Derik Queen banked in a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer to lift Maryland over Colorado State 72-71 and into the Sweet 16.ESPN - 32m -
Poch: U.S. has 'time' to fix issues before World Cup
After suffering two defeats in the Concacaf Nations League, United States manager Mauricio Pochettino insisted that his side still has enough time to turn things around before the 2026 World Cup.ESPN - 32m