Sumter seeks 3A title

By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
March 5, 2004
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. Long-time Sumter County boys basketball coach Johnny Patrick may be hanging up his whistle at the end of the season, but the Wildcats coach isn't using his retirement to motivate his team.
"I haven't played it out, there haven't been any 'win one for the Gipper' speeches," said Patrick, whose team meets Montgomery Academy in the AHSAA Boys Class 3A State Championship game today at 8 p.m. in the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. "I would like to win it, but if I don't, I will still leave with good spirits."
Patrick guided Sumter County to Class 4A titles in 1988, 1994, 1998 and 1999. He also took Sumter County to the 4A State Championship game in 1995, where the Wildcats finished runners-up to Central-Coosa.
The coach doesn't have to use any tricks to psych his team up, because the Wildcats have plenty of motivation on their own.
Sumter County was on the outside looking in at last year's championship game, after losing in the semifinal round.
"We want to win because of last year," said Wildcats center Marko Mitchell. "We fell short, and we want to come through this year."
In Montgomery Academy, the Wildcats square off against a team that is guided by a coach influenced by Patrick.
Patrick said he met Eagles coach Anthony McCall four or five years ago. The Wildcats coach remembers McCall telling him how many big kids Montgomery Academy had on its squad.
Patrick told McCall height doesn't matter in a basketball team, what matters is getting a group of players to play as one.
"Now, we have to play him," Patrick said. "(McCall) does a good job. We are going to have to be patient against them. We will have to make our free throws and get some easy baskets."
The Wildcats will also have to contend with a team that brings something to the basketball court that they do not three-point shooters.
Sumter County didn't attempt a single three-point shot in its semifinal win over Litchfield on Wednesday.
Montgomery Academy launched six three-pointers, connecting on five, in its win over Sulligent to advance to the finals. The Eagles sharp-shooting effort was led by Robert Mooty, who went 3-for-3 from behind the arc and knocked down 10-of-16 shots.