NEW MADRID WINS 3A CROWN IN MCFERREN'S FAREWELL GAME

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The Dereke Tipler show helped Lennies McFerren close out his illustrious coaching career in grand style.

Tipler, New Madrid County Central's standout junior guard, poured in 30 points -- including the game-winning layup with four seconds left -- as the Eagles defeated Kansas City Hickman Mills 49-47 Saturday afternoon in the Class 3A championship boys basketball game at the Hearnes Center.

NMCC captured its second consecutive state crown and McFerren has now won nine state championships in all, seven of them coming at Charleston. He recently announced that this would be his final season of coaching.

"It's a dream come true," said McFerren of ending his coaching career with another title. "I'm one of probably a handful of people who end their career with a state championship."

McFerren, who has compiled more than 500 victories in 24 seasons, will remain at NMCC as an administrator. He hedged a bit when asked if he would consider returning to coaching at some point.

"I'll never say never," he said with a smile.

Tipler, who seems to penetrate at will to score on twisting, off-balance shots no matter how many defenders are on him, helped make sure McFerren would be able to smile after Saturday's game. Tipler said he and his teammates were intent on sending their coach out with another championship.

"That's what we wanted all year long, to end it like that," he said. "I love him."

NMCC (23-7) got all it could handle from Hickman Mills (21-11), which stayed right on the Eagles' heels the entire contest.

Neither team led by more than five points over the first three quarters, which ended with the Eagles ahead 41-40 after a Tipler basket just five seconds before the buzzer. NMCC had led 28-26 at halftime.

A 6-1 run at the outset of the final period put NMCC up 47-41 and accounted for the game's biggest margin.

The Cougars came back with six straight points, including a 3-pointer by Jason Jemison with two minutes left that forged a 47-47 tie.

NMCC then held the ball for virtually all of the final two minutes, with McFerren calling two timeouts. The plan was for Tipler to control the ball down the stretch, but he had trouble getting it.

The Eagles seemed to be bogged down in the closing seconds, but an alert Derrell Minner found a cutting Tipler in the lane and he was able to get all the way to the basket for a layup with four seconds left.

"We planned on holding it for the last shot, but I planned to get the ball earlier," Tipler said. "My man was on me, I kept faking and Derrell hit me."

When NMCC's Desmond Sims intercepted a last-ditch Hickman Mills pass, another McFerren state championship was secured.

Tipler hit 12 of 22 field-goal attempts -- virtually all of them from within 10 feet of the basket -- and six of seven free throws.

Ronland Ranson, who had the game-winning basket during Friday's 54-52 semifinal win over Helias, added 10 points and nine rebounds for the Eagles.

Myke Burns paced Hickman Mills with 16 points.