History was made for the team from Tyrone. With a 39-38 victory over the Cedar Grove Saints, Sandy Creek High wins their third-straight state boys basketball championship.
“To complete a three-peat is what every coach that begins this journey dreams of. There are so many days of ups and down and the constant grind of achieving greatness. Everyone wants the joy of what it comes with, but very few are willing to put in the day-to-day work of what it truly takes,” said head coach Jon-Michael Nickerson. “This is the most special one for sure just because of how unassuming we were, roster-wise, with no superstar. Everyone wrote us off, and we did it with kids that have been with us since their 9th grade years.”
The Patriots leaned on their defense from the outset. They trailed by 2 points after one quarter and surged in front 19-12 at halftime. The back-and-forth continued with Cedar Grove swinging ahead by 2 heading into the final frame. Finally, with just 14 seconds left, Amari Latimer hit 1 of 2 free throws to take the lead 39-38.
The Saints had one final chance to win it at the buzzer, but their 3-point attempt sailed off target, setting off another Sandy Creek celebration.
“This is by far the sweetest state title of them all. No disrespect to the others, but this one is just different. No one thought this was possible, at times including myself before the season began,” said Nickerson. “I'm so proud of those guys for answering the bell, accepting me challenging them at every turn, and coming together to become the all-time winningest team in Sandy Creek single-season history, winning 29 games.”
Amari Latimer was named Most Valuable Player for the game. He gutted out a facial injury that forced a change into a fresh jersey at halftime, posting 8 points and 3 rebounds along with suffocating defense.
Avohn Florence was the engine that drove the offense, tallying a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds.
The Patriots are the 13th GHSA boys basketball team to win three-straight state titles. It was a familiar rivalry renewed at the highest level. They also beat the Saints for the 2023 boys basketball crown and the 2022 football championship.
Sandy Creek High Principal Tosha Oliver beamed with pride over her school winning another state title.
“It is truly an honor and a blessing to be able to secure a third-consecutive state championship in boys basketball,” she said. “It's difficult to face an opponent like Cedar Grove and win each time, especially this year when we were not identified as title contenders. However, that also makes the win so much more rewarding. We truly had a David and Goliath mentality, and we met the moment with tremendous courage and tenacity to secure our legacy as a Diamond Dynasty.”
Oliver is equally proud of the school’s track record of cultivating well-rounded student-athletes.
“Our commitment to a competitive advantage in academics, athletics, and the arts is what makes our programs and school really special,” she said. “Many of our athletes are AP and International Baccalaureate students. For example, Jared White is an AP student who is also Region Player of the Year and a new inductee into the 1,000 career point club. Kilo Okeke earned a perfect score on the math portion of the SAT, and we have a number of two-sport athletes like Amari Latimer and Evan Harvey.”
Oliver credited Nickerson with instilling the confidence to succeed in his team, even in a season where they often faced a size disadvantage. The Patriots forged a new focus this year with their tallest player just 6’6”.
“Coach Nickerson's commitment to excellence on and off the court are evident in the caliber of student-athletes who compete in his program,” said Oliver. “His proven system and process for success has yielded the same outcome in winning a state championship for the third year in a row. We are fortunate that Coach Nickerson realizes that if students in his program simply commit to the process, success will find them regardless of their size in a sport that is largely dominated by height. This is the competitive advantage that we offer at Sandy Creek, and we are proud of the success of all of our students.”
Posted 3/10/2025
