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MURFREESBORO — Not long ago, Memphis East boys basketball coach Maurice Miller was a "bad hire" in a lot of people's eyes.
The Mustangs started the season 6-6 and went 6-6 in District 16-4A.
None of that mattered when his team advanced to this year's TSSAA boys basketball state tournament.
"I was a bad hire two months ago. I was talked about until everybody was in my inbox two days ago," Miller said. "I signed up for this. I'm at Memphis East High School. This team is unique, though. We don't have a James Wiseman, we don't have five stars, but we did it."
The Mustangs made it to state on Thursday night, ultimately falling to Bradley Central 63-48 in the Class 4A quarterfinals, but Miller was proud after the game, defiant almost. He felt East was overlooked, but when it mattered leading up to state, his group won.
"We hurt the city being here because their favorite team wasn't here," Miller said. "I don't want this to be taken from these kids. We played everybody we were supposed to play and they rightfully earned their way to this position."
In every area but free throws, Thursday's game was largely even. Each made three 3-pointers, and each secured 28 rebounds, but the Bears shot 42 free throws (making 26) vs. the Mustangs' 16 (nine makes).
"We can only control what we can control. They shot 42 free throws, but no excuses," Miller said. "We had opportunities. We missed free throws, we missed layups. It cost us. We still had chances to win. We had 16 turnovers."
Sophomore Jacquez Suggs led East (17-14) with 13 points. Junior Cassius Vaughn II and sophomore TJ Cox each had 11 points. Miller's team is strikingly young. Freshman Markel Townsel played 26 minutes on Thursday.
What Miller's team accomplished has the program confident moving to 2A next season. Even with the drop, the former Raleigh-Egypt Mr. Basketball winner will continue to push his team to play and beat the best.
"That's what I love, that we did it at the highest level this year in the first year," he said. "We look at the strength of schedule, though. That's why (we were) 17-13. I wanted to expedite the process. We're talking about a group that's had two or three different coaches, that's had some very unique situations. I have the utmost respect for them for the way they embraced me."
It took some time for Miller's group to mesh, but their late postseason run through Memphis' stacked 4A group provides optimism.
"I'm happy that we got here. We came a long way," Cox said. "(There were) a lot of ups and downs during the season, but once we bought in at the right time during regionals, you see where it got us."
In the locker room after the game, Miller said there were tears, himself included. He still remembers the pain of losing at state in 2007, of losing in the sectionals at Arlington. But what his team did — youth, losses and all — has him hungry for more.
"We can only get better," Miller said. "I didn't get a summer with these guys. We know what to work on and I promise you we'll be a better version of ourselves the next time you see us."
Wendell Shepherd Jr. is The Commercial Appeal's high school sports beat writer. Reach Wendell at [email protected] or on X @wendellsjr_.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: TSSAA basketball state tournament 2025: Memphis East confident on future
Continue reading...
The Mustangs started the season 6-6 and went 6-6 in District 16-4A.
None of that mattered when his team advanced to this year's TSSAA boys basketball state tournament.
"I was a bad hire two months ago. I was talked about until everybody was in my inbox two days ago," Miller said. "I signed up for this. I'm at Memphis East High School. This team is unique, though. We don't have a James Wiseman, we don't have five stars, but we did it."
The Mustangs made it to state on Thursday night, ultimately falling to Bradley Central 63-48 in the Class 4A quarterfinals, but Miller was proud after the game, defiant almost. He felt East was overlooked, but when it mattered leading up to state, his group won.
"We hurt the city being here because their favorite team wasn't here," Miller said. "I don't want this to be taken from these kids. We played everybody we were supposed to play and they rightfully earned their way to this position."
In every area but free throws, Thursday's game was largely even. Each made three 3-pointers, and each secured 28 rebounds, but the Bears shot 42 free throws (making 26) vs. the Mustangs' 16 (nine makes).
"We can only control what we can control. They shot 42 free throws, but no excuses," Miller said. "We had opportunities. We missed free throws, we missed layups. It cost us. We still had chances to win. We had 16 turnovers."
Sophomore Jacquez Suggs led East (17-14) with 13 points. Junior Cassius Vaughn II and sophomore TJ Cox each had 11 points. Miller's team is strikingly young. Freshman Markel Townsel played 26 minutes on Thursday.
What Miller's team accomplished has the program confident moving to 2A next season. Even with the drop, the former Raleigh-Egypt Mr. Basketball winner will continue to push his team to play and beat the best.
"That's what I love, that we did it at the highest level this year in the first year," he said. "We look at the strength of schedule, though. That's why (we were) 17-13. I wanted to expedite the process. We're talking about a group that's had two or three different coaches, that's had some very unique situations. I have the utmost respect for them for the way they embraced me."
It took some time for Miller's group to mesh, but their late postseason run through Memphis' stacked 4A group provides optimism.
"I'm happy that we got here. We came a long way," Cox said. "(There were) a lot of ups and downs during the season, but once we bought in at the right time during regionals, you see where it got us."
In the locker room after the game, Miller said there were tears, himself included. He still remembers the pain of losing at state in 2007, of losing in the sectionals at Arlington. But what his team did — youth, losses and all — has him hungry for more.
"We can only get better," Miller said. "I didn't get a summer with these guys. We know what to work on and I promise you we'll be a better version of ourselves the next time you see us."
Wendell Shepherd Jr. is The Commercial Appeal's high school sports beat writer. Reach Wendell at [email protected] or on X @wendellsjr_.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: TSSAA basketball state tournament 2025: Memphis East confident on future
Continue reading...
