Julian Taylor can now lay claim to his own state championship as a coach.
Taylor’s Saginaw Trojans held back Rockford in the Class A title game to take a 54-42 victory and win the state championship March 24 at the Breslin Center.
The accomplishment gave first-year coach Taylor a chance to reflect on accomplishments by previous coaches at Saginaw who won state titles: Lou Dawkins in 2007 and 2008 and Marshall Thomas in 1996.
“I want to thank God for being in this position,” Taylor said. “Rockford fought hard and shot the ball well. Our guys stepped up and did what they had to do for the victory.”
The Trojans trailed Rockford 16-7 after the first quarter but rallied for a 25-24 halftime lead and dominated action in the second half.
Travontis Richardson led a balanced attack with 13 points followed by Julian Henderson with 12 points.
Davario Gaines, who had six points and eight rebounds, noted that his team, after a 7-0 start, was able to recover from an 18-0 run by Rockford.
“We weren’t playing any defense,” he said
“We were trying to play a little zone trap and they were picking through it,” Taylor said. “I decided to go full-court man and lock up the No. 12 [Chad Carlson] and locate their shooters. My team stepped up and did a great job. We had to keep attacking and get to that free-throw line.”
While Rockford didn’t shoot any free throws ― the Rams attempted 23 3-pointers and 16 2-pointers ― Saginaw was 11 of 17 from the stripe.
Taylor was asked about getting his team to recover from Rockford’s 18-0 run.
“Me and my coaches got together and told the guys to settle down,” Taylor said. “We noted that basketball is a game of spurts. They had a big spurt. We all put our heads together and let the guys know to keep fighting because it’s not over. They fought through it.”
Saginaw ended its championship season at 26-2.
“Doing it your first year is awesome, unbelievable, considering where I was four years ago,” Taylor said. “I was helping out, not thinking I’d be in this position. At the beginning of the season, we set goals. This was one of our goals. Our first goal was going undefeated, and the second goal was to win the state championship. We got that second goal and that’s the main thing.”
“We don’t have big players, but as long as we’ve got the parts, it’s good,” Gaines said. “We balance it out on the floor.”
Taylor said both Thomas and Dawkins “were a big influence in my life. Coach Thomas with all the help he’s done for me this year calling me and giving me advice, the same with coach Dawkins. We’re brothers. I was real appreciative of their support.”
Gaines smiled when it was suggested he could be in the same class as Michigan State’s Draymond Green, who won state titles while attending Saginaw.
“Every time he came to our practices he’s say, ‘y’all got to get a ring,” Gaines smiled. “I’ve got one, but he’s got two.”