MARYVILLE, Tenn. – Senior Night inside Cooper Athletic Center delivered both emotion and execution Tuesday evening as No. 20 Maryville defeated Asbury 71-54 to remain unbeaten in CCS play.
The Scots improved to 20-4 overall and 11-0 in conference action, securing their third consecutive 20-win season and the 80th victory for this senior class.
"It's always difficult," head coach Raul Placeres said of Senior Night. "I always say there's two extremes. You either play exceptionally well or you have lows because everything in your routine changes so drastically leading into it.
"We started off fine. It was back and forth. And then as soon as we took the lead there, I think we dominated from that point on."
After 15 lead changes in the first half, Chase Morgan finished in the paint in the closing seconds before the break to give Maryville a 31-25 halftime advantage. From there, the Scots took control.
Maryville shot 45.5 percent in the second half and outscored Asbury 40-29 over the final 20 minutes. The Eagles briefly cut the margin to two, but the Scots answered with crisp ball movement and dominance on the glass.
"The ball movement," Placeres said. "You look at 22 assists on 27 made field goals. That's exceptional sharing of the basketball."
Maryville finished +16 on the boards (47-31), including 18 offensive rebounds that led to 16 second-chance points. The Scots forced 14 turnovers, won the turnover battle by 12 and held an +18 advantage in points in the paint.
"That's three straight teams we've held under 65 points," Placeres said. "We held them to 33 percent from the field in the second half. We're +16 on the boards. We were +18 in the paint. Good performance."
Morgan led the Scots with 18 points, adding five rebounds and two assists. Javi Rosell added 12 points and five assists off the bench, while Matt Schneider chipped in eight points and seven rebounds. The Maryville bench scored 33 of the team's 71 points.
"We've just got to shoot it a little bit better from two," Placeres added. "Three was fine. Free throws were great. We've got to be a better finishing team around the rim."
A Senior Class That Defined an Era
Tuesday night was about more than one win — it was about four seniors who helped build one of the most successful stretches in program history.
"This is the 80th win for this group of seniors," Placeres said. "That's a 21-win average. That's so hard when you only play 25 games.
"They've been incredible ambassadors. Not just for the four years they've been here. They're going to be incredible ambassadors of our program for the next 30, 40 years."
Jaylon Green has appeared in 100 career games, totaling 247 points and 95 rebounds while averaging 1.2 assists per contest. He was honored with the MC Kenyon Lacy Memorial Team Player Award, reflecting his team-first mentality and steady commitment to the program. Placeres reflected on Green's growth throughout his career, pointing to the early challenges he navigated and the maturity he developed into during his senior season.
R.J. Simmons, despite taking a redshirt year, has competed in 60 career games and compiled 456 points and 281 rebounds while averaging 4.7 rebounds per game. He shoots an efficient 56.2 percent from the field for his career. Simmons earned conference recognition during his time at Maryville, including Player of the Week honors, All-CCS Second Team recognition and a spot on the CCS All-Championship Tournament Team. Placeres spoke about the personal bond formed over the years, highlighting the conversations and growth that extended far beyond basketball.
Chase Morgan has been a cornerstone of this senior class, appearing in 101 career games and becoming the first player in program history to record 1,500+ points, 500+ rebounds and 100+ blocks. He currently leads the CCS in scoring and ranks among the conference leaders in rebounding and blocked shots. A multi-time All-CCS selection and conference tournament standout, Morgan has also earned regional recognition, academic honors and multiple national watchlist placements during his career. Placeres noted he has been challenging Morgan since middle school, a relationship built on accountability and growth.
Jackson Garner has appeared in 92 career games, surpassing 1,000 career points while adding more than 100 steals and 217 blocks. For a stretch of his career, Garner led the NCAA in three-pointers made, showcasing his scoring versatility and defensive impact. His honors include All-CCS Second Team recognition, a CCS All-Championship Tournament Team selection, multiple Rookie of the Week awards and a Player of the Week honor this season. Placeres also reflected on being by Garner's side during his ACL injury last season, underscoring the depth of the relationships built within this class.
"These dudes value winning," Placeres said. "Winning is fun. Or I say it like this — fun is winning."
"I'm just thankful for their commitment, their loyalty and their word for the last four years."
With the regular-season title secured and an undefeated home record intact, the Scots now turn their focus to Saturday.
"When you're trying to reach for perfection, you catch excellence along the way," Placeres said. "We've caught excellence. But believe it or not, we've got a chance to do perfect on Saturday."
The Scots are back in action Saturday, February 21st, taking on the Piedmont Lions in Demorest, Georgia at 7:00 PM.
