They’re all in with me and I’m all in with them. Just overall, we trust each other. I trust the players, the players trust our coaching staff. When you have that, you’re going to have a good program.”

Viqueen coach Cody Pierce

CHAPEL HILL — All season long, seniors M.J. Simmons and Haley Mitchell have been the driving force that’s led Community (22-6) to a 20-plus win season.
In Monday night’s District 7-AA championship against Forrest (11-15), Simmons and Mitchell provided the fireworks on offense, but perhaps the bigger star was a collective team defensive effort that landed the Viqueens their second-straight 7-AA title.
“To make it far in the postseason, you have to have a solid defense. They know that and they’ve committed to that all year and these seniors have committed to it for four years. It was a great defensive effort tonight,” Viqueen coach Cody Pierce said.
Defense was the name of the game, particularly in the first quarter when both squads struggled to get shots to fall.
Community never trailed in the game, but struggled with consistency scoring in the opening period, largely in part to the defensive effort by the Lady Rockets, who keyed on Simmons and trying to take away the Viqueens’ attack in the paint.
“Forrest did a heck of a job. They came out and played with a lot of passion. We stayed focused, defensively, got the stops we needed and finally got the offense going. The girls played hard tonight. It was a team effort. I’m proud of them. They’ve worked hard all year. They deserve this,” Pierce said.
Community built a 6-0 lead to start the game before Forrest’s Macyn Kirby hit a basket with five seconds left in the period.
But as time expired, senior Zoey Dixon was fouled and sent to the line, where she hit both free throw attempts to give Community a 10-2 lead after the first quarter.
Eventually, Community was able to get the offensive wheels moving, but saw Simmons and Shelby Cawthon both land in foul trouble, forcing Pierce to go to his bench a little earlier than planned.
Even with the Viqueen bigs getting in a tick of foul trouble, Community not only preserved its lead, but extended the advantage to 14 points by halftime.
As part of a 14-point third, Mitchell knocked down a pair of treys that helped Community carry the 24-10 lead into the half.
And while Simmons was mostly held in check to just three first-half points, she erupted in the second half, beginning with 13 points in the third quarter, highlighted by a three-pointer from the top of the key with 1:38 left in the quarter.
Community closed the game out for their second-straight title with a 13-8 run through the fourth quarter to hang on for the 23-point win.
Defensively, Community allowed just three Lady Rockets to score, with Kirby and Inslee Inlow both knocking down 12.
Simmons led all scorers with 23 points and in addition to earning District MVP honors, earned tournament MVP as well.
With their second district title in hand, Pierce says the Viqueens’ success is a sign of the players on the team buying into the coaches’ vision.
“They’re all in with me and I’m all in with them. Just overall, we trust each other. I trust the players, the players trust our coaching staff. When you have that, you’re going to have a good program,” he said.
The win secures Community a home game against District 8-AA fourth-place finisher Whites Creek and should Community win Friday night’s elimination game, will play on their home court throughout the remainder of region play.
“We’re home the rest of the way as long as we keep winning. We like playing at home,” Pierce said.
The Viqueens will host the Region 4-AA semifinal on Friday night at 7 p.m.

Forrest 2 8 12 8 — 30
Community 10 14 16 13 — 53

Forrest: Macyn Kirby 12, Kinslee Inlow 12, Josie Brown 6.
Community: M.J. Simmons 23, Haley Mitchell 16, Zoey Dixon 6, Anna Haskins 4, Addison Brothers 2, Shelby Cawthon 2.
3-Point goals: Community (5): Mitchell 4, Simmons; Forrest (3): Brown 2, Inlow.
Halftime score: Community 24, Forrest 10.