Amateur Teams of the Year

Montgomery Bell Academy Basketball & Football Teams

Montgomery Bell Academy Basketball Team

Head Coach Ricky Bowers

The 2000 MBA Basketball Team finished the season on a definite high note, winning the final seven games of the year, and winning 12 of their last 14 games.

The crown jewel came when Big Red won their second TSSAA State Basketball Championship in three years.

The Big Red were paced by state tournament MVP Barton Simmons who keyed the MBA offense, but more importantly, he was the catalyst for an aggressive, lightning quick defense.

Alabama signee, Dan Banko, 6'9", neutralized all the opponents' big men including Parade All-American David Harrison from rival Brentwood Academy.

Seniors Carlton Stewart and Jonas Rodriguez have played basketball for Coach Ricky Bowers' for four years.

 

Montgomery Bell Academy Football Team

Head Coach Ricky Bowers

The MBA football team "three-peated" for the TSSAA State Championship football crown in 2000.

The season culminated with an exciting 8-7 victory over Brentwood Academy in the state championship game and secured MBA's second straight 12-0 season. During the past three football seasons, the Big Red has amassed 31 consecutive wins.

Gatorade's Tennessee Player of the Year, quarterback Ingle Martin, spurred MBA with running, passing, kicking and punting. Clinic Bowl MVP Moses Osemwegie, defensive back Dominique Morris and a host of seniors including Tee Tompkins, Steve Ingram, Nathan Sensing and Reid Murphy were the backbone of the championship season.

Head Football/Basketball Coach Ricky Bowers

Head Coach Ricky Bowers has accomplished a feat unequaled in Tennessee High School sports history.

He has won state championships in both football and basketball in the same year while serving as head coach of both teams.

A native of Nashville, Bowers was a three-sport athlete at MBA, making All City in football, basketball and baseball. His senior year at MBA, he was recognized as the Athlete of the year in Metro Nashville. Following graduation, he played at David Lipscomb University earning All-American honors.

Bowers returned to MBA in 1992 to be head basketball coach. In 1994 he assumed the added duties of head football coach. He has coached six Final- Four basketball teams, and the 1997-98 squad won MBA's first state championship since 1926. The Big Red repeated in 2000. He has led the MBA football team to the state playoffs seven years, and in this 102nd year of MBA football, the Big Red won their tenth state football championship.