Dillon Battie, Lancaster win Texas (UIL) state title with 'inspirational' support of Chris Bosh

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - There are times when legacies and accolades in sports take a back seat to relationships built through sports.

That was the case on Saturday when Basketball Hall of Famer Chris Bosh was in San Antonio to watch Lancaster High School play — and win — the Class 5A championship at the Alamodome.

Bosh was there because of a relationship that started back in the late 1990s and early 2000s with Lancaster coach Ferrin Douglas. At the time, Douglas was an assistant coach for Lincoln and was on the staff when Bosh led the team to the 2001-02 4A title.

After Lancaster beat Amarillo, 44-31, on Thursday, Douglas got a text message from Bosh.

“He kind of surprised me when he texted me and told me congratulations after the Thursday win,” Douglas said. “I had no idea he would be here (Saturday) but it is awesome. It is awesome for our guys.”

Douglas says he often uses lessons he learned coaching Bosh when coaching his current group of players — who often remind him he isn’t coaching Bosh anymore.

But the connection nearly 25 years later between Douglas and Bosh is still strong by the fact Bosh drove down from his home in Austin to watch his former coach guide the Tigers to their third UIL title — the first since going back-to-back in 2014-15 and 2015-16.

“Me and Chris have a special relationship,” Douglas said. “I spent a lot of time with him in his younger years at Lincoln.”

Douglas said Bosh asked about two of his players: Amari Reed and Dillon Battie.

Reed is a 6-foot-6 post who had 14 points in the Tigers’ 59-30 win against Killeen Ellison. The junior picked up an offer from Cal in January, adding to a list that also has Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, Texas-Arlington, Texas State and Nicholls State that have extended a chance to continue his playing career. Reed added 8 points and shot 50% from the field.

Battie has an NBA bloodline and is still in awe that Bosh watched his team play.

“It is crazy,” he said. “Knowing he (Coach Douglas) coached him and he’s a hall of fame and made him a champion is inspirational.”

Battie’s uncle, Tony, was the No. 5 pick in the 1997 draft after playing for Texas Tech and had a career that spanned to 2012 — giving him nine seasons to play against Bosh, incidentally.

Dillon Battie was named the 5A MVP after having 17 points, 19 rebounds and 4 blocks, after sharing a team-high with 13 points in the semifinal win against Amarillo.

The 6-foot-8 senior is headed to Temple to play — the same school his dad played at under John Chaney.

Dillon Battie now has a state championship like his dad won at Dallas South Oak Cliff in 1992. After that, his dad went to Philadelphia and was part of four NCAA teams with the Owls and reached the Elite Eight as a freshman.

His dad played overseas before getting time in the CBA and was part of summer league rosters for the Supersonics, Lakers and Celtics.

“I didn’t really talk to him much before the (championship) game, I just focused on the game,” Dillon Battie said of talking to this dad before the finals before pivoting to what the MVP award means. “It means the hard work and how much he (dad) got on him inspired me to get my motor up, work hard and not get complacent. It means a lot.”

-- Cody Thorn | @sblivetx