Downtown Meridian was flooded with blue and white Tuesday evening as community members showed their support for the Meridian High School Boys Basketball team, which recently took home the title of 7A State Champion.

The celebration kicked off with a parade stretching from Singing Brakeman Park to Dumont Plaza, where residents gathered to hear comments from school officials and the champions themselves.

Meridian Public School District Athletic Director Cheyenne Trussell said winning the state championship this year is particularly unique as it is the first year for the 7A division in the Mississippi High School Athletics Association. Meridian’s title, he said, will never be duplicated.

“This is the first 7A basketball championship in the state of Mississippi,” he said.

Trussell said he wanted to congratulate the team on their achievement, but he also wanted to thank the community for its support throughout the season. Whether the game was at home or away, he said, the community was there supporting the team the entire way.

“When we went down to Gulf Coast Community College, you were there,” he said. “When we went up to play the semifinals against Georgetown, you were there. And when we played a championship game against Clinton, a team that already had their championship jerseys made and their championship hats made, again, you were there.”

MHS senior DJ Johnson said the championship would not have been possible without the help and support the team received from the community.

“Thank you all for your support throughout this journey,” he said. “We couldn’t do it without you, and we love you all.”