FEATURE: A Slam Into Immortality

HOUSTON - Marc-Anthony Batts didn't think he was going to get the ball.

As he streaked down the far side of the court on a fast-break, with 99 points already on the scoreboard, Batts saw the court-length pass from Chuks Isitua go towards the basket. Underneath it was Darryl Brown, who caught it in the middle of the paint, while back-pedaling.

Brown's trajectory was going to take him out of bounds. So, instead of putting up an ill-advised shot directly under the basket he tossed it to Batts.

Batts caught it. Stopped. Hopped and slammed his and the 2019-2020 Jack Yates Lions' way into basketball immortality.

"Wow, I'm about to be remembered for this 100th point," Batts said after the game as he reflected on that moment.

With Batts' two-handed jam, it brought the crowd inside Houston ISD's The Pavillion to their feet as they roared "Third Ward High". Batts turned around and gave a huge high-five to Isitua, while the Yates bench celebrated.

The 101st point of the night had just given Jack Yates its 16th-straight game of 100 or more points, which broke the national record.

"It feels great to cement myself in history," Batts said. "It feels great to know that we're going to be remembered for a long time even after we leave here to be part of Jack Yates history. And not even just that. Also, state history and national history."

READ MORE: Jack Yates breaks National Record with 16th-straight game with 100 or more points (w/video)

The national record they broke had been broken just 10 years ago.

It was broken by the Jack Yates team that year, which broke the previous record of 14 set by Hobbs High School in 1969-1970, when there wasn't a three-point line.

"It's a national record, I'm not part of too many of them," Jack Yates' Rubin Jones, who finished with a game-high 19 points, said. "It's real big."

The 2009-2010 team, which broke the record and went on to win the Class 3A State Championship with a 34-0 record that year, is considered as one of the city's best teams of the past decade.

Being mentioned with that group, which will be honored during the Lions' first playoff game of the year according to Yates coach Greg Wise, is special Jones said.

"That's all we've been hearing all year," he said. "We're living up to it."

Now, the last box this version of the Jack Yates Lions has to check off to be able to be fully compared to the 2009-2010 team - win a state championship.

"This is just one of the goals under that. State, that's the ultimate goal," Batts said. "Last year we came up short and we felt that we should of won that. So, this year that means more to us than any record."

Jones added: "That's the last thing on the list now. We won district. We beat the national record. Now, it's just state."