Every time Ollis Brewer pulls on his Southside Mavericks basketball jersey, a sliver of a smile creases his face.

Playing high school basketball isn’t a birthright: it’s earned.

“It’s pretty cool to represent Southside, especially getting a new logo and a new (mascot) name,” Brewer said. “We want to do good. Coach (Charlie Cooper) talks about that a lot, especially when we’re in hotels on the road. We’re not only representing Southside, we’re representing our families, too. So, putting on that jersey, I’m thinking, ‘Man, this is cool.’

“It’s respect.”

Southside (7-4) faces Charleston today in the first round of the 39th annual Coca-Cola Classic.

Brewer’s time as a Maverick nearly didn’t happen.

The 6-foot-2 senior spent last winter in Oklahoma City, where he was part of the Southeast Spartans’ successful season.

“At first I was nervous,” Brewer said. “The culture was good; they (Southeast) were all about academics and sports, and academics came first. Over there, if you don’t have a passing grade, you’re suspended, and that was a big deal. It was a small school, but it seemed like everybody in Oklahoma City knew about Southeast.

“The team was basically the same as Southside.”


A year away from his family, however, proved too much.

“I stayed with my sister (Adrian) in Oklahoma City; it was great,” Brewer said. ”(But) my mom (Markiba) missed me, so I came back.”

His teammates are glad he’s back, too.

“It (Southeast) was pretty cool, but I missed my friends,” Brewer said. “I was hoping I could choose what high school I could attend when I came back. Most of my friends were at Southside, and I thought coach ‘Coop’ would help me with basketball.”

Brewer stepped in the first game as if he’d never left, pouring in 31 points in the Mavericks’ season opener. Mostly, though, he’s defines his role as the guy who likes to motivate his teammates.

“I try to bring a lot of energy, and sometimes if we’re not scoring I’ll ask for the ball and try to score,” Brewer said. “Sometimes, I try to get a lot of rebounds.


“I’m the guy that tries to do everything.?


“Ollis does a lot of things for us,” Cooper said. “You look out there and he seems to have a smile on his face.”

Named after his grandfather, Ollis, Terrance and Markiba’s son was Chaffin junior high teammates with current Mavericks Taye Gatewood, Jaylin Brewer and Deedee Smith.

“Most of them (teammates) went to junior high together, so they’ve played together for a few years,” Brewer said. “Anybody can score; it’s pretty cool, especially if somebody has the hot hand. It’s fun to be on a team like that.

“We don’t have to ball-hog or dominate.”

Brewer began the season as the team’s point guard. He’s since been moved to the block.

“Coach really doesn’t classify positions,” Brewer said. “I think our first four games I was point guard, and when the football guys came in, I was moved to small forward. It doesn’t matter where we play; he (Cooper) just wants us to play.”

“Ollis fits strong forward for us,” Cooper said. “He’s not afraid to get in there and battle bigger kids. Dylan (Hamilton) isn’t that much bigger, but they can spell each other.”


Already with seven wins, one more victory than the team achieved in 2016-17, Brewer is optimistic the Mavericks can make a playoff push.

Southside’s already achieved something else this season they hadn’t done in awhile: they’ve finished second in each of their first two tournaments.

“I remember the Van Buren tournament, after we lost to Cabot, that really hurt,” Brewer said. “I remember being in the locker room, nobody wanted to hold the (second place) plague. He (Cooper) asked us why we didn’t want to hold the plaque and I said, ‘Coach, we lost.’

“He said that didn’t matter. I think we can improve on a lot of stuff, and our record will hopefully be better.”

“You never know how they’re (players) going to react after a few days off,” Cooper said. “But this is it. It’s this tournament and then Tuesdays and Fridays.”
