Basketball: Tucker Boys Win in State First Round

Tucker High hopes to go far in the 2011 GHSA Class AAAA Boys State Basketball Tournament. Tigers’ fans have fond memories of their 2007 AAAA tournament championship victory over Columbia and a championship game appearance in 2009 vs. Miller Grove.

The Tigers (23-5) took a step in that direction by winning at Region 8-AAAA Salem 60-38 last night in the first round of the state tournament. The first quarter was close, but Tucker held the Seminoles to a remarkable five points in the second quarter in shooting out to a 33-17 halftime lead.

Tucker’s defense continued to bedevil Salem early in the third quarter and the Tigers were then content with milking the shot clock. With the loss, Salem fell to 12-16. It was the 20-year old school’s first-ever state tournament appearance. Senior guard Malcolm Hamilton led the Tigers with 14 points while senior guard Miles Harris added nine.

Tucker became the third seed from Region 6-AAAA after last week’s region tournament. The Tigers defeated 12-13 Douglass 57-34 and 16-12 Chamblee 65-44 but lost to 23-5 Southwest DeKalb 70-56. In Region 6A, the Tigers finished in first place with a 14-2 region record, but Region 6 tournament seeding also included 6B’s Miller Grove and Southwest DeKalb.

Eleven-year head coach James Hartry told the DeKalb Neighbor last week that Tucker was flying under the radar and that was fine with him. In fact, fellow-Region 6-AAAA Miller Grove (28-1) is the defending champion and getting all the attention, especially after trouncing Cedar Shoals 101-52 Friday night. 

However, the tournament gets more challenging for the Tigers. Wednesday night’s opponent, Villa Rica (23-5), is no Salem. The Region 5-AAAA Wildcats beat Creekview 69-59 last night and their No. 1 region seed will earn them the home advantage for this 7 p.m. game.

What if Tucker beats Villa Rica? Then the Tigers will meet the aforementioned Miller Grove powerhouse or 29-0 Sequoyah next weekend.