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Senior Sandarius Hughley with the dribble on Thursday.
Photos by Kyle Thornton.

Basketball team looks to remain unbeaten in area

By Michael Butler

Coach Keiven Mixson's Tallassee basketball team is having another great season. The Tigers are 17-3. Last year, Tallassee was 16-4 after 20 games.

Although the records are quite similar, the schedule this season is a little beefier compared to last season. That has been by design, Mixson pointed out back in the preseason.

"We could possibly go .500," he said, "and still be ready to compete for sub-region, region and state."

The 2018-19 Tigers ended the season with a 22-8 record going 6-4 in its final 10 games. This year's team has eight games remaining on its regular season slate prior to the area tournament.

Tallassee plays host to Beauregard on Tuesday. A win would improve Tallassee's area record to 3-0 with three area games left. That trio of games will be on the road.

"Obviously the next few area games are very important," Mixson said, "but we are concentrating on one game at a time and not looking ahead. Beauragard is a good team. We will need to play with focus and a lot of toughness."

Tallassee topped Valley (58-47) and Brewbaker Tech (63-47) at Stumberg Gym last week.

Demontae Washington

Senior Day has been moved to Jan. 30 with a schedule change. Tallassee is adding Prattville Christian on that date.

Six seniors will be recognized; Barry Purter, Sandarius Hughley, Jamar May, Tavarious "Truck" Griffin, Devan Lee and Tyrek Turner.

"I can’t begin to tell you what these six seniors have meant to Tallassee basketball and to me. They were  and are the foundation of the change and culture of our basketball program," Mixson noted. "They took in a new coach. They went through the fire. They believed. They persisted. They grinded even when they were not quite sure and now they are the winningest class to ever come through Tallassee."

That senior class has been the nucleus of the program's turnaround under Mixson since going 15-12 his first year in 2017-18 and winning the area tournament.

"They have won more games and more tournaments than anyone in school history. I can’t imagine not coaching them next year. They are very special to me. They have been good to me and I love them. I have been blessed to coach them. God blessed me out of all people to coach these guys. Wow! They have been great ambassadors for Tallassee High School."

The Beulah game, originally set for Jan. 31, has been scratched from the slate.

Schedule/Results
Photos by Kyle Thornton