Jamarrion McCoy brings it up the floor

Basketball Tigers runners-up in county tournament

By Michael Butler

The rotation finally came back around to Tallassee. For the first time in six years, the Tigers hosted the Elmore County Basketball Tournament this past week.

It was THS boys head coach Keiven Mixson's first time having the tourney in Stumberg Gym during his tenure.

"This is my sixth season here at Tallassee," said Mixson, "so my first year hosting. One year we skipped a year when Wetumpka made that run in football."

Mixson's record has been good in county tournaments, reaching the finals now four times in six tries. The Tigers have won two titles.

Saturday was another opportunity for the purple and gold, but Wetumpka claimed the trophy with a 69-60 victory.

"I think it was two evenly matched teams," Mixson noted. "We just didn't shoot the ball well. We shot 29 percent from the field with uncontested shots. If we knock them down, we probably win. Give them credit. They hit their shots."

The Indians knocked Tallassee out of the tournament for the third straight year. The Tigers beat Wetumpka during the 2019-20 season tournament in Eclectic - Tallassee's most recenty county championship.

Tallassee was led by Kaden Slay's 19 points and 9 rebounds. Rowen Thornton had 13. Nate Rodgers led Wetumpka with 16.

Kaden Slay soars in for the dunk

The Tigers reached the final by beating Holtville 82-41 on Friday. Tim Washington scored 18. Thornton had 15 points and 7 rebounds. Slay added a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards.

Holtville beat the Tallassee girls 61-35, also on Friday.

Mixson thanked the Tallassee Lions Club for its efforts in sponsoring the hospitality room for the tournament.

The THS teams have a home date with Elmore County on Tuesday, Jan. 10. They travel to Beauregard on Thursday, Jan. 13 for area play. Both matchups tip off with the junior varsity games beginning at 4:30.

*Photos by Kyle Thornton

Schedule/Results