Tullahoma’s Lukas Price stole the ball with 17 seconds remaining in a tie game, and Austin Tinnon hit a free throw with five seconds left to give the Wildcats a 45-44 win over Tennessee High School in the TSSAA Class 3A Boys State Tournament quarterfinals Wednesday night at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro.
Tullahoma (28-4) will face Alcoa (22-13) in Friday’s semifinal at 2:15 pm live on 93.9 The Duck. Tennessee led for much of the first half, with the largest margin of nine points (19-10) coming with 1:47 remaining in the first half. But Tinnon blocked a shot, and Price Harden nailed a three-pointer. Then Tinnon and Jackson Knight scored layups, and the Wildcats trailed 19-17 at the half. The 7-0 run to close the half was critical for the Cats.
The Wildcats took their first lead (23-21) on a Sam Bobo 3-pointer with 5:51 left in the third quarter, but with 1:08 remaining in the quarter, the Vikings had rebuilt the lead to 37-30. Bobo earned the Midtown Nutrition Player of the Game.
Alex Bobo opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer, Tinnon made a layup, Alex hit a free throw, and Sam Bobo connected on a long 2-pointer to put the Cats back on top 38-37 with 5:42 left to play.
The Vikings tied it when they hit only one of three free throws, but those critical misses may have cost them the game. Jayden Thompson hit a pair of free throws, giving Tullahoma a 40-38 lead with 3:17 remaining.
Tennessee point guard Brayden Howard hit two free throws to tie it at 40 with 2:56 left to play, but Price hit a jumper seven seconds later for a 42-40 Wildcat lead. Reed Miller hit two free throws for Tennessee, tying the score again, and Tinnon’s layup put the Cats ahead 44-42 with 1:36 remaining. The Vikings tied it with 38 seconds remaining, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.
After Tinnon’s free throw, Tennessee’s Howard advanced the ball past mid-court, where he launched a shot that hit the rim but bounced harmlessly away, igniting a celebration by those wearing cardinal and black.
Typically, no Wildcat scored in double figures, with Thompson and Alex Bobo leading the way with nine points each. Sam Bobo and Tinnon scored seven each, with Harden adding five and Price and Knight adding four points each.
Tinnon had 11 rebounds and four blocked shots, followed by Sam Bobo with seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals, and Thompson with five rebounds. Price led the Cats with four assists and four steals.
Alcoa crushed Fayette-Ware 77-33 to set up Friday’s semifinal. The other semifinal features defending champion Upperman against Fulton at 12:45 pm.
