The Final 4 of the DII-A Boys State Tournament is set
In one of the most highly-anticipated matchups in the quarterfinals round of the Division II-A Boys State Tournament, Tipton-Rosemark Academy’s Alex Anderson carried the Rebels on the offensive end. Anderson scored a game-high 29 points in TRA’s 54-46 win over Goodpasture…
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Continue ReadingIn one of the most highly-anticipated matchups in the quarterfinals round of the Division II-A Boys State Tournament, Tipton-Rosemark Academy’s Alex Anderson carried the Rebels on the offensive end.
Anderson scored a game-high 29 points in TRA’s 54-46 win over Goodpasture Christian at home Monday night to clinch a spot in the final four. The Rebels (22-8) took down a Cougars team that was ranked No. 1 in the state of the Tennessee in the DII-A rankings.
TRA pressed from the start of the game, and its pressure really bothered Goodpasture as it struggled to get the basketball over half-court during important possessions of the game. The Cougars jumped out to an 8-0 lead, then Anderson scored 15 of the Rebels’ 16 first-quarter points. Both teams traded leads in the early minutes of the second quarter, then Anderson’s 3 put TRA out front for good.
Goodpasture had to play from behind the rest of the way and couldn’t get over the hump due to the Rebels’ defensive pressure. Two of the Cougars’ most important players fouled out in the fourth quarter. Senior wing Carson Woosley fouled out at the 5:50 mark of the fourth quarter, with his team trailing 41-39.
Senior wing Gray Phillips fouled out with 37.5 seconds left in the game. At that time, Goodpasture was down 52-44. The team’s best player, Hunter Scurlock, picked up his fourth foul late in the fourth quarter, with his team still trailing, but still in the game.
The senior forward finished with a team-leading 13 points. Junior guard Cole Dotson added 11, but the speed of the game, missed layups, and foul trouble were too much for the Cougars (26-3) to overcome.
Anderson went 9 for 13 from the free throw line. He was a mismatch for Dotson and Scurlock because of his mobility and versatility. He made four 3s in the game, with all of them coming in the first half. TRA will play Webb School Friday at Lipscomb University-Allen Arena.
On the other side of the bracket, Christ Presbyterian Academy defeated defending state champion Grace Christian by the final score of 52-50. The Lions will face Knoxville Webb on Friday.
The DII-AA Boys State Tournament Championship game will take place on Saturday.