By Saturday morning, the field of championship hopefuls in the TSSAA Boys High School Championship Tournament had been narrowed down to the finalists, and two teams hailed from Memphis: Douglass High School in the 2A Championship game against Alcoa and Ridgeway vs. Knoxville Fulton in the 3A Championship game.
Alas, in the end, neither team hoisted the championship trophy, with Alcoa defeating Douglass 76-65 and Knoxville Fulton running away with Ridgeway, 68-47. Here are the summaries:
Alcoa Rolls Past Frederick Douglass to Capture TSSAA Class 2A Championship
Alcoa High School used a strong defensive effort and a balanced offensive attack to defeat Frederick Douglass 76-67 Saturday afternoon at the Murphy Center to claim the TSSAA Class 2A Boys’ Basketball Championship.
Alcoa raced out to a 15-12 lead after the first quarter and never trailed, extending their advantage to 33-25 by halftime. The Tornadoes’ defense limited Frederick Douglass to just 12 points in the second quarter and continued to pressure them throughout the game.
Alcoa senior guard Jahvin Carter led the way for the Tornadoes with a game-high 28 points, shooting 10-of-13 from the field, including two three-pointers. He was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
“We had a great game plan coming in,” Carter said. “We knew we had to limit their transition points and take away their three-point shooting. Our defense was the key tonight.”
Alcoa junior forward Jamir Dean added 14 points for the Tornadoes, while senior forward Moro Ayl chipped in with 12 points.
Frederick Douglass senior guard Taquez Butler led his team in scoring with 25 points, but he was the only Brewer to reach double figures. Alcoa did a good job of containing senior forward Marjavis Chandler, who was held to 10 points.
“Alcoa is a well-coached team and they played a great game,” Frederick Douglass coach Michael Brown said. “We had our chances, but we just couldn’t get enough stops down the stretch.”
With the win, Alcoa captures its fourth consecutive state championship and ninth overall in Class 2A.
Fulton’s firepower overwhelms Ridgeway for 3A Championship, 68-47
Ridgeway’s historic run came to an end in the TSSAA Class 3A boys’ basketball championship game on Saturday, March 16th, 2024. The Roadrunners fell to Knoxville Fulton 68-47 at the Murphy Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in their first-ever state title game appearance.
Ridgeway battled hard in the first half, keeping pace with a high-scoring Fulton squad. However, Fulton pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring the Roadrunners 15-10 and building a lead that Ridgeway couldn’t overcome. Fulton’s Tyler Lee led all scorers with 22 points, while Taj Kimber added 13. The Falcons showcased an efficient offense, shooting 50.8% from the field for the game.
Marlon McShane put in a valiant effort for Ridgeway, scoring 15 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. The Roadrunners struggled from behind the arc, hitting only 2 of their 8 three-point attempts, while Fulton found success from deep, connecting on 6 of their 12 attempts.
Despite the loss, Ridgeway’s groundbreaking season has made a strong statement for their basketball program. Their drive and determination in reaching the championship game, including potential upsets along the way, are a testament to the team’s growth and potential.
