Tucker “Tigers” vs. Sandy Creek “Patriots”

Gwinnett Arena – Duluth, GA

Tigers Stop The Super Bowl Champs

Tuckers Cameron Tatum scored a game high 31 points and was lights out from the floor.

The final four game between the “Tigers” of Tucker High versus the “Patriots” from Sandy Creek was nothing but a shoot out and a jungle affair. The shoot out involved scud missiles from Patriots star Aaron Caruther who scored a game high 22 points in the elite 8 game against Baldwin. 6’4 Senior Charles Betton would make his presence on the boards and score on put backs to help the Patriots. In the mighty jungle it would be all Cameron Tatum who would reign king, running the Patriots out of the jungle with jumpers and above the rim dunks. Teammate Damian Duncan would light it up from down town Duluth and we would have ourselves a game.

The tip goes to, tucker and Cameron Tatum would get to work from the corner with a three-pointer to get things started. Tatum would rebound the ball on the next play and kick it out to teammate Damian Duncan and the tigers would sprint out on a 5-0 run. The Patriots would then arm up to comeback to take the lead on a 6-0 run started by Kevin Lott and Aaron Caruthers. At 6-5 Tucker would call a timeout to regroup. After the timeout Cameron Tatum would reign “King Supreme” from three-point range to put the Tigers back on top. Tatum would follow the act with an alley-oop dunk from teammate Damian Duncan and Duncan would follow next with a three. With 1:05 left in the first, Tatum would dunk on his defender on the break and score a first quarter high 12 points. First quarter: Tucker 17 Sandy Creek 9.

In the second quarter, Cameron Tatum would be in an offensive zone, scoring again on a put back and Sandy Springs coach Darrell Evans would recognize the happenings and call a timeout. After the timeout, Damian Duncan wouldn’t care for the Patriots and nail a three from the corner. The Tigers would go on a 12-2 run, with another dunk from Tatum and another three-pointer from Duncan. The second quarter would be tough for the Patriots and Tucker would take the lead into the half 34-24. (Cameron Tatum –Tucker 18 points and Aaron Caruthers – Patriots 8 points at the half)

In the third quarter Sandy Springs went on what every team has, “a run.” The Patriots would come out hot with four straight points by Aaron Caruthers and a three-pointer from teammate Daniel Hendricks. For every shot the Patriots had Damian Duncan had an answer. Duncan would go off with 8 straight points and the Tigers would once again take a close lead into the fourth. (Tucker 47 Sandy Creek 43)

"Everybody Box Out" Screams the fans!!!!!!!!!

In the fourth quarter, the Patriot’s Kevin Lott would tie the game for the first time with 3:57 left in the game 54-54. The Patriots Charles Benton would put his team up for the first time with a free throw (55-54) and Tucker would call timeout.  Believe it or not! Cameron Tatum would score 4 straight points in less than 23 seconds to give Tucker the lead 59-58 with 53 seconds left in the game. Aaron Caruthers would reappear to give the Patriots the lead with 38 seconds left from the free throw line (60-59). The Tigers would be down by 3 points with 15 seconds left in the game and “King Supreme” Cameron Tatum would nail a three-pointer from my car (Which was parked a long way) and tie the game to seen it into overtime. (62-62)

(Overtime)

In Overtime, Tatum would score the first basket for the tigers followed by teammate Jeremy Simmons with two points and the lead pushed to 4 for the Tigers (66-62). Tatum and Duncan would combine for 13 points in overtime to seal the victory for the Tigers 75-71. Tucker moves on to the 4-A championship to play Mays for the 2005 state title.

Scoring Recap

Tucker

Cameron Tatum 31 points, Damian Duncan 28 points and Jeremy Simmons finished with 8 points.

Sand Creek

Aaron Caruthers 17 points, Daniel Handricks 12 points, Charles Belton 12 points,  Kevin Lott and Marcus Erves 10 points.