Tucker hands Southwest DeKalb first loss

The Tucker High School boys’ basketball team gave head coach James Hartry his 495th win (495-206) by knocking off the previously undefeated No. 6-ranked Southwest DeKalb Panthers 59-51 in a Region 5-4A battle at Tucker on Dec. 13.

Southwest DeKalb came into the game 9-0 overall and 4-0 in Region 5-4A, with wins over Class 4A No. 9 -ranked Marist, No. 10-ranked St. Pius X, and Class 2A No. 2-ranked Columbia.

The two teams went to halftime tied at 25, and Tucker (8-3, 4-1) started its second half scoring with a 14-2 run after the Panthers took a short-lived lead on a free throw by Aaron Burks.

Tucker scored the next seven points at the free-throw line to go up 32-26. Austin Walker had four consecutive free throws following a game-tying free throw by Jordan Burton. Jakobe Williams added two more free throws to end the mini run by the Tigers.

Kelvin Peek broke up the run with a basket on an assist from Randall Henley to make it 32-28 with 4:30 remaining in the quarter. Dylan Rivers scored the next five points for Tucker, hitting a three-pointer on a dish out from Burton and then a layup on the assist from Williams.

Williams, a point guard, had four rebounds in the quarter and finished off with two free throws and a drive down the lane with two seconds left in the period to give the Tucker Tigers a 44-36 advantage heading into the final quarter of play.

Leading 49-42 with 4:23 left in the game, the Tigers went on another 7-0 run with Omari Fernndez scoring five consecutive points with two layups and one of two from the line.

Walker would clinch the win with two more free throws with 18.6 seconds to play to make it 59-51.

Southwest DeKalb finished the fourth quarter with eight turnovers and finished the game with 20.

Williams finished the game with 13 points, six rebounds, and five assists to lead the Tigers. Rivers added 10 to join Williams in doubles, while Walker and Braedyn Gillespie hit for nine points each.

Peek led all scorers with 21 points and completed a double-double with 10 boards in the game for the Panthers.

Girls: Southwest DeKalb 55, Tucker 19

The Southwest DeKalb Lady Panthers forced 21 first-half turnovers and held the Tucker Lady Tigers without a first-half basket on the way to a 55-19 Region 5-4A girls’ win to open the night at Tucker on Dec. 13.

Tucker tied the game at 2-2 on a pair of free throws by Harmonie Cooper with seven minutes to play in the first quarter before Southwest DeKalb went on an 18-0 run to take command of the game at 20-2 heading into the second quarter.

Bailee Canty had three steals that led to points for Southwest DeKalb in the second quarter, as she made two easy layups and passed to Ryleigh Kimmons and Jalaina Alford for two more buckets to send the Panthers into the half up 30-8.

Canty helped Southwest DeKalb put the finishing touches on the win, scoring seven points in the first three minutes of the second half as the lead expanded to 42-10.

Jayla Walton finished the night with a game-high 15 points to lead Southwest DeKalb (6-5, 3-2), and Canty joined her in double figures with 13. Amunique Blyden finished with nine points to lead Tucker; Elaina Parker pulled down nine rebounds.