Tullahoma finishes runner up in 3A

A season no one in Tullahoma will soon forget ended just short of the ultimate prize as the Wildcat basketball team fell to Upperman 65-55 in the class 3-A state championship game Saturday afternoon at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro. 

Despite a combined 40 points from senior leaders Khani Johnson (21) and Xavier Farrell (19) the Wildcats couldn’t overcome a tough shooting performance (23-54. 42%) and a near perfect day at the free throw line for the Bees. Not only did Upperman shoot 35 free throws to the Wildcats 10 but the Bees hit 31 of them to account for nearly half of their 65 points. 

Upperman also won the battle on the boards, rebounding Tullahoma 28-24. 24 of those coming on the defensive end limiting Tullahoma to just 9 offensive readbound and eliminating the second chance opportunities the Wildcats were known for throughout the season. 

Perhaps most decisively because Upperman was able to lead for 26 minutes in the game and limited turnovers compared to their region title tilt. It was the Bees who set the pace, a much slower tempo than the Cats would like to play even in their third game in as many days. 

Farrell, Johnson and Austin Tinnon were named to the class 3-A all tournament team. 

Tullahoma closes a history-making season 32-5, the champions of district 8-3A in the regular season and tournament, region champions for the first time in 47 years and the first team in school history to win a state tournament game and play for the state championship.