Why Alcoa’s pursuing TSSAA boys basketball state tournament history with fun-loving approach
MURFREESBORO — Alcoa sophomore guard Condis Cherry pursed his lips, and his cheeks ballooned as he tried to contain laughter during a postgame media availability with reporters.
Cherry didn’t say what he was laughing about, but his joy revealed something about Alcoa’s approach as it tries to win its third consecutive TSSAA boys basketball state tournament title.
The Tornadoes don't seem a bit nervous this week.
Jibriel Koko scored 21 points, Cherry added 12 as Alcoa overpowered Jackson County 59-38 in the Class 2A state semifinals at Murphy Center on Friday.
Alcoa will meet unbeaten Loretto (34-0) in the Class 2A final at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at MTSU's Murphy Center. Loretto advanced past Tyner Academy 59-47 in the other semifinal.
Some teams arrive at MTSU with nerves and tension. The result can often be an early exit. That’s not how Alcoa plays, even as it tries to become the ninth TSSAA boys basketball team to win three titles in a row.
“I think we know what’s on the line,” Cherry said. “We come out with the same energy and intensity as if we're playing a regular game, like there was no state championship on the line. We’ve done that so much this season, now it’s just regular. We’re loose.”
Mitchell was the last Tennessee high school boys basketball team to three-peat, winning Class A championships from 2014-16. Memphis East won Class AAA from 2016-18, but its 2018 title was vacated due to playing current NBA big man James Wiseman, who was later ruled an ineligible player.
Alcoa (31-5) played like a team that could make history in its performance against Jackson County (29-3). The game was never particularly close. Alcoa shot 57% in the first half and led 29-13 at the break after Cherry hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
By the time Jay Kirk followed a Cherry miss with a two-handed slam it was 41-19 Alcoa with under a minute left in the third quarter.
Alcoa scored 22 points off 23 turnovers and ran wild in transition with 18 fast-break points.
“I think we were very loose today and it’s just a group that, in general, is loose,” Alcoa coach Ryan Collins said. “There’s a lot of fun and nagging one another and just enjoying each other at the same time … I think that freedom comes from just such familiarity (at the state tournament).”
Will McCrary led Jackson County with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
But getting the ball to McCrary wasn’t easy. Alcoa’s pressure defense made it difficult for Jackson County’s guards to even get the ball up the floor.
Much of that came from Cherry, who's in his first season at Alcoa. He and his brother, Shane, both transferred from Austin-East in the offseason. Shane, a three-star prospect with a Tennessee basketball offer, transferred to Academy of Central Florida prep school.
Jackson County coach Kevin Thomas was asked what advice he’d give Loretto about Saturday’s challenge. Loretto and Alcoa have been considered Class 2A’s top teams all season.
“(Loretto) better have one or two ball handlers,” Thomas said. “(Cherry) is just an impactful player for them guarding the ball. It makes it hard to run any sets.”
Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, formerly Twitter, @tpalmateer83.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: TSSAA boys basketball state tournament 2025: Alcoa beats Jackson County
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