GRAY DEYOSports Writer

The Tullahoma boys’ basketball team, much like the girls’ team did in their sectional game, dominated. The Wildcats, on the back of a big fourth quarter blitzed out to a 69-39 win over Maplewood, securing their spot in the state tournament for a second season in a row. With the boys’ and girls’ programs both playing in the state tournament this year, it marks the first time in THS history that this has ever occurred.

Maplewood had its moments on Tuesday night, merely scaring the idea of Tullahoma not making it to the state tournament. One of these moments took place in the third quarter with 4:07 left.

Wing for the opposing Panthers, James Davis drilled a three to cut the lead to 42-33, and on the following possession, THS turned over the ball. With the budding run of Maplewood THS Head Coach, Jason Welch, called a timeout.

 The brief break calmed down the THS side, as out of the timeout, they stabilized their lead with a mini scoring run.

The Wildcats, for the remainder of the third quarter, went on to outscore Maplewood 7-2. Junior Jackson Knight scored the opening bucket out of these seven points for THS, which was a part of his own seven points in the third quarter. He generated his buckets in the period all by attacking the basket, scoring three short shots in the paint, one of which was an and-one layup. 

Going into the fourth, Tullahoma now held an advantage of 49-35. Because of the big lead Maplewood was facing out of the gates of the final quarter, the urgency for them on both sides of the ball was as high as it has been all game. The type of play the Panthers had did not do them any favors in getting back in the game against THS; it rather just extended the Wildcats chances of victory.

The Panthers were out of control in their offensive shot attempts, and on defense, were playing ultra-aggressively, which created open gaps primarily in the paint for the Wildcats. Tullahoma did not let these open windows go by without causing damage, as they comfortably clinched the state playoff berth, outscoring Maplewood 18-4 in the fourth.

Tullahoma, in this historic win, had seven players with seven or more points: Sam Bobo (12), Austin Tinnon (10), Jackson Knight (9), Peyton Behrendorff (9), Lukas Price (9), Price Harden (8), and Jayden Thompson (7).

The Wildcats’ TSSAA 3A State Tournament run will officially begin on Wednesday, March 18, when they will take on a 29-7 overall Tennessee High School team at Middle Tennessee State University. The Wildcats could have a chance for ultimate redemption during their time in Murfreesboro. They finished as state runners-up in the 2025 state tournament. The team they lost to, Upperman High School, is listed on the opposite side of the 2026 bracket. Meaning the only way these two teams could meet again would be in a state finals rematch.