—
No. 1 Tanner used clutch free throw shooting and a late fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Luverne 51-50 Thursday afternoon in the state semifinals at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center.
Justin “Bubba” Smith, who had a team-leading 12 points and nine rebounds, sank the winning free throw to cap a frenetic sequence in the game’s closing seconds.
After Luverne’s Donta’ Hall blocked a Greg Maclin layup, Tanner corralled the offensive rebound and Smith was fouled. Smith missed the front-end of two free throws but converted the second to finish 4 of 6 from the line.
Luverne had two seconds remaining in the final possession but Jace Haggermaker stole the ball from Uriah Brown to end the game.
Desmond Love shot 4 of 9 from the field to finish with 10 points, and Greg Maclin had 11 points and was 4 of 5 from the charity stripe. Haggermaker added six points and seven rebounds.
DeAnthony Rutledge led Luverne with 12 points. Preston Sankey, Jamarcus June and Hall each had 10 points.
Tanner shot 76.5 percent from the free throw line, while Luverne was only 3-of-15. Luverne had a 20-11 turnover advantage, and scored 22 second-chance points.
The Rattlers jumped out to a an eight-point lead early in the first quarter, and Luverne led by nine points late in the second period thanks to a 23-11 scoring advantage in a game with several lead changes and ties.
Tanner (28-4) will play at 11 a.m. Friday in the 2A state championship game at the BJCC. The Rattlers, who are attempting to win their second title in three seasons, will face the winner of the other semifinal between No. 7 Elba and unranked Lafayette.
Local News
February 26, 2013
Breaking: Top-ranked Tanner fends off Luverne 51-50
Rattlers advance to 2A state championship
- Local News
-
-
The Big One: Preparing for mid-America earthquake
No one alive has experienced a major earthquake in the Midwest, yet geologists say it’s only a matter of time. That puts a lot of uncertainty on disaster officials.
-
Residents ride out storm on Roy Long Road
When the group emerged, a large tree had narrowly missed the home, limbs lay everywhere and a smaller tree was snapped in half in the front yard.
- Possible tornado surprises Athens
-
West Limestone man killed in lawn mower accident
A man from West was killed Thursday when he drowned after his lawn mower tipped over into a pond.
-
EXCLUSIVE: Photos of Limestone County tornado
- UPDATE: EMS reports minor storm damage, no injuries
- Rodeo festivities tonight postponed
-
Alabama unemployment drops to 6.9 percent
The last time Alabama had an unemployment rate this low was in January. After that, the rate inched up and then began declining again.
- Singing on the Square canceled
- UPDATE: Crews on the scene of crash on Interstate 65
- More Local News Headlines
-
The Big One: Preparing for mid-America earthquake
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
