GIRLS
Tallulah Falls dropped a 69-42 region contest against Commerce on Tuesday evening at home, celebrating Senior Night in the process.
Commerce raced out to a 16-2 lead before a Breelyn Wood bucket ended the dry spell. The Lady Indians had a 10-2 run that bled into the second frame but trailed 29-24 at the half.
The visitors pulled away in the second half, outscoring TFS 40-18 the rest of the way. Wood closed with 20 points to lead the Lady Indians. Allie Phasavang chipped in with eight, Haygen James six, Adrijana Albijanic four, Molly Mitchell three, and Joanna Molodynska one.
The Lady Indians recognized seniors Albijanic, Mitchell, Phasavang, and manager Tahj Charlton. TFS is now 8-11 overall and 2-3 in region action and plays next on February 6 at #2-ranked Athens Christian.
BOYS
The Indians lost a 53-48 region contest on Tuesday at home as part of Senior Night.
Stevan Gabric put the pressure on the visitors right away with five straight points to open the game, including a shot from downtown. Commerce led 17-14 at the end of the first, but a Brian Neely bucket in the second had Tallulah Falls out in front momentarily. It was short-lived, though, as the Tigers used a late run and had a wild 3-pointer at the buzzer to take a 32-25 lead into the break.
The Tigers went ahead by double-digits until Hayden Bootle brought the Indians back, as he brought down a monster dunk, then notched a pair of fourth-quarter baskets in a row to make it a 42-41 game. Commerce then went on a 9-1 run to pull away to the finish line.
TFS was led in scoring by Neyo Bain with 17 points, with Bootle ending with 15. Zakhar Valasiuk had six, while both Gabric and Neely finished with five.
The Indians recognized seniors Sam Ketch and Zakhar Valasiuk and managers Angelina Kim and Aidan Woodside.
TFS is now 5-18 on the season and drop to 1-5 within region play. The Indians return to action on February 6 at Athens Christian.
JV BOYS
The JV Indians took a 2OT game by a 63-59 final over Commerce on Tuesday evening at home.
In the first overtime period, TFS was down by three until a Marquis Rolle layup made it a 57-56 game. A steal on the ensuing inbound pass resulted in an easy layup for Armando Landecho Cedeno, giving Tallulah Falls the 58-57 lead. Commerce would hit a free throw to send it to a second overtime.
In the final 3-minute overtime period, Brian Neely got a layup to go up 60-58. Todor Stanimirovic had a putback to stretch it to 62-59, and Cedeno’s free throw sealed the win.
TFS is now 9-4 overall and 3-0 in region play.
