Tuckeman hoping to complete Cinderella hoops run vs. EPC in 2A boys title game

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

Tuckerman has accepted the underdog role willingly all season and the Bulldogs have ridden that into a chance for the Class 2A boys state title.

Tuckerman (28-16) will get the chance to nab the program’s first ever crown when it faces defending state champion East Poinsett County (25-8) Thursday at 1:45 p.m. at Bank of OZK Arena in Hot Springs.

Bulldogs head coach Josh Longino couldn’t prouder of his squad for getting this far.

“We don’t know what we are doing right now but just living in the moment,” Longino said. “Nobody expected us to be here. We have been the underdogs all year and the most undersized team every time were step on the court.

“I have a player with one arm, a Division I point guard that’s been told he is too small he’s whole life and we had to replace four starters from last season.

“There’s been no expectations for us going through this, the guys know it and they are just playing their butts off.”

Tuckerman downed Izard County 55-47 on Saturday while EPC edged Cedar Ridge 71-70 to set up the final.

It was the Bulldogs’ fourth consecutive win in streak that began with a 56-52 victory over EPC earlier.

“They (the Warriors) won it last year so they are going to be looking to defend their title,” Logino said. “We played them in the regional consolation game and beat them by four so I am sure that is something else that is going to motivate them.”

But Longino doesn’t think his Cinderella team is ready for the clock to strike midnight.

“It’s been an incredible run for us over the last few weeks, starting with our regional tournament after playing in what I guess we could say is the toughest conference in the state in 2A,” Longino said.

…All four of our regional teams making the state semis with three of the four being out of our conference.

“That had definitely prepared us for the state tournament week. And we kind of stacked it up in the non-conference as well to get us more prepared.”

Tuckerman has a legit superstar in point guard Amare Neal, a Georgia Southern commit who had a game-high 37 points in the state semifinal win.

Neal has scored over 2,000 career points and is second in career assists among current Arkansas high school players.

“He is a coach’s dream,” Longino said. “I moved him up as a ninth grader add I think he has grown in every aspect besides his height. We got him listed as 5-9, but he’s probably just about 5-7.

“He’s just an incredible leader for us and that’s probably where I have seen the most growth out of him the last four years.

“He is real passive kid by nature. It’s just his personality. He’s laid back and I just want to say an emotionless kid.

“He has hit several game winners for us over the years, but after that game, you couldn’t tell whether we lost the game or he hit a game-winer for us.

“We lost four starters from last year’s team and we had to replace those guys with him being there and he has just led the way.

“He just gets the job done. Whatever we need him to do.”

Photo courtesy of Tuckerman basketball