The Fulton Falcons and Volunteer Falcons faced off in a TSSAA Class 3A state tournament quarterfinal in Monte Hale Arena at the Murphy Center on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The Fulton boys won 69-55. (Photo by Danny Parker)
BY JESSE SMITHEY
MURFREESBORO — You’ll likely see a different version of Fulton’s boys’ basketball team come time for their Class 3A state semifinal on Thursday night.
Not personnel wise. But effort.
While head coach Jody Wright didn’t particularly like the overall product on the floor Tuesday morning, he didn’t take the state tournament win for granted.
They’re coveted this time of year.
“At this stage, it’s about managing emotions,” said Wright. “Everybody is on edge right now. Players. Coaches. Games mean more. They’re hard to win.
“The Jody Wright in me wants to nit pick all the bad things we did today. The coach in me realizes that games this time of year are hard to win. … Pretty. Ugly. It doesn’t matter. It’s win. Today wasn’t pretty as it needed to be. But in the postseason, I’d rather win ugly.”
Fulton shot 47.2 percent from the floor and out-rebounded tournament-newcomer Volunteer by 19 in a 69-55 quarterfinal win at MTSU’s Murphy Center, but the Falcons’ championship brand of basketball under their legendary coach has always been predicated upon defense.
And Wright wants to see improved defensive communication surface in the semifinal round against an ultra-athletic Martin Luther King (23-7) squad. That game will tip at 4:30 p.m. Central time on Thursday.
Staying out of foul trouble will be paramount for the Falcons (30-5), as senior guard Marcellus Jackson picked up two early fouls Tuesday. That siphoned some of the team’s energy not long after the 10 a.m. tip time.
Still, Fulton ran its win streak to 16 games.
“You lose Marcellus early. Your most energetic guy. Your best on-ball defender. And that kind of took a little wind out of our sails early,” said Wright about Jackson, who finished with 10 points, two assists and two steals. “But Jordan Wrancher and Derrick Smith both came in and played great. Then Tyler got in some foul trouble (in the fourth), and Tavon Baptiste came in and played well.
“Again, I thought our bench was good. You can’t come down here and win with five guys.”
Fulton’s Big Three all showed up Tuesday. Tyler Lee, Taj Kimber and Denaj Kimber — all juniors — combined for 48 points. Lee had 16 points and 10 rebounds. Taj Kimber had a game-high 18 points. Denaj Kimber had 14 points.
The Falcons never shot worse than 43 percent Tuesday in any quarter and had 17 second-chance points against Volunteer (24-12).
Taj Kimber’s 3 with 3 seconds left in the first half put Fulton ahead 30-19. And, at that juncture, it seemed like Fulton would eventually just blow out state-tournament rookie Volunteer.
Didn’t happen, though.
Volunteer shot 57 percent in the second half and cut Fulton’s lead to 46-41 with 7:31 remaining in the contest on a 3 by Joltin Harrison (16 points). He made 4 of 11 against Fulton.
“To their credit, I thought those guys played good,” Wright said about Volunteer. “Played solid. They did what they’ve done all year long. Nothing but compliments and good things to say about Volunteer. They played well.”
Lee put the game back in Fulton’s favor when he missed a corner 3 but followed his shot and turned it into a 3-point play at the 5:31 mark of the fourth.
That gave Fulton a nine-point lead. That advantage never dipped below eight the rest of the way, despite Lee picking up his fourth foul with 4:24 remaining.
Fulton’s hopes of a 2022 state championship ended in heartbreaking fashion last season in the state semifinals, 51-50, to South Side. A 3-point shot from the wing just narrowly missed at the buzzer.
The Falcons hope to write a different ending on Thursday night.
“(That loss) really put a chip on our shoulder,” said Lee. “It really opened our eyes. That was really our first experience (with this team). We’re glad to be back this year to show what we’ve been doing these last few months.”
5STAR PHOTOS: Fulton Falcons vs. Volunteer – 2023 Class 3A state quarterfinals