December 14, 2009.
Fifteen years ago today.
It was a Tuesday night.
A home basketball game. Local rivals, Coffee County at Tullahoma.
Terri and I were there because our daughter, Robin, played on the Freshman, and JV teams at Tullahoma.
We were regulars in the concession stand. JV parents worked the varsity games, so varsity parents could watch their kids play.
Win or lose we smelled like popcorn on the way home.
In the first game, the Tullahoma girls won 50-39. Olivia Barlow scored 18, hitting four three pointers, and all four of her free throws.
Then the THS boys won 42-41.
The boys game was a lesson on never giving up.
Coffee County jumped ahead of Coach Jeff Taylor's Tullahoma team 12-0 to start the game.
Tullahoma finally scored with 1:06 to go in the first with a Chad Rusk layup.
End of the first quarter, Coffee County 14 - Tullahoma 6.
Better second quarter for Tullahoma. Score at halftime, Coffee County 23 - Tullahoma 19.
With 4:21 to go in the third, Tullahoma tied the game 29-29.
In the second half, both teams slowed down the pace, and took very few shots.
It became more of a chess game than run and gun basketball.
Tullahoma struggled with free throws in the fourth quarter. They missed eight.
Coffee County's Tyler Clayborn hit two pressure free throws with 28 seconds left, to give Coffee County a 41-40 lead.
Tullahoma turned the ball over with 11 seconds left.
With four seconds left, Coffee County had to inbound the ball under Tullahoma's goal to run out the clock.
Time Out. Coach Jeff Taylor, "I told 'em, look, we have to have a steal."
Chad Rusk, #4, got to the inbound lob pass, stole the ball, and hit this layup as the clock ran out.
Tullahoma won 42-41 at the buzzer. It was one of those games you remember.
Coach Taylor said, "We didn't deserve to win, but we found a way to get one."
A great reminder to...Never give up !
The guy under the goal with the Khakis and big smile? He was happy to catch the end of the game, and cheer for his next door neighbor. He played a little ball for Cofee County back in the day, as us older folks say.
Thank you Chad, for putting 44 year old me on the sport's page.
This game was special for alot of people...
Jared Davis, a Manchester resident, was a student and playing at Tullahoma. The Davis family wore Tullahoma colors and cheered for the home team. His dad, Jerry, and his uncle Sam, and Aunt Carol, were outstanding athletes at Coffee County. I played ball with Sam in the early 80's, for Coach Rusty Melvin. Jared went on to play football at Tennessee Tech.
Coffee County's Krys Renfro was the game's high scorer with 14.
Tyler Clayborn is the son of Tony Clayborn, and had nine, with big baskets down the stretch. Tyler was a tall kid, and played the #2, shooting guard. He had good range. He might have gotten that shot from his dad. Tyler's sister Ginny was also an outstanding athlete at Coffee County. Tony played in the early 80's on the same Rusty Melvin teams. Before the three point shot was a thing, Tony could rain down shots from the corner on the baseline.
Tullahoma's Allen Starks' uncle Vincent is a good friend from years ago. Allen played alot like Vincent. Both were 6'1" and played like they were 6'5". Vincent was tough in school ball and pick up games at D.W Wilson. We played on the same AAU team when we were 16.
The Passarello twins. Mike and Matt, and Jordan Milleville for Tullahoma were talented, and hustled every play of the game. They made Tullahoma games exciting and fun to watch.
Finally, Chad Rusk, our long time next door neighbor, hit the first and last shot of the game, and scored 13. He went on to play at Motlow College.
On the way home that night, we talked about how excited and proud Chad's parents, Tim and Cindy were. And how great it was that both teams won.
For a few minutes, we didn't mind that we smelled like popcorn.
Link to the Tullahoma News account of the games...
Credit to:
Robert Holman, Tullahoma News - story details
Tim Lampkin Tullahoma News - photo
source: Tullahoma News online at Tullahoma Advantage preservation.com