By: Adam Freeman
Tucker County High School has had 46 different boys’ basketball teams since the school’s inception in 1979. They have never won the elusive state title that seems to evade the Mt. Lions. Tucker Boys’ Basketball has played for the title on five separate occasions, with the 2025 season making the fifth attempt; three of those, being in the last three seasons. Tucker had a dandy state tournament run with a tough fought win in the first round against Magnolia High School, who was playing in the school’s last basketball game as they will be consolidating next school year. Tucker took the win with a final score of 59-47 but would lose senior, Garrett Wilfong, in the fourth quarter with a severe high ankle sprain, and he would not return to the contest.
Bonner 15 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast. FT 5-6; Mitchell 11 pts, 3 reb, FT 2-4; Wilfong 8 pts, 14 reb, FT 2-2; Marks 8 pts, 5 reb; Lambert 6 pts, 8 reb, FT 2-6; Arnold 6 pts, 4 reb, FT 2-4; Cummings 3 pts, 4 reb; Carr 2 pts, 2 reb.
In the semifinal round of the tournament Tucker would face the familiar faces of East Hardy High School for the third time this season. The game would be one where points and shots were at a premium with both teams struggling to score. Tucker would find itself down late in the fourth quarter but would battle back with the help from sophomore, Ethan Cummings, who would nail 3 triples in the contest. Tucker and East Hardy were locked at 36-36 with under one minute in the contest. East Hardy had the ball, but senior, Trevan Bonner, would steal the inbound pass and take it the other way for the and one layup to put Tucker up 39-36 with 40 seconds to play. A pair of free throws from Cummings and Bonner would put the game on ice, sending the Mt. Lions to the Single A State Championship game.
Bonner 16 pts, 6 reb, FT 3-4; Cummings 14 pts, 4 reb, FT 2-2; Mitchell 5 pts, 8 reb; Marks 4 pts, 2 reb; Arnold 2 pts, 2 reb; Wilfong 1 pt, 4 reb
Tucker would then find itself in a very similar situation as it did last season, starring at the Tug Valley Panthers in the final game of the season. Tug would hold the lead over Tucker after one period 15-11. Tucker and Tug would both drop 11 points in the second quarter and the Panthers held a narrow 4-point lead at the break. The third quarter would ultimately decide the game’s outcome as Tug Valley outscored Tucker 24-9 to take a 19-point lead going into the final period, which would prove to be too much for the Mt. Lions as they would fall 65-45. This was the third season in a row to end with the Runners-Up hardware for the Mt. Lions. Seniors, Garrett Wilfong and Trevan Bonner were both selected to the All-Tournament Team.
Wilfong 17 pts, 14 reb, FT 4-4; Bonner 12 pts, 8 reb, FT 1-2; Lambert 6 pts, 2 reb, FT 2-2; Marks 3 pts, 3 reb; Mitchell 3 pts, 2 reb, FT 0-2; Cummings 2 pts; Arnold 2 pts, 1 reb.
