Stephenson’s Aloy Ufere (4) and Bryce Latimer (24) put a trap on Tucker’s Jevon Tatum during second half action at Tucker. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Tucker and Stephenson earned a split in their Region 5-6A regular season series with flip-flop wins from back in December.

Bryce Latimer and Julian Larkins hit for 19 points each as five Stephenson Jaguars hit double figures on the way to a 91-70 win on the road at Tucker after having lost 65-53 at home earlier in the season.

Stephenson moved into sole possession of second place in the region with a 13-9 overall record and 11-3 in league play as the two teams had both entered at 10-3 behind first place Jonesboro which was 13-0 with close wins over Tucker and Stephenson.

The Jaguars held a slim 13-11 lead with 2:18 to play in the first quarter following Jevon Tatum’s dunk from a steal by Collins Joseph as the Tigers (12-9, 10-4) cut what had been an 11-2 lead for the Jaguars to just two.

The tide would turn the rest of the first quarter as the Jaguars put together a 13-0 run to take a 26-11 lead into the second period. Stephenson hit three of its seven three-pointers in the game during the run, one by Charles Fairchild and back-to-back threes by Anthony Newsom. Fairchild ended the quarter with a drive to the basket for the 15-point margin.

D. Fagin’s layup just before the halftime buzzer sent Stephenson into the breakup 45-29.

Tucker began to chip away at the 15-point deficit coming out of the break led by Treyvon Flowers who hit for 12 of his 14 points in the game during the third quarter. Makia Holloway’s free throw with nine seconds to play in the quarter cut the lead to just seven at 60-53 with a quarter to play.

Holloway hit a three-pointer and Tatum made a drive to the basket with 5:39 to play as the Tigers pulled within six twice, the last time at 66-60.

Stephenson responded in a big way over the final 5:39 of the game with 25 points as Drevion Evans kick started the Jaguars with a three-pointer. Just over a minute later Julian Larkins sank a three to make it 72-62 and Stephenson never looked back on the way to a 21-point win.

Evans joined Larkins and Latimer in double figures with 11 points while Newsom and Fagin put in 10 apiece. The Jaguars out-rebounded the Tigers 36-26.

Jevon Tatum led the Tigers with 17 while Treyvon Flowers and Joshua Vann finished with 14 points each.

Tucker’s Amanda Thompkins (1) goes to the basket as Stephenson’s Jasani Buchanan (15) tries to cut her off. (Photo by Mark Brock)

(G) Tucker 62, Stephenson 50
Back in December Tucker dropped a tough 53-50 decision to Stephenson that was the second loss in a string of four consecutive for the Lady Tigers after an 8-0 beginning to the season.

Tucker bounced back at home in a big way improving to 16-5 overall and 11-3 in Region 5-6A action with a 62-50 victory over Stephenson (16-7, 12-2).

Bria Bass scored 10 of her 13 points for the game in the first quarter as Tucker led from wire-to-wire in the game. Kierra Guthrie opened the game with a three. Bass followed with a pair of layups and two threes, including one trey with 14 seconds left in the quarter for a 15-9 Tucker lead heading into the second quarter.

With 4:41 left in the first half, Taylor Smith hit the fourth of five Tucker three-pointers in the first half for a 13-point Lady Tigers’ lead at 24-11. Morgan Collins hit the fifth three of the half for Tucker with 1:58 remaining for a 29-17 lead and Amanda Thompkins sent Tucker into the half up 31-17 with her layup on an assist from Jermese Davis.

Tucker kept Stephenson at bay in the third quarter with consecutive three-pointers by Guthrie and Smith. Thompkins layup on a pass from Guthrie with four seconds left in the period gave the Lady Tigers a 47-31 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

Davis’ layup following a steal by Bass with 2:22 to play gave Tucker a 19-point lead (62-43). Stephenson would score the final seven points of the contest to close the gap to the final of 62-50.

Bass and Guthrie had 13 points each to lead Tucker while Davis finished with 8 points and 10 rebounds.

Naomi Holloway had a game-high 20 points for Stephenson and Jasani Buchanan chipped in 11.