The Tuckerman Bulldogs finished last season 28-14 making it out of one of the state’ s toughest conferences in the 2A-2, surviving the state’ s toughest region, and battling their way to the 2A State Championship game. Coach Josh Longino will have to fill several key spots to have a similar run this season. The Bulldogs do have two starters and several others with experience returning. Juniors Jordan Watson and Zeke Church are the two starters back from last season. Watson has shown his leadership abilities from the point guard position to start this season.“ He has the ability to control the game with the ball in his hand and is our best on ball defender,” Coach Longino said. Church is the team ' s best three point shooter, best offensive rebounder, and one of the hardest workers around. Watson and Church are each averaging 19 points early on in this young season. Senior Christian Ashley is Tuckerman’ s most athletic player according to Longino. Ashely uses that athleticism to get to the rim and free throw line while being one of the team ' s best defenders. He is averaging 13 points a game early on this season. Fellow senior Ben Bowen is one of the team’ s best three point shooters shooting over 30 % from the outside. Juniors Cole Gates and Caden Templeton will have bigger roles this season. Gates is a versatile player that can play anywhere on the floor and has great footwork inside. Templeton is physical and a hard worker which has led to him being one of the team’ s best rebounders. The 2A-2 and the region will be as tough and deep as always, but the Bulldogs will be up for the challenge as always. Coach Longino says his squad may be a little undersized and will have to build some depth as the season goes, but he knows what his team’ s strengths are.“ We have great team chemistry,” he said.“ This bunch has been playing together since elementary ball, and were back to back conference champs when they were in junior high, so they are used to winning. Our offensive production, shooting percentages, and defense has been really good so far. Post season experience from last year ' s state title game run will benefit us as well.” The Tuckerman Bulldogs should be in the mix again in the 2A-2 and set themselves up to make another run in the postseason.
The Tuckerman Lady Bulldogs enter the 2024 – 25 season with confidence and championship aspirations after a strong 24 – 14 campaign that saw them finish as district runner-up to eventual state champion ICC. Head coach Chad Soden returns one of the most experienced and battle-tested starting groups in Class 2A— and he expects this team to be even better. The Lady Bulldogs feature five returning starters, headlined by sophomore sensation Maddyx Soden, who earned All-Conference and All-State honors as a freshman. The dynamic point guard led the team in scoring last season and sets the tone with her quickness, skill, and competitive edge. Senior forward Emeri Baughn, a three-year starter and All- Conference performer, brings shooting, length, and defensive strength to the lineup and finished as the team’ s second-leading scorer a year ago. Fellow senior August Huckabee, a high-energy, two-year starter at the three spot, provides quickness, toughness on the boards, and a defensive motor that never cools. Inside, junior Maegan Richardson anchors the paint as a powerful post with soft touch around the rim, while junior Ally Sampson returns as a versatile guard capable of running the offense or playing off the ball. Her quickness and two-way ability give Tuckerman another steady veteran presence. The Bulldogs’ depth also looks strong, with six foot senior center Emily Gates offering size and scoring touch around the basket, junior guard Josie Branch bringing speed and shooting at the two, and sophomores Kyndall King and Bristen Wheeler adding depth on the wing. Coach Soden says the formula for reaching their potential is simple: win the rebounding battle, take care of the ball, and play connected basketball on both ends of the floor. With a tough early-season schedule designed to harden this group for postseason play, the Lady Bulldogs have the experience, talent, and competitive mindset to make a serious run in Class 2A.
The Crowley’ s Ridge Academy Falcons enjoyed one of their best seasons in recent memory a year ago. CRA finished 26-8 losing a heartbreaking game in the district finals, then making it all the way to the 1A-3 dominated state semifinals. The conference proved to be one of the best in the state at any level, and the Falcons proved they could hang with anyone. To recreate that success, CRA will turn to new coach Jon Francis, who will have a lot of returning experience on the floor for the maroon and white. All-State selection Doss Clayton leads the way for Crowley’ s Ridge. The 6’ 5 senior guard can score anywhere on the floor and has length and athleticism to be a force on the defensive end. Classmate Cayden Prather also has a high defensive motor and is a good rebounder with his 6’ 3 frame. Junior guard Sutton Campbell is a knockdown shooter from the outside and shows a high basketball IQ from the guard position. Several Falcons will provide depth to the CRA lineup. Senior forward Trey Fitts will be a physical presence inside after sitting out last season. Fitts has good vision out of the post and is a good rebounder. Junior forward Davis Palsgrove is a high flying athlete that can play at all three levels and rebound well. Classmate Luke Austin is a knockdown shooter from the guard spot while 6’ 4 senior forward Teddy Spillman also rebounds well while finishing around the rim when needed. Coach Francis says the CRA Falcons will be a fun group to watch.“ We are going to try and play fast and win the rebound and transition battles,” he said.“ We are going to make an effort to be ready to pounce on defense and pick off long, slow passes and turn turnovers into points on our end.” The 1A-3 will be one of the toughest leagues in the state once again this year, and even with returning state champion Earle in the conference, Crowley’ s Ridge Academy will play a major factor in the hunt for a title. Whoever comes out of that conference will be one of the favorites to cut down the nets in Hot Springs, and the CRA Falcons should be right in that discussion come the postseason.