TSSAA boys basketball state tournament updates: Alcoa defends 2A title with win over Douglass

MURFREESBORO – Douglass will attempt to complete an unprecedented undefeated season. Alcoa is trying to win a second straight Class 2A state championship.

The two teams meet at 4 p.m. Saturday at Middle Tennessee State's Murphy Center in the TSSAA boys basketball state tournament's Class 2A championship game. It marks a rematch of the 2023 title game, where Jahvin Carter scored on a last-second shot to give Alcoa the championship.

Follow our live updates throughout the 2A title game.

Alcoa holds off Douglass comeback to defend 2A title

Douglass made it interesting, but Alcoa held off the Red Devils' comeback effort to win its second consecutive Class 2A state championship with a 76-67 win.

The Red Devils used an 18-5 run to end the third quarter to get within eight points of Alcoa and got as close as four points with 4:35 left in the game. But a technical foul called on Taquez Butler gave Alcoa a three-point swing, with it scoring a layup on the possession after the made technical free throw. The Red Devils never recovered from it.

Jahvin Carter finished with a game-high 28 points on 10-for-13 shooting. Taquez Butler scored all 25 of his points in the second half during Douglass's comeback attempt.

This is the second straight season the Red Devils lost to Alcoa in the state championship game. The loss is Douglass's first this season and spoils not only their first state championship but also prevents them from being one of four Memphis public schools to finish the season undefeated with a state title.

Douglass trails Alcoa by eight points after three quarters

Douglass' offense finally came alive; it took awhile though. Alcoa once led by 21 points in the third quarter, but Douglass was able to cut the deficit to 55-47, heading into the fourth quarter.

The Red Devils went back to their vintage defensive ways and created offense off turnovers to slowly chip away at the Alcoa lead. After Jahvin Carter hit a logo 3-pointer to give Alcoa a 21-point lead, the Red Devils outscored Alcoa 18-5 in the final 3:34 of the quarter.

Carter has yet to miss a shot in the game, shooting 7-for-7 with 21 points.

Alcoa capitalized on turnovers to build double-digit, halftime lead

Douglass is having trouble holding on to the ball against Alcoa.

The Red Devils had 12 first half turnovers, allowed 17 points off those turnovers and trail Alcoa 33-20 after two quarters. The Red Devils went scoreless the final 3:36 of the second quarter with four turnovers during that stretch.

The Red Devils haven't been able to get their offense going, scoring just eight points in the quarter. Alcoa had 18. Leading Alcoa is Jahvin Carter, who has 12 points on 4-for-4 shooting. Brady Haun still has nine points, all 3-pointers.

For Douglass, Terrence Holly has six points as the top scorer.

Douglass, Alcoa in a dog fight early, Alcoa leads by three after first quarter

As if this game needed any more anticipation in a rematch of last year's Class 2A title game, Alcoa and Douglass and trading blows back and forth early. Alcoa leads Douglass 15-12 after the first quarter.

Brady Haun came out hitting his first two, 3-point attempts in the quarter, helping Alcoa build a 15-8 lead early in the quarter. But the quickness of Douglass's defense turned into transition offense for the Red Devils as they scored four points, including a buzzer-beater to get within three points.

Demario Johnson and Terrence Holly lead Douglass with four points each.