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Mixson with Jamicah Humphery on Senior Night last season. Humphery reached 1,000 points in his playing career and scored a career-high 53 in the Tigers' sub-regional win over Talladega.

Basketball tips this week

By Michael Butler

In his first four seasons at Tallassee, Keiven Mixson has won 75 games and sent the Tigers basketball team to the playoffs all four years. The bar - or rim - has been raised.

"Everybody expects us to win. I expect us to win. It's hard to win and sustain winning," Mixson said. "We're still aiming for a state championship. They're hard to come by. Last year we won the area championship and everybody wanted to celebrate and cut the nets down. I said, I think we're through with cutting the nets down for an area championship. It's time to aim for something bigger."

Area titles have become commonplace for Mixson at THS. Tallassee has three area championships and a runners-up trophy in four tournaments. Winning the area title for a third straight year is at stake for 2021-22 - minus a couple of key graduates from last season's squad; Jamicah Humphery and Tae Collins.

"It's a little bit of a rebuild year. We lost Jamicah. He was scoring 23 (per game). And Tae was scoring 15."

Rebuilding has become the norm though. Last year, the Tigers were tasked with replacing similar production from graduates Truck Griffin and Tyrek Turner.

"We've got three coming back that started last year. We've got Jalyn Daniels, Tim Washington and Clayten Gough. I think you remember Demontae "Duke" Washington. He tore his ACL and had to sit last year. We have some talent and depth."

Area Champions at Pike Road last season

Construction continues for the new high school on campus. Stumberg Gym is undergoing roof work as well but will house full crowds this season.

"This year we're having a theme for every game," Mixson added. "Hopefully everybody will come out and support us."

The season opener at home vs. Loachapoka on Tuesday, Nov. 30 will be a "White Out" game. Tickets may be purchased through GoFan.

Jy McKinnon to the basket

The junior varsity game tip things off at 4:30. The varsity girls under new head coach Brooke Watson play prior to the varsity boys.

"Our goal right now is to get better every day. If we can just get one percent better every day, by the end of the year we will have grown," Watson said of the girls team. "We are striving to be able to compete in every game, give our all, and have great effort and attitude. A lot of good teamwork is what we’re looking for this year.

"We are very young with only two seniors; Janiya Johnson and Jy McKinnon. Both are key players for us and are having to take on big roles as leaders. We have to build this program and it starts with them working together this year. We may start out a little rough around the edges, but we will use every game as a building block to learn and grow." 

Mixson's THS Record (75-32) *4 Seasons
2017-18: 15-12 (Area Champs, Reached Sub-Regional)
2018-19: 22-8 (Area Runner-Up, Reached Sub-Regional)
2019-20: 27-5 (Area Champs, Reached Regional)
2020-21: 11-7 (Area Champs, Reached Regional)

Schedules