2A boys basketball state championship: East Poinsett County wins 2nd straight title in low-scoring finish

The Warriors won back-to-back state titles for the second time in school history

Tommy Land

It was not the prettiest of games, but East Poinsett County (26-8) took advantage of a tough shooting outing by Tuckerman (28-17) to defeat the Bulldogs 43-30 inside Bank OZK Arena on Thursday.

Senior Tyrus Reel was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2A state tournament and finished the game with 11 points, nine rebounds, two assists and a steal. Sophomore post Ashton Reel led all scorers in the matchup with 18 points, plus pulled down eight rebounds.

The Bulldogs started strong, reeling off a 7-2 advantage in the first quarter with all seven points coming from Georgia Southern signee Amare Neal. The Warriors held Neal in check from there as he did not score another point until the fourth quarter to finish the contest with 10.

Neither team shot well but Tuckerman struggled mightily to get anything to fall, connecting on only 22% of their attempts from the field that also included a brutal 0 for 17 finish from three-point range and only 60% from the free throw line. EPC shot 38% from the field, 14% from long range and 63% from the charity stripe.

Pregame

Last season, East Poinsett County (25-8) got hot in late January and won 12 of its final 14 contests, including a seven-game win streak and completing a comeback victory over Marshall at Bank OZK to win the 2A state championship. It was the fourth time in school history the Warriors ended as champions, and now they look to repeat in their seventh trip to the final.

Despite being being the defending champions, the Warriors have been somewhat of a sleeper but once again find themselves in Hot Springs despite entering the state playoffs as the always-tough 2A-2 Regional's No. 4 seed.

Including head coach JeMarcus Thaxton, who has compiled consecutive Coach of the Year-type campaigns, the Warriors are no stranger to success in other sports as well as on the court. All five starters — juniors Jacob Gaines and Doug Reel, senior Tyrus Reel and sophomores Ashton Reel and Quincy Perry Jr. — were key reasons for EPC returning to the 2A football state final last December for the second consecutive season. Gaines made what ended up being the winning shot in the Warriors' 71-70 triumph over Cedar Ridge in the state semifinals last Saturday.

Tuckerman (28-16), led by fifth-year coach Josh Longino, is aiming to win the first state championship in program history and last made it to the final round in 2017. It is fair to say the Bulldogs' season has been a rollercoaster that has featured plenty of learning moments, but they have been playing their best basketball at the right time, and that started with a four-point victory over EPC in the consolation round of the 2A-2 Regional Tournament.

Georgia Southern signee Amare Neal, who is ranked the 60th-best prospect in the 2025 class by 247Sports, is the only returning starter from last season's team and has put the Bulldogs on his back. Neal went off for 37 points in the state semifinal win over Izard County and averages 18 points, five rebounds and six assists per game while shooting 40% from the field and 35% from three-point range. He is a four-year starter for the Bulldogs, a three-time all-state selection and second in state history for career assists, plus he has more than 2,000 career points.

One of the state's most inspirational stories is sophomore Zeke Church, who was born with only one arm but has shined bright for the Bulldogs while averaging 12 points and six rebounds per contest. Church's classmate, Jordan Watson, is also a double-digit scorer, averaging 10 points per game, and has been reliable on the boards, pulling down five rebounds per game.

(Updates will appear here after the game starts.)

FINAL: East Poinsett County 43, Tuckerman 30

Fourth quarter

EPC 43-29, :50

The Warriors have separated even more and the EPC faithful in Bank OZK are feeling it.

EPC 37-26, 3:55

Neal scores his first points since the first quarter, connecting on two of three free throws, then Tuckerman gets consecutive buckets to cut the lead to single digits. EPC gets back the double-digit advantage on a score by Ashton Reel right before the media timeout.

Third quarter

End of 3rd: EPC 29-20

Very low scoring quarter as neither team reached double digits. EPC added six points to their lead, while Tuckerman only put up three points. The 11-point advantage is the largest of the game for either team.

EPC 29-19, 3:29

Both teams have struggled to get shots to fall in the second half as EPC now owns a double-digit lead at the third quarter media timeout following a bucket from Tyrus Reel. Tuckerman is hitting just 14% of its shots this frame, while EPC connecting on 22%.

Second quarter

Halftime: EPC 25-17

Tuckerman did not score for the final 2:45 as the Warriors got a little more of a cushion heading into the locker room. Ashton Reel leads all scorers with 12 points, followed by Neal with seven. EPC is shooting 42% from the field.

EPC 21-17, 2:47

Layups by Quincy Perry and Jacob Gaines give the Warriors their largest lead. Media timeout.

Tied at 17 5:11

A short jumper by Jordan Watson ties it up.

First quarter

End of 1st: EPC 14-13

Ashton Reel leads all scorers with nine followed by Neal, who still has seven.

EPC 14-11, 1:40

Ashton Reel hits a three on the right wing to give the Warrriors their first lead.

Tied at 9, 3:00

Ashton Reel ties it with a lay up.

Tuckerman 9-5, 3:35

We've reached the first media timeout and it has been a fast-paced game early. Georgia Southern signee Amare Neal has seven of Tuckerman's nine points.

The ball has tipped and we are underway!

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