Dezmon Cummings, Zach Wilcke lift Hernando over Germantown in 6A boys basketball playoffs

Behind the shooting of Dezmon Cummings and Zach Wilcke, the Tigers got past Germantown 69-59 in the first round of the MHSAA Class 6A Boys Basketball Playoffs.

MADISON — There have been games where outside shooting hasn’t been Hernando’s go-to scheme on offense.

Well, it was on Tuesday.

Behind the shooting of Dezmon Cummings and Zach Wilcke, the Tigers got past Germantown 69-59 in the first round of the MHSAA Class 6A Boys Basketball Playoffs.

MHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL BRACKETS

Hernando (11-16) will travel to Clinton in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs on Thursday.

“I thought we played well, I just wish we did a little better job of keeping them off the offensive boards,” said Hernando coach Stephen Cox. “We shot the ball really well to start the game and throughout the game. For us, 69 points is a lot of points.”

Aside from a two-minute stretch in the second quarter, the Tigers never trailed.

Hernando came out hot, making four three-pointers in the first quarter to take a 15-9 lead. The Tigers made nine three-pointers for the game.

Germantown started the second quarter on a 9-2 run to take a slim 18-17 lead, but the Tigers went on a 6-0 run to regain the lead at 23-18 and held a 29-26 lead at halftime.

The third quarter was back and forth, with Germantown tying the game on two different occasions.

Hernando ended the quarter on a 10-5 run to extend their lead to 49-42 heading to the fourth quarter.

The Tigers open the final quarter on a 7-2 run to increase their lead to 56-44.

The lead didn't shrink below eight points for the remainder of the game.

Cummings had a game-high 22 points to lead Hernando, while Wilcke and Carl Malone each added 14 points for the Tigers.

“Dezmon has been our leading scorer all year, so we expect it from him,” Cox said. “That was by far Zach’s best game he’s played all year and he played well on both ends of the floor. Excited about the opportunity to play again on Thursday.”

Zxavian Harris had 15 points to lead Germantown, while Taylor Flakes added 14 points for the Mavericks (4-7).

“We never got into a rhythm, especially on offense tonight,” said Germantown coach Edmond Bradley. “Defensively we were too inconsistent and they shot the ball really well tonight.”