Patriots Head Into Basketball Playoffs Among State’s Top 10
MADISON- Bob Jones head basketball coach Luther Tiggs is having the time of his life with his team of Patriots this season as the squad heads into the post-season playoffs.
“I feel like this is my first year as head coach as this team and game is my passion,” said Tiggs, in his fourth season as head coach and 31st overall in his career. “I’m as passionate as when I first started.”
The main reason is the fact his squad is currently 21-7 on the season and ranked No. 7 in the latest Class 7A state rankings. The Patriots are 3-3 in Area 8 just behind area leader tenth ranked Austin of Decatur (19-9, 4-2). Bob Jones has been among the top 10 teams in Alabama all season long, but understand the post-season can easily mean one and done.
With six seniors on the team roster, the Pats are being led by some of those seniors. Jalen Myers (G, 6-8) is a Div. 1 prospect who has had 18.5 points and 12.6 rebounds per game. Jadan Coleman (G, 6-4) is adding 17.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game and is hitting on 43-percent of his three-point shots. Chandler Porter (G, 5-9) is contributing 8.1 points and 5.2 assists per outing. Tyrell Morgan (G, 5-11) is popping in the long shots at a 42-percent rate. Add in junior Jalen Jackson (W, 6-2), who has 11.7 points a game, and you have the workings of a well-oiled basketball machine.
“I’m happy with our style of play as we don’t have a dominant inside game, but we have other pieces of the game that are nice with guys who can score,” said Tiggs. “We have four of our starting five who can shoot the three-pointers, all can drive to the basket and are difficult to defend. We have made adjustments throughout the season and the players have done well in execution of our directives.”
The first half of the regular season, the Patriots flew high with 17 wins, but then went on a four-game skid before winning six in a row heading into post-season. According the Tiggs, the squad is now playing “Bob Jones basketball.”
Coleman has already signed with Tulane University while Myers has received numerous Div. 1 offers including Georgetown, Troy, Wofford and St. John’s. He’s had 27 double-doubles, which Tiggs said he’s never had a player in his coaching career put those types of numbers in the book. Porter is a strong Div. 2 prospect while Tiggs feels Morgan can play in college, too.
Bob Jones likes to push the ball up the court always looking for advantages. With adjustments, the squad has condensed the effort and continues to excel and improve on last season’s 16-15 record. The Pats split games with Austin and defeated rival and No. 8 Sparkman three times during the just completed season.
“We’re winning and I’m happy as a coach,” said Tiggs. “That’s better than losing, for sure.”
