When #4-ranked Tallulah Falls (13-2; 2-0 in 8-A DI) was up by as much as 12 points in the second half, it felt like the game was about to be sealed. Commerce (7-11; 1-1) had other plans, but came up just short in a 49-44 final as the Indians held off a late rally for the key region victory.

The Tigers had back-to-back 3-point play opportunities (converting one) by Jackson Morris and Jansen Morris in the opening frame. It was part of a 7-0 run to pull ahead 7-2. Tallulah Falls stormed back, and a bucket followed by a 3-pointer by Zakhar Valasiuk gave the Indians a 12-11 lead. Tallulah held the slim 14-13 advantage at the end of the quarter.

In the second, Vlad Popescu splashed his second deep ball to put the lead up to 17-13. Popescu had 11 points in the first half, as Tallulah Falls had the 29-23 lead. Still, Commerce got a boost from Jackson Morris’ 10 points in the half to hang close.

The Indians opened the second half on a 6-1 un, and went up by 11 points a couple of times before Commerce would keep closing in. Matthew Simpson had a clutch 3-pointer to spark a quick 5-0 run to get within 41-32 heading into the final period. In the fourth, TFS again held a lead by as much as 11 before Commerce closed it to 47-42 on a Jansen Morris trifecta. Jackson Morris got a bucket just before the final horn, but TFS had sealed the win at the line and by bleeding the clock out.

Anfernee Hanna had 17 points, including 12 in the second half. Popescu had 11 points (all in the opening half), as did Valasiuk. Lincoln Hall added 5 points, while Diego Crotta had 3 and Krystian Jankiewicz 2. Commerce was paced by Jackson Morris and his 18 points. Cayden Lord added 10 points, Jansen Morris and Simpson both had 7 apiece.