Florence Falcons Basketball vs. Tarrant 01/10/26
93.9 The Score WYTK - January 12, 2026
https://www.939thescore.com/florence-falcons-basketball-vs-tarrant-01-10-26/

This transcript was generated automatically from the broadcast audio. Names and some words may be misspelt; the audio is the official record.

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It's time for Florence Falcons Basketball on Sports Radio 93.9 The Score.
Florence Falcons Basketball on 93.9 The Score is brought to you by
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Now let's go live to Courtside. Here's the voice of the Falcons, Kevin Johnson.
And good evening on this Saturday night in January. We're at home at the Coffee Gym.
The Florence Falcons getting ready to take on a friend from down in South Alabama, the Birmingham area.
Terrence High School, the Wildcats come to town to take on the Falcons here tonight.
A good matchup here of a team that has had success before.
We're joined now by the head coach, Coach Dylan Burleson.
And Coach, you have played them from south of the state to the west to the east to the middle here from Birmingham.
Terrence comes to town. You have really given a lot of different looks for your team, and this is another good look.
For sure. It's another really good look. They were a regional runner-up last year in Hadsville.
They've got a really good record this year. They've stepped out of their box in some games, and, you know, we've got to come ready to play tonight.
It's going to be a good test for us. They've got some older guys that have played a lot of basketball.
So, again, like it's another team that maybe we're not really familiar playing with, but it's a really good team that was fortunate enough to come to Florence here today, and we need to continue to improve and get better.
You had a game canceled last night, so you had a rare four days of practice. What was practice like for your team this week?
Really good. Really good.
I felt like we were able to press the reset button in some areas, but I also felt like we were able to get back to some of the basics and some of the fundamentals that we really lean on and some of our habits.
We're able to put in some new things. Our guys feel refreshed. It's our first game in five days. Like you said, that is a little bit unusual, but our guys are ready to roll.
Coach, best of luck tonight, okay? Appreciate it.
The head coach of the Florence Falcons. You're listening to the TNT Fireworks pregame show of Florence Falcons basketball. We're back in two minutes.
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We want to wish Coach Burleson and the entire Falcon basketball team good luck this season.
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Welcome back to the TNT Fireworks pregame show.
Florence, Falcon basketball, KJ with you.
Glad to be with you on this Saturday night.
Kevin Johnson along with Mike Albertson, my good friend.
As we're scrambling to get the rosters from Tarrant who are just getting them to us and we're getting them all written down.
But Mike, anytime you can come play basketball on Saturday night, it's that time of the year when it's starting to get fun.
And the Falcons, you know, the record is not what they want right now.
And yet at the same time, you just sort of sense maybe that team is starting to find a little bit of a rhythm right now.
You certainly do.
You know, you look at the, you know, the beginning of the year and there were some struggles.
There was, you know, single-digit losses to some big-time teams over the course of time.
And then they started, you know, kind of making them closer and closer.
And now they're starting to win those close games.
And so, you know, when the Falcons have really knuckled down and they've really put themselves together,
they've done a great job really right in the ship.
These young guys are growing up before our eyes and they're putting a lot of great things together.
So as the season goes on, you know, you mentioned it, you know, about them putting things together on a Saturday.
I remember a Saturday here last year against Northwest Rankin, Mississippi, that, you know,
they really came together as a team and they put it together and really made a deep run.
So let's look for the Falcons to continue to right that, you know, ship and take some steps forward as the season goes on.
I agree with that, too.
And, Mike, one other question I'll ask you is this.
Coach Dillon Burleson has played them from as far away as Auburn.
We have played teams, I believe, from the Mobile area, maybe in a tournament.
I know we've played the Huntsville teams, Huntsville High School included.
Five of the top ten teams in 7A we have faced already.
Probably nine ranked teams we have faced that are ranked right now.
And he has not shied away from you on schedule as of.
No, and you're not supposed to.
You know, Coach Burleson knows what it takes to have a program that's going to be growing and contending.
And, you know, yes, we could, you know, put a circle on the map and only go within 20 miles of our school,
but that's not going to make us any better.
You know, we see those teams all the time.
Being able to go outside of your area, see different philosophies and different athletes out there is super important,
especially when it comes to tournament time.
If we're going to be looking to compete at the state level, we've got to play those state level type teams.
And one of the reasons this game is played is because Florence made it to the regionals last year.
Northwest regional went on to the final four.
And while at the Northwest regional, this Tarrant team saw Florence play and they were contacted and said,
hey, we'd love to come play you guys.
Y'all are the top team we want to play.
Dylan Burleson not shying away from anyone and picking up the phone and saying, hey, let's play a game.
So that's why Tarrant's come up today.
The girls just finished a minute ago.
Florence girls won that game handedly walking away with it.
Tarrant is a 4A school.
They are 10 and 7 on the season.
They have played competition above themselves.
They are right now, I believe, leading their area in play and a veteran team.
So they are a good team.
So it'll be a lot of fun.
Excuse me when Florence and Tarrant go at it with one another.
And, you know, Mike, when we talk about this Florence team, there's a lot of teams,
not only just Florence in the past maybe, but teams anywhere, that if your record was, say,
like Florence is where you're at five wins and 10 plus losses, that you would have folded and said, we're done.
We've cashed it in.
This team is just the opposite.
They certainly are.
You know, as the season has gone on, we've seen that they've had a rough start,
but they were playing the best of the best of the best.
And, you know, they only had two returning real starters from last year
and being able to come back and, you know, and really get these younger guys in the mix
and really come together as a program.
This is what it's all about.
You know, this isn't just forging a one-and-done kind of mentality with a great run in the playoffs.
This is going to be able to build and build and build as the years go on.
And Coach Burlsen understands that.
He's done a great job, and these Falcons have responded.
Well, both teams coming to the bench.
We want to give you an update, by the way, just a little bit of broadcasting update coming up.
Alabama basketball follows us.
As a matter of fact, at Alabama game, you'll catch the entirety of it starting at 7 p.m.
So no matter how we finish here, we will send that to you at 7 p.m.
If we're not finished here at the coffee gym, we think we can get this one in,
and we look forward to that today as well.
You're listening to the TNT Fireworks pregame show of Florence Falcons basketball.
We're back in three minutes.
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Welcome back to the Coffee Gym.
The T&T fireworks pregame show coming to a close.
Starting lineups here for the Florence Falcons
and the Wildcats of Tarrant High School out of Birmingham.
Let's first meet the Wildcats of Tarrant High School
coming in with a 10-7 record.
Antonio Caldwell will get the start.
He wears number zero.
He'll be the point guard along with Darian Knox
who wears number one.
Jalen Simmons will get the start.
He wears number two as well.
Remember, this team is a team that went to the Sweet 16
in 4A last year at the Northwest Regional.
Trell Robertson will get the start as well.
And finally, Tristan Goodwin.
So Goodwin, Robertson, Simmons, Knox, and Caldwell.
The starting lineup for the Wildcats of Tarrant High School
out of Birmingham, Alabama.
The last time I was in Birmingham at Tarrant High School,
1988, Mike, Carbett County High School,
played Tarrant in the semifinals in football.
Final score was Tarrant 20, Carbett County 12,
and I still remember it.
Can you imagine that?
All right, Rain Man, here we go.
Starting lineup foul for the Florida Falcons coming.
Wearing the home white, trimmed in blue.
Let's get it started with Taylon Jones,
who gets the start.
6'3", Junior.
He'll need a big game tonight.
Next up, Jaceon Payne.
He's been outstanding.
Maybe the best score in the Northwest Alabama area.
5'10", Junior.
Jaceon Pearson, the point guard, 5'9", Senior.
He is the catalyst of this team in so many ways.
Kevante Green will get the start.
He wears number 10, Green, 6'2", sophomore.
Excuse me, Junior.
And playing the post, Jaden Irons, also a junior, at 6'1".
So it's Irons, Green, Pearson Payne, and Jones for Coach Dylan Burleson.
What do you want to see out of your Florence Falcons tonight, Mike Albertson?
You know, I think early on, I mean, being able to control the ball,
run your offense quite well, and find some different scores.
You know, we know that we're going to get our lion's share from Jaceon Payne
and Jaceon Pearson, but being able to get some other guys into the mix
and get them going is going to be super important.
And, you know, some of those blue-collar points that Coach is always talking about
is always helpful as the game goes on.
Florence will be going right to left as you listen.
And the tip controlled by the visitors of Tarrant High School.
Florence opens man-to-man, a quick steal over there by Payne.
Payne spins, lost his footing, lost the ball, and scooped back up by the Wildcats.
They look to run, have an outlet.
Knox goes up and jams it with two hands and makes himself well aware of the rest of this
Florence crowd as he goes up with a two-hand jam, 2-0 lead.
Payne to answer, no good on the other end.
Rebound yanked down by Tarrant.
Well, we see already, Mike, they have some leapers.
They certainly do.
You know, a lot of athletes on the court here, a lot of speed.
Matching up with Florence pretty well early on.
Whistle away and offensive foul against, looks like Knox on that on the moving away.
And Knox put his hands on his chest.
He knew right away he was moving along with that screen
and that point of emphasis with the officials made it an easy call.
Just underway, 2-0, Tarrant leads it over Florence.
Jones has it, gets it to Payne, he gets in the paint, foot in the paint,
can't get the shot off though and has to get it back outside.
Dribble handoff, they go inside the green, he's fouled,
and Knox just picked up his second foul.
Here we go, box team, box team.
Something happened away from the ball, the official blew the whistle
and called the player over, so I'm not sure what that was all about.
But it looks like falcon ball underneath on the baseline.
You know, Mike, I mean, I didn't watch what happened, I didn't see it,
so a good officiate going and making sure to settle everything down early.
That's the thing, they want to take control in the means of letting the game be played
but also make sure nothing gets out of control.
Payne for three, won't go again.
Rebound inside by Green.
He goes up and puts it in for the first point of the night, we're tied at two.
Great box out there by Green underneath, really boxed out his man well,
went up high, high pointed that ball and put it back for an easy two.
Block shot inside by Jones and he takes it down and brings it down the floor.
And he goes coast to coast and laid it up and it wouldn't go.
Did everything right but that, rebound taken by the Wildcats
but stolen away by Pearson at midcourt.
Pearson in the corner, Payne didn't pull the tree there, back over to Pearson.
Pearson in the lane, kicked it over to the other corner.
How about a three from Green?
That one won't go.
Up and over the backboard, it'll go back to the Wildcats.
Tied at two, up and down before we go.
Yeah, the pacing of this game, it should be quite fast.
Both teams pretty athletic and they do a great job out in open space.
The Wildcats you played last night, bring it down the floor
and the scoop layup is a beauty right there by Goodwin.
But the Falcons go the other way and Green went up for the one-hand jam but was fouled.
And we haven't seen that aggression from Kevontae Green.
You see him bursts.
You know, you do see him bursts.
And Kevontae Green had, you know, visions of sugar plums dancing in his head.
He almost jammed that one down but it went up and over.
Green did the foul.
He's going to be shooting two here.
Unfortunately, the Christmas window was closed for him.
But he'll go to the line to shoot two.
Trailing four to two.
Kevontae Green and Junior wearing number ten now.
First free throw in the way.
Too strong.
No good.
I like the aggression, though, Mike.
That's something I think that going forward at Florence has got to be
more of an aggressive team in everything they do.
Absolutely.
And Kevontae Green is just that man.
He has the ability to take it to another level.
And, you know, it's one of those things.
How do you convince a young man that he's got it?
You know what I mean?
And you're starting to see him take those steps towards that next level.
He gets one of two.
Four to three.
Wildcats lead the Falcons early on here in the first quarter.
Wildcats in the front court.
Stealth back.
18-footer is beautiful right there by Simmons.
And the Falcons are going to have their hands full.
This is a pretty good team.
They remind me a lot of Simpson Valley we saw the other night.
And Jones has fouled on the inside for Florence.
He'll go to the line and shoot two as they pierce and drew the,
defense and went inside.
That was a beautiful look by Pearson underneath.
Taylor Jones had a great, he pinned his defender down in that low block.
Great job using his body there and went up hard and wanted to create contact for a foul.
The lefty's first free throw would not go.
Bounced high off the rim but would not go down.
Jones will attempt the second one to tie it up.
I checked that to cut it to two.
And he makes that one.
So custom lead to six to four.
Your vocal coaching staff of Florence marking out signals of what to do on defense.
They're all about the defense.
Quickly in the lane.
Shot blocked again.
That time by Jones.
And here come the Falcons again.
The lob up to Green.
He jams it home with two hands.
Well, well.
From Pearson to Green.
That brought the crowd to life.
But so does that for the Wildcats as Simmons drains the three.
Falcons throw it down the floor.
Get it to Roy.
Just checking the game.
Put it up off the glass and put it in.
Great aggressive move there by Cage Roy.
Being able to take it to the hole in traffic there.
Beautiful job.
Nine to eight.
Deep three again.
He checked.
That was no good for Wildcats.
Pearson with a rebound.
Gets it up to Green.
Green pulls back.
Kicks it over to Payne.
Drives baseline.
Goes up.
Scoop layup.
Oh, good.
Got his own rebound.
Knocked away.
Saved by Roy.
Roy picks up the dribble in the corner now.
Hands it off to Jones.
He threw it across the court.
But he hit the rim.
He was trying to throw across the court.
And he hit the rim.
It bounced up.
And he goes to the Wildcats.
I don't think he kept that as a shot.
But he did hit the rim.
Wildcats in the front court with it.
Goodwin has it.
Gets it to Robertson.
Robertson back door to Goodwin.
Goodwin spins.
And the foot pushed off.
Another one called a foul on Florence.
That's a tough call there.
Taylor Jones gets the first.
Teams first.
Florence trails nine to eight.
And free throws coming for Goodwin.
Early on, you're seeing Jalen Simmons looks like it's going to be their scorer.
He looks really confident, willing to shoot from pretty much anywhere on the court.
And it looks pretty smooth out there.
Substitution for Florence.
Go ahead, guys.
Substitution for Florence.
Burnett will come in along with Skipworth.
You see, Jalen Burnett, only a freshman.
Tamari is Skipworth in there as well.
Both free throws no good.
Florence has a chance to take the lead.
Trailing nine to eight here early on.
Midway first quarter.
Roy was trying to get it back out to Payne, but threw it away.
Just an unforced turnover there.
When the game gets going fast, sometimes when those unforced turnovers happen.
Right.
You know, you get your body going one way.
You take that jab step.
Your foot slips a little bit.
There's a lot of defense going on.
You just chuck that ball to where you think a guy is and just errant pass.
Euro step.
Doesn't matter.
Block shot.
Here come the Falcons with it.
Pearson to Payne.
Payne surveys traffic.
Back to Pearson.
Kicks in the corner unselfishly.
Three on the way.
Good.
Give that one to Skipworth.
I like seeing Tamari Skipworth there.
And I love the pass by Pearson.
Unselfishness there.
Right.
That extra pass sometimes is beautiful.
It gets your guy wide open.
Skipworth hit the three with plenty of space.
Oh, what quick hands by Pearson.
Knocked it away.
But the ball back on the floor.
Taken back by the Wildcats.
Boy, these two teams are mirrors of each other in the quickness.
Still with it here is Goodwin.
Goodwin comes back to the left.
Breaks the count.
Gives his dribble alive.
Guarded there by Payne now.
Approaching the three-minute mark in her first quarter.
Florence leads it 11-9.
Goodwin has had the ball in his hand in about 30 seconds.
Got away with a walk.
No, he didn't.
I called it, and it took a second for the official to see it.
He said, no, no, wait.
That looked awkward.
Turned over by the Wildcats.
So, Florence with a two-point lead and the basketball.
Here comes Pearson with it.
Gets the double high screen.
Hesitation dribble.
Look.
Picks up the dribble now.
Got Payne on the curl at the three.
No good.
He's 0 for three so far.
And out of bounds.
Rarely to see Jason sort of frustrated about his three-point shooting,
but he's 0 for three early on.
He's 0 for three early on.
Two of the three were just missed in and out.
That one was a little bit forced.
It was a little bit outside of his range.
It was a little deep.
But, you know, he'll be fine.
It's that shooter's mentality.
You've just got to keep going.
They'll fall.
Robinson with it.
Deep three on the way again.
Guess who?
Mr. Simmons does it again.
He has eight of the 12 points for the Wildcats,
and they lead it 12-11.
And turnover off launch.
Going baseline.
Lost it.
Burski.
Bo Burski into the game.
Along with Jaden Irons.
Roy and Pearson will get a breather here in the last 2-15.
Those are some nice minutes there by Cage Roy early on.
You know, a couple rebounds, a defensive block there.
And just some nice minutes, nice rotation there by the Falcons.
Wildcats with the basketball in the front court.
They've got a great shooter here.
He can score it and fill it up in Simmons.
He got the high screen, but that's a moving screen.
So the moving screen will be an offensive foul there on Caldwell.
So Florence will inbound it.
Traylon, 12-11.
Substitution coming into the game.
Knox will come back in for Caldwell.
Florence has on the floor Burnett, Skipworth, Burski, Payne, and Irons.
And Payne has the basketball with Irons sitting on the screen.
Payne hesitation into the lane.
Bounce pass to Burski on the block.
Burski kicked it back out, though.
One to get out to Burnett.
He has to chase it down to midcourt.
Burnett, dribble handoff, gets it off there to Payne.
Excuse me, Irons.
Irons hard to the basket.
Put it up.
No good.
Burski got the rebound.
Put it up with the left hand.
No good.
Burski came down with it again, but it was stripped away and taken away by the Wildcats.
Wildcats still lead at 12-11.
Simmons has it.
He's going with a head of steam.
Yo-Yo's with the basketball.
Pull back.
Three on the way.
Missed that one.
He's human after all.
Rebound taken down there by Florence.
Stepped on the end line.
Did the Falcons.
And a turnover again.
So a lot of unforced turnovers here in the first quarter for Florence, Mike.
That's part of maybe not knowing who you're playing as much.
Saturday night.
And you haven't played for five days.
You know, some of it is that speed, that game speed you can't replicate in a practice situation.
You know, and they're getting after it.
Ball knocked away, and Burski gets the steal.
Burski kicks it back out.
Turn around.
Payne.
Open.
Three up.
No good.
Won't go.
Burski try to chase down the rebound, but Simmons and Knox beating to the corner for the Wildcats.
We're at one minute.
Here comes Knox with it up the floor, and he gets it off to Goodwin, who runs to the point.
Goodwin picked up by Jones.
Way across the court on the left sideline.
Gets it now in the corner.
Ball out of bounds.
Last touch by Florence.
It'll stay with the boys from Birmingham.
Tarrant High School.
Just south of Birmingham.
So, if you go down 65 there a little bit, you sometimes can see the sign for Tarrant down that way.
Great area.
Great school.
Great athletics over the years.
Goodwin picked up right in front of our broadcast booth here.
Courtside by Skipworth.
Lost it.
Chases it down.
Throws it back in.
Great save there by the Wildcats.
As Knox catches it and brings it back out to Robertson.
That may play for the last shot, leading it 12-11.
Robertson, though, drives and he's fouling to reach in.
They're going to get Bursky reaching in.
You know, Bursky's the big body, and when he reaches in, it's going to be seen a little more, I think.
Looking to inbound it, having a little trouble.
Pretty good defense there, but that time the Falcons come with a double and they get a foul again.
That's on Payne.
So far, this game's playing right into Tarrant's hands.
They've really frustrated the Falcons.
They've been methodical on their offensive side and really rushed the Falcons on the defensive side.
So, early on, you could see advantage Tarrant early on.
Lead official, Cedric Hawkins, gets the ball in to the Wildcats who inbound it here in front of us.
Goodwin had it knocked away and nearly stolen by Burnett.
Great job by Burnett on help defense, being able to get his hands in the passing lane, tipped it away.
Almost was able to save it, but it went just out of bounds, just out of the reach of Burnett.
Tarrant leads at 12-11 with 20 seconds to go here in the first quarter.
Tarrant throws away, taken down by Skipworth, but he missed the layup.
He was looking for contact, and no contact came, and he missed the layup.
But now a lob on the other end and put up an end by Caldwell.
The Wildcats lead by three.
Florence has it with seven seconds.
Skipworth almost had it stolen away.
Kicked it in the corner.
Deep three on the way.
Burnett at the buzzer will tie it up.
And what a quarter it was.
Up and down the floor we go.
The Falcons, the Wildcats, flying around at the end of one.
It's tied at 14.
This is Falcon basketball.
We're back in 60.
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One quarter in the books.
Tarrant and Florence entertaining this Saturday night crowd.
Nice crowd for a Saturday night here.
Tied at 14.
The Falcons have their basketball.
Wearing the home white.
Tarrant colors are the Navy in gold.
White numbers.
The gold trim around their Navy uniform.
Sharp looking uniform.
Florence and all white trimmed in that Falcon royal blue.
Pearson with it at the top of the key against the man-to-man pressure.
Yo-yos with the basketball against Robertson.
Tries to go right.
Can't find to get rid of it to Jones.
Jones hands it off to Burnett.
Burnett in the paint.
Can't get rid of it.
Now swings it.
Ball on the way for three.
Short.
No good.
Rebound taken by the Wildcats.
They want to throw it down the floor.
Pearson intercepts it.
He's done that a lot in his life on both sides.
Basketball and football.
What a scoop pass in there to Jones who laid it in.
Beautiful play there by Pearson.
Great job by Pearson.
Not only to get the steal, but to bring it on down.
Find the lane.
And find his man right underneath the basket.
Beautiful job.
Simmons, who is the leading scorer with eight points, runs the point.
Horn set.
They get it now inside.
Nice look right there.
Laid it up.
Put it in.
That's the knock.
They run to a little high-low.
That's a simple old-fashioned play where one catches it high
and the other one breaks to the basket and is wide open.
Tied at 16.
Pearson to Burnett.
Burnett, top of the key.
Back over to Pearson.
Pearson lobs it to Green.
He has a mouse in the house.
Backs him down.
He's going to call the charge.
That's the right call.
I don't know.
And the reason why is the defender was still moving his feet.
It wasn't established.
It looked funky because Kavante leaned in.
That's why I'd call it on Kavante because he leaned in.
He leaned in a little bit, but the defender did not have established position.
So it's like it could have gone either way.
There was contact.
You know, Kavante got the short end of that one.
Probably earned it.
Good win up the floor and a whistle away from the basket.
That's fat.
I can tell you multiple subs coming in.
Offensive foul against Tarrant.
That's going to go against Caldwell for Holden.
And the official went over to explain to him, and he nodded and said,
he said, I see.
I understand.
Caldwell has been trying to establish the post position.
He's been wrapping that arm around the guy, the defender's hip,
and really getting an unfair advantage.
So it was a great call by the official.
I saw it several times, and he just blew the whistle this time around.
Irons will hand it off for Florence to Payne.
Payne in the lane.
Kicked it in the corner.
Three on the way by Jones.
It's good.
Taylor Jones.
Drinks the three.
He has six on the day, and Florence now leads it 19-16.
Give the assist to Payne, who's not had his shot early on,
so he started doing it with a pass.
Falcons the man-to-man defense.
Goodwin has it.
Those green sneaker zone.
He stands out.
Got it to Robertson.
Nearly lost it.
Still lost it.
Stolen away by Payne.
Quick hands by Payne.
Payne, one on two.
Doesn't matter.
Euro step, one on three.
Laid it up.
Oh, it wouldn't go.
He did everything right, but it would not go through the hoop.
Rebound taken by the Wildcats.
And he's probably asking himself,
what do I need to do to get a bucket here?
That was unfortunate.
That was definitely one of those balls that he usually has in there.
Goodwin from 12.
Backed it down and shoots it in.
Tell you what, this is a fun little team from 10.
They're going to be a handful in 4A.
19-18.
Florence with a one-point lead.
Pearson to Payne.
Out top.
Play catch.
In the corner again.
I go to Jones.
He goes hard to the basket.
Missed the layup.
Got the rebound.
Kicked it back out.
Payne didn't take the shot there.
Got hit.
No call.
Spins away.
Put it back outside.
In the lane.
Roy kicked it out.
Jones open for three.
Put it up.
Won't go.
Rebound taken by Payne.
Florence resets.
Pearson now.
Yo-Yo's with it.
Step back.
Won't take it in the corner.
Payne steps around.
Can't get the shot off.
Bounce pass inside.
Jones lost it.
Stolen away.
And Mike.
First time I've seen this in a while.
But the Falcons didn't want to take the shot.
Had some looks.
And say.
I got cold.
I don't want to take the shot.
You got to keep shooting.
Absolutely.
And you know.
Just going to highlight.
There was an offensive rebound.
On the low block there.
Yeah.
There were two defenders in the way.
But you take that up.
You're three feet away from the basket.
You take that up 100% of the time.
Florence leads it by one.
Wildcats will have the basketball.
This Wildcat defense has been good.
And there's a steal.
And there's a run out.
And Kevante by himself.
He'll miss the dunk.
Roy got the rebound.
Put it up.
I love the play by Roy right there.
Cage Roy did not wait and assume.
That says so much about Cage Roy right there, Mike.
Yeah.
That was a great job as a trailer to do what you need to do.
You know.
To help your team.
Yeah.
In a run out like that.
It looks real easy.
And it could be very easy to be a spectator.
But Cage Roy still playing the game.
Still competing.
Great job.
Goodwin spins down to the baseline.
Missed the shot.
Rebound by Pearson.
Pearson outlet to Payne.
Payne looks over his shoulder.
Goes up.
Laid it up.
Put it in.
Got a knee that up there.
That's his first basket of the day at the 418 mark.
Florence leads it now.
23-18.
The largest lead of the day for the Falcons at five.
If you told me a quarter or a half into this game that Jayshod and Jayceon wouldn't have a score,
I'd tell you that you're crazy.
But sure enough, it's been one of those games for the Falcons.
But the Falcons have responded.
Simmons split a triple team but missed the layup.
Pearson rebound.
Outlet pass.
Threw it over the head.
Too strong.
Turnover.
Had a good thought there.
Couldn't get it.
Simmons looked over at me.
He was cleaning his hands off.
Got a little wry smile about him.
He is a player.
Yeah, he certainly is.
You can tell those players that have unlimited amounts of confidence.
He's definitely one of those.
Wildcats with the basketball.
Trailing Florence by five.
We'll bring it up against the man-to-man pressure.
Goodwin got a step in the lane.
Lost it going up.
Should go back to Florence.
And it does.
And right now, maybe a little fatigue on this Tarrant team.
They've only gone about six deep.
And Florence gone about nine or ten deep.
And they've only gone six deep out of, you know, one of those foul situations.
It wasn't because they really wanted to.
It was out of necessity.
So, you know, maybe not the deepest team we've seen.
But early on, the Falcons have pretty much worn them pretty thin.
Payne, seven-footer, would not go.
But Green got the rebound.
But he stepped on the baseline.
Turnover back to Tarrant.
Great job by Jaden Irons.
Nice hustle play there.
Unfortunately, he stepped on that baseline.
Turning it back over to Tarrant.
23-18.
Florence leads it by five.
Here come the Wildcats with it.
With 3.17 to go.
Choppy game would be one way to put it.
Just not really fluid.
Florence has not shot it well early on.
That's a move.
And hand off screen.
You've got to set.
And, you know, Mike, the way that games are officiated,
here may be different than they're officiated in Birmingham.
I see that sometimes.
Things they may get rid of, get away with there,
they can't get away with here.
We see that all the time.
We travel over to the Huntsville area.
They officiate it one way.
Down the Birmingham area is completely different.
You know, and we see that in football as well.
It's just points of emphasis for certain areas, I guess.
I did like the call.
I thought it was the right call on the dribble handoff.
He never stopped and moving the screen.
Lawrence with the basketball lead now by five.
Pearson has it.
He'll try the three.
He'll make the three.
Jay Shod, who has gotten to where he quietly makes those points.
Drains the three.
The largest lead of the day at eight for Florence, 26-18.
They lob it up.
Oh, and got away with one.
It's Knox.
And he goes up and lays it in.
Check on Irons, who got hit in the face.
I think timeout taken on the floor as well.
We'll do the same.
Florence leads at 26-20.
This is Falcon basketball.
We're back in one minute.
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This is Miranda Haddock with the Florence Education Foundation.
We invite you to support our Friends of the Foundation campaign.
As a friend of the Foundation, you can contribute any amount to help fund classroom needs in Florence City Schools.
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We want to wish Coach Burleson and the entire Falcon basketball team good luck this season.
2.36 to go in the half.
Florence leads at 26-20 over the Tarrant Wildcats out of Birmingham.
Kevin Johnson, Mike Albertson on the call.
The Wildcats come in here today with Coach Groom as their head coach.
And they played last night or scheduled to play Dora.
I never saw if that game was played for sure.
A lot of games were canceled due to potential severe weather last night.
But they were scheduled to play last night and then make the long trip up to Florence tonight.
About a two-hour trip plus to come play this one.
Florence up by six with the basketball.
Going right to left as you listen to this on your home for Falcon basketball.
93-9 to score.
Roy Green Burnett.
Crossover dribble by Burnett.
Pulls it back out.
Back to Roy at the top of the key.
Roy hands it off.
Now to Skipworth.
Skipworth found the lane.
Kicked it back out to Roy.
Roy found the lane.
Laid it up.
And was fouled.
That's nice basketball between Roy and Skipworth there off the bench.
Yeah, that was a great job.
You know, just being able to be unselfish in that situation.
He had a step towards the lane.
The lane got filled pretty quick.
Being able to kick it out.
Cage Roy went around the defender.
Found the nice lane.
Wound up getting hit.
And he's going to be shooting two here.
Cage Roy.
6'3", sophomore is what I have him listed as.
Go to the line to shoot two.
And he has all the potential in the world.
He's still a young pup.
You know what I mean?
As being a sophomore, he's got a lot of growing ahead of him.
But you're seeing it as the season's gone on.
Just his poise and his mentality as a season has, you know, matured.
And so has he.
He makes the first.
He makes the second.
Good-looking shot.
I would not be surprised if Cage Roy don't grow a couple more inches either.
And there he is knocking the ball away and stolen away.
Ball on the floor, though, and saved by the Wildcats.
Now they've got numbers.
Deep three on the way.
No good.
Tipped around by Pearson who tried to get the rebound and does.
Out fights it.
Now it throws a deep pass.
Can you get it to Burnett?
Oh, it's stolen away.
Great hustle there by both teams.
Goodwin now is fouled in backcourt.
That is tremendous, tremendous hustle by Goodwin.
That's tremendous hustle by the Falcons.
I love that.
These two teams getting after it right now.
And really, it was started by Tarrant.
Dominic Riggs dove after a ball right here in front of us.
Created a play there, you know, where it looked like Simmons took a shot.
Falcons responded with a rebound, came down, and people were diving all over the court for that loose ball.
That was just a beautiful hustle that you can't replicate.
You know, you could tell that these players are into it.
Goodwin gets it back.
Robertson, he's got the switch.
He's got green on him, but he gets rid of it, swings it around to the left wing.
They take a deep three.
No good.
And Roy of Florence gets the rebound.
Cage Roy brings it up to four with a white headband on.
Where's number four?
Crossover dribble.
Kicked it in the corner.
Burnett three.
He found an open look, but it's back for him.
No good.
Rebound taken by Florence.
Another three by Roy.
Out and wall.
Go.
Bounced in.
Got the good look.
And Roy right now leading Florence with nine points off the bench.
And Florence with a 31-20 lead with a minute to go in the half.
Left wing in the corner.
Burnett knocked it away.
It'll stay with the Wildcats.
Nice active hands there by Burnett on defense, being able to slap that ball away.
It is Tarrant Ball with 51 seconds left.
We've got some guys coming on in.
It would take JC on, came in for Skipworth.
Wildcats still with the basketball.
Nearly went back, Corbin.
Incredible play by Goodwin, who saved it.
Goes to Coastal Terrells and laid it in.
That is an incredible play, an athletic play there by Tristan Goodwin.
And he's not the tallest guy that we've seen,
but being able to use his body in such a way, you know,
he plays bigger than he is on the court.
38.3 on the clock.
A foul called against the Wildcats.
I think Riggs picked up that one.
So Florence inbounded on the sideline.
The next foul will be free throws for Florence, but we're under a minute to go.
Pearson had knocked away, stolen away.
Here comes Robertson with it, laid it up, put it in.
That was Knox with the steal, and lead trimmed down to seven.
Florence will play for the last shot.
I'll say this Tarrant team has frustrated the Falcons,
definitely on the offensive end of the ball,
creating a lot of turnovers and unforced errors.
Payne has it with 10.
Payne to Roy.
Burnett on the wing.
Burnett drives baseline, lost it.
Ball on the floor, taken away by the Wildcats.
The quickness is there.
With one second, they shoot it.
Nope, can't get the shot off.
And that'll do it.
It was a fun up and down the floor, half.
And after one half of basketball, Florence leads this talented Tarrant team.
31-24.
This is Falcon Basketball.
We're back in two minutes.
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Welcome back to the TNT Fireworks Halftime Show, where Florence leads Tarrant, 3124 of the Wildcats in Birmingham,
making the trek to the northwest Alabama area.
Mike, can you imagine, Mike Albertson with me here, Mike, can you imagine these young men from Tarrant getting a chance to come up here and play against the 7A program?
It's a long trip.
I mean, this one probably was circling on their calendar.
Hey, we're going to Florence High School, the 7A runner-up from last year, and we're going to play on their home floor in this nice arena.
It's got to be something those kids really look forward to.
Yeah, absolutely.
You know, any time that you're able to go on some of those road trips with your buddies, you know, that's something special in and of itself.
But to play a team of Florence's caliber, especially when you're a 4A team, it's definitely one of those special moments.
You know, you guys are going to be – those guys are going to be talking about this game for years to come.
Florence leads it at the half, 3124.
Our stats brought to us by our good friends at Chick-fil-A.
They're open tonight, and they've got the commemorative cups out now you can go by.
So go by and tell them if KJ sent you that way.
Mike Albertson, take it away.
Thanks, KJ.
Leading the way for Tarrant is Darian Knox with eight points.
We also had Jalen Simmons with eight.
Tristan Goodwin with six points.
And Latrell Robertson had two points in that first half.
Leading the way for the Falcons, Kate Roy with nine points.
We had Jalen James with six.
We got J.C. On Payne with two.
J. Shaw Pearson with three.
Tamari and Skipworth with three points.
Zylan Burnett with three points.
And Kevonte Green with five.
Falcons up by seven right now, and we'll try to hang on to this one.
Falcons then turn back to area play starting Tuesday night at home against James Clemens.
Will be preempted by Alabama basketball on that one on Tuesday night.
But you can come out and watch the Falcons take on the Jets of James Clemens,
who probably are the best team in the region.
And so it'll be a big matchup.
Looking forward to that one.
And then Friday night, the Falcons go to Madison to take on the Patriots of Bob Jones.
And Mike and I will be with you on that one here on 93.9 The Score.
So we look forward to those matchups coming up next week as well.
And, of course, NFL football here on 93.9 The Score throughout the weekend.
It's that long weekend.
What a weekend it is.
If nothing else, the NFL teams have got to be glad they don't have to play the Indiana Hoosiers.
Wouldn't you think that would be a good statement, right?
I think that's about right.
You know, you talk about a team that makes very few mistakes.
They do a lot of the little things well and play quite well as a team.
They look pretty unstoppable.
But, you know, as Miami's gone on through the season, they've gotten stronger.
And, you know, you see that with their physicality and everything.
That's going to be a matchup for the ages.
It's one of those that I'm really excited about this national championship game.
Florence baseball coach, Coach Evans, I see across the way with his kids walking up the steps, if I'm not mistaken.
Here at the half where Florence leads it 31-24.
More from the TNT Fireworks Halftime Show continues after this one-minute timeout.
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The voice of the Florence High School Falcons.
WYTK-FM.
Back here at the coffee gym on Florence Middle School, I almost said.
Swim age a little bit there.
Florence leads at 31-24 here at the coffee gym.
Kevin Johnson, Mike Albertson with you.
Mike, obviously, right now, the NFL playoffs starting today.
The big one tonight, the Bears and the Packers playing in Chicago in the snow.
You got to lean on that one by any chance?
You know, when it comes to that first-round playoff game, you know, you kind of want to lean on the home field.
You know, and especially being in Chicago, cold, possibly snowy, all that other stuff.
That shouldn't matter to Green Bay, but in Chicago, that's just a different type place to play.
I mean, look, this is about as evenly matched as you can get.
I do like Jordan Love, but I think I'm going to take the Bears on this one.
Let me ask you this.
Have you ever seen the NFL where their playoffs, you could just kick a team out of the hat and any of them could win it?
I mean, it's unbelievable.
There's not a favorite.
Not really.
You know what?
That's what they've searched for for years is that sort of parody in the NFL where any given Sunday, you know, that's where the name was coined.
You know what I mean?
Any given Sunday, you go out there and a team can win.
So, the NFL got what it wanted, and, you know, you just throw a dart at the board at this point.
You're going to be right most of the time.
Right now, the Rams lead the Panthers 20-17.
Panthers trying to pull an upset at home.
That would be a huge win.
I think the Rams, if anybody that might be a favorite, would be the team everybody talked about.
And if the Panthers beat them, it's really wide open.
So, I personally, pulling for the Broncos, Bo Nix, I think that would be a great story.
But we'll see what happens in the NFL.
You'll hear all those games coming up here later this weekend on 9-3-9 to score.
Tonight, don't forget, after our broadcast, Alabama basketball, as they get ready to play host to the Lunghorns of Texas.
So, it should be fun with that one.
Mike, as we get ready to start the second half, you're dealing with Burleson.
What is your message to your team?
You know, I think, really, it's let's clean it up.
I mean, really and truly, this Tarrant team has really frustrated the offense a little bit.
A lot of unforced errors, a lot of turnovers there in the first half.
If we're able to clean it up a little bit, this is going to be a game of attrition.
We're going to be able to beat this team just by the lack of depth that Tarrant has at this point.
They have a lot of great athletes, but they just don't have the numbers that we do.
We match up quite well, and so, at the end, you know, it's going to be last man standing.
I think it's going to be the Falcons here, especially with the seven-point lead going into the second quarter, or second half.
These Falcons should outlast Tarrant.
Farns leads it 31-24 at the half.
I believe Tarrant will have the ball to start in the third quarter.
They'll keep it right here as the TNT Fireworks Halftime Show comes to a close.
A big thank you to Kayla Pettis working the board tonight, our engineer.
Hope you're enjoying this one on this January night, January 10th of 2026.
The Wildcats will be going right to left in their Navy uniforms.
White numbers, gold trim.
Florence in the home white with blue.
Goodwin will have it in backcourt, picked up by Roy.
He gets it across midcourt.
Here comes the trap.
He dribbles out of it, gets rid of it to the corner to Robertson.
Robertson up and under, 12-footer, won't go.
And Roy had the rebound, knocked away by Robertson, who gave up a foot of height, kicks it back out.
Deep three, no good.
Rebound by the smallest guy on the floor, Jayshod Pearson.
Pushes it up the floor to Payne.
He'll pull for three.
That one's good.
Watch out.
He needed that one after the first half.
That's a good start for Florence.
That's a great start for Florence, getting Jayshod going there, you know, hitting that three to start out the second half.
You know, he might be ready to explode here.
Goodwin with it.
Florence up by 10.
Falcons stay man-to-man.
Goodwin swings around to Robertson now.
They run their motion offense.
Falcons are really good.
They play off.
They play the covers.
They hedge well is what you would say.
This defense, that's one thing to stay with this Falcons team.
They stayed pretty even.
Tough, too.
Off the backboard, no good.
What defense there by Roy.
Florence with the rebound.
Pearson pushes it.
Payne three again.
Yes, sir.
He has eight, and he has six in the last 20 seconds.
37-24.
Up the floor.
Wildcats with it.
Goodwin.
Pull up from 15.
That one won't go.
Rebound.
Payne.
Payne looks to push it.
Up to Pearson.
Pearson.
Crossover dribble.
Lost it off his knee.
Saved by Roy to Pearson.
Pearson looking.
Cross court pass to Green.
Kicked it to Payne.
That time he had three Wildcats come at him, so he gets rid of it.
Pearson had it poked away.
It's a great steal by Goodwin.
Goodwin on the other end goes up with it.
Laid it in.
Timeout taken by the Wildcats.
We'll do the same.
Florence leads it by 12.
This is Falcon Basketball.
We're back in 30.
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Six-floor to go in the third quarter.
Florence leads it 37-26, an 11-point lead.
I think I said by 12, but it's an 11-point lead as we pick up after the timeout.
Pearson going left or right up the floor as you listen to us.
Keeps the ball in his hands at the free throw line.
Kicks it out to Roy.
Swings it around to Payne.
He's already hit two three-pointers.
Down on the box.
Jones is called for the offensive foul.
That's a good sale right there inside.
That's twice that the Wildcats have sold that pretty well.
That's the right call there as far as a sell is concerned.
I mean, it's just any contact whatsoever.
These guys are flopping instantly.
And they're going to the floor hard, so it's making it look worse than it is for sure.
You know, you don't see that sold as much, do you, Mike?
I mean, you just don't see it as much anymore.
Well, and they're selling it the right way.
Like, it's one of those you see in the NBA, and they flop, and it's gross.
These kids know what they're doing.
Very legit.
Well coached.
Goodwin, who's been outstanding with the basketball.
Gets in a turnover.
He knows that moving screen.
Consistently called.
That's tough, man.
That one's tough there.
There was no contact with any Falcons player, I didn't think.
Yeah, if there was, it was so marginal.
I mean, I'm not a fan of that one.
Payne within front court.
To Roy goes baseline.
The up and under.
Wouldn't go.
Rebound, yanked down, and saved in bounds by Knox, who was outstanding.
Knox goes about 6'2", but he plays a little bit taller than that with long arms.
He's definitely got the length.
You know, that wingspan is well beyond his height.
Goodwin got the screen up top, and Burski ran through the screen.
He, that's so, he leaned into that, and Burski threw the screen, and he flopped and threw himself into the ball handler.
That was not, again, that one I'll say is a flop.
The Wildcats inbounded.
Robertson has it.
I love my color analyst giving his honest opinion on these.
And it's, I mean, it's a tough call by the officials.
That one, a whistle, an offensive foul there, pushing off as he goes in.
That was Robertson, who was dribbling with the left hand, shoving with the right hand, and it was pretty evident.
Turnover against the Wildcats, and a foul called on Robertson.
Lawrence leads about 11, a five-minute mark.
Pearson in the lane, teardrop is blocked by Knox.
Pearson got it back, put it up with the left hand, no good.
Roy got it back, put it up, rolled it in.
Roy in double figures now, unofficially, I have him.
It's 11.
The Falcons lead by 13.
Goodwin spinning in the lane.
Roy stays on him, and they got a travel call.
Roy did the old step back.
Excuse me, Goodwin did the step back, but he pulled the foot back.
I like his game, though.
Goodwin can play.
He certainly can.
He sees the court in a different way.
You can tell he's a very heady player.
He uses his body quite well.
A good athlete.
Pearson, top of the key, hesitation, kicked it to the corner to Payne.
He's already hit two threes.
He'll try a third one right there.
No good short.
Rebound taken down by Riggs.
Riggs all the way over to Goodwin, who laid it up, put it in.
That's a good two-man game right there.
For you, 4A schools in this region listening in.
Yeah, you might want to keep your eye on this Terrence team.
They're undefeated in region play, and they are in the northwest region,
if I'm not mistaken.
Pearson's fouled.
Put it up.
Put it in, and it will count.
Pearson did a great job of beating off the dribble.
Got his defender out of position, and when the defender was coming back,
trying to trail and get back into it,
J-Shot just hit the brakes ever so slightly to create that contact up off the glass and in.
It's sort of like those fighter pilots that you can see how they stop the plane sort of in midair
and stop and go.
He's got that top gun little move to him.
I might have found a nickname Maverick for him before it's over with.
Who knows?
We'll see.
Rebound.
A free throw is good.
Excuse me.
A J-Shot as he gets the basket and the free throw, and Florence leaves it 42-28.
Goodwin gets by the double team, goes all the way in, passes, knocked away, stolen away,
and Burnett comes out of there with it with a head of steam with a left-hand dribble.
Burnett kicks it over to Payne for three.
That one wouldn't go.
Look at Knox.
Save the rebound, but Florence gets it.
Now check on Knox.
Pearson with it.
Top of the key.
Three on the way.
Goal, but the follow dunk by Green.
Hello, Florence, Alabama.
Haven't seen that in a Florence document player in a while.
And Pearson with a rip and a strip, and Pearson down the floor, lays it up, puts it in.
Flashes from Kevontae Green.
Kevontae went up and caught that rebound and just jammed it home.
I don't think we've seen anything like that since D-back with.
That's a good comparison.
Yeah.
I'm sure right now some of our former Falcons from last year may be saying, no, wait a minute.
I don't think we saw a follow jam like that.
Shot no good by a walk-a**.
Burnett with a rebound.
Pearson with a baseball pass.
Got it into Skipworth.
Back out to Jones for three.
Yep.
No good.
Skipworth a fight for the rebound alone with Green, but taken down by the walk-a**.
They look to push all the way down the floor.
Layup is good.
That is a beautiful play there by Goodwin again.
That's 12 on the night for Goodwin.
46 to 30.
Here comes the Falcons with it.
Pearson dribbles to the side.
Got it to Burnett.
Top of the key.
No reset.
Burnett got by the defender.
Floater.
Teardrop.
Good.
Nice play there by the freshman who has five on the day.
Lawrence extends the lead to 48-30, an 18-point lead with two minutes and change to go.
Pull back.
Simmons, too.
That's good.
Goodness gracious.
Can he play?
That's 10 on the night for Simmons.
On pickup games, would you choose Simmons in the first five picks?
I think I would.
Why would it make it five picks?
Yeah, maybe three.
Yeah, I'm with you.
Green back out to Pearson.
Pearson, double team.
Keeps the dribble alive.
Stays with it.
Best of the defenders come back and kick it out.
Three on the way.
Short.
No good.
Rebound.
Fall for it.
Look at the fight right there by Florence and a timeout taken.
Great job by Skipworth, who got on the floor fighting for that.
Jones, actually, was one of the two.
The other Skipworth fighting for it.
Got the ball on the floor.
Got the timeout.
We'll do the same.
Florence leads it big.
We're back in 30 seconds.
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Back at the coffee gym where Florence leads it by 16, 48-32.
Rocking cheerleaders doing flips out on the court.
Coach Tellis, groom of Tarrant, getting an explanation on that last play.
He didn't like it.
I didn't see anything really went out of the ordinary.
It was just a great hustle.
Florence leads it 48-32.
And Mike Albertson with me here.
And Mike, depth is a big part in the 7A to 4A.
You see that starting to play a factor.
Yeah, absolutely.
You know, we have Tarrant.
Tarrant has four players there that have scored so far.
And, you know, Florence has seven.
But there are multiple guys that have gotten on the court tonight for Florence.
And it's really only about six guys that I recognize have gotten some ample time there for Tarrant.
You could tell, you know, that their rotation isn't near what the Falcons have as far as depth is concerned.
The Falcons were inbound underneath the basket after Skipworth saved it.
But it's turned over.
Nice job right there and a whistle in the backcourt and a double dribble.
Robertson wanted to pass it.
And then he decided, I can't pass it.
I'll dribble again.
Oh, I've been there.
Yeah, you put that second hand on it.
And unfortunately, it hits that floor and you feel like the worst guy in the gym.
I can pull it off in church league, but I don't think you can pull it off in high school.
Inbounds finally gets into Green.
Green on the post.
Turn.
Shot blocked by Knox.
Green got it back.
Up and under.
Put it up.
Wouldn't go too strong.
Did everything right there.
And the ball went out of bounds.
It'll stay with Tarrant.
Florence up 48-32.
Minute 20 to go.
The jacket is off for Coach Dylan Burlington in his third season as the Falcons coach.
Here comes the double team.
Good trap all around.
Have him trapped in the corner today.
Back off of it.
Lob inside.
Reverse layup blocked inside there by Jones.
Good hustle there.
Florence with the basketball.
Jones pushes the ball up the floor.
Good layup.
Put up and good.
And they're going to wave it off.
And that's a charge.
That's Burnett.
Ran over Riggs.
He might have flown over Riggs, but he touched him and he went down.
That was too far underneath the basket as far as I'm concerned.
You know, they do have that circle in the NBA level.
And even collegiate level, I think, now.
But they don't have it in high school.
And, you know, I don't necessarily agree with that.
If you're right under the basket and the guy leaves his feet, you have to, by rule, you have to be able to give him an opportunity to hit the ground.
And, unfortunately, that wasn't the case.
Under a minute to go.
Florence handily in the lead.
Tarrant running the horn set.
It doesn't matter.
They pull up a deep two.
No good.
Rebound taken by Florence.
Jones comes out of there with it.
Surveys traffic.
Jones, hard to the basket.
Fouled on the way to the basket before the shot.
I like Tate Jones to the way he plays aggressively.
Yeah, he's really grown as the season's gone on as well.
You saw flashes early on that he was going to be a solid contributor for this Falcon team.
But he's really flying all over the court and doing the little things to make this team better.
Florence gets the inbounds in.
Lewis in there for the game for the first time for Florence.
Gets it to Burnett.
Back to Pearson.
We're under a minute to go under 30 seconds to go, actually.
Jones with it outside.
Hands it off to Burnett.
Burnett up to Lewis at the top of the key.
Jalen Lewis gets it to Roy.
Roy gets it to Pearson.
Pearson with 20 seconds to Lewis.
Lewis spins.
Looks at the top of the key.
Hands it off to Jones.
Jones, good ball movement to Burnett.
Burnett had it almost knocked away.
Spins back the other way.
Double team now.
Gets rid of it.
Got it to Roy.
Roy to Pearson with 10.
Down to five.
Pearson.
Pull back.
Three.
On the way.
Back rim no good.
Rebound bounced around and that'll be the end of three.
Three in the books.
Florence in lead.
In control.
48-32.
Talking basketball back in one minute.
Getting the kids to practice on time.
Remembering if it's your day to bring snacks.
Making it to the game with a clean jersey.
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Call 256-764-8682.
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Three quarters in the book, Florence leaves at 48-32.
Kevin Johnson, Mike Albertson with you on a Saturday night special
in the renaissance city of Florence, Alabama, here on 93.9 The Score.
Falcons hosting Tarrant Wildcats out of Birmingham area.
Pearson will inbound it, gets it in to Payne, back to Pearson.
Against the man-to-man pressure.
To Payne on the curl, keeps the dribble alive.
Nowhere to go, though.
Good help in the knockaway and stolen away.
That's a good defense there by Tarrant.
Yeah, it was a good job by J-Shot to really cut through the lane,
but Tarrant with the active hands in defensive position,
they wound up blocking that pass.
Simmons with an acrobatic layup, no good.
Out of bounds, last touch by Florence.
Nope, going to go back to Florence.
I thought that's what it was going to do.
I was like, are you sure?
But it's Florence, it's basketball, and now the Wildcats are going to pick up
full court, trade them at 16.
Jones in back court for Florence, bounce pass to Payne,
gets rid of it to Pearson.
Pearson in the middle of the floor, down the lane, put it up with the left hand.
It would not go.
It went all around the rim and bounced out.
Rebound taken down by the Wildcats, who push it.
Robertson down the floor is fouled before the shot.
Johnson got him.
Excuse me, Jones got him.
Taylor and Jones picks up the foul.
His third.
And Kevante Green will come in for Jones.
At the 7-21 mark in the fourth quarter.
Florence leads at 48-32.
Goodwin looks to get a bounce, bounce pass into Payne, knocked away, stolen away.
Burnett, the freshman with the steal.
Left-handed baseball pass down to Jones, back to Burnett, into the Payne,
put it off the glass, wouldn't go.
That's a block.
Jones, excuse me, Payne with the rebound.
He goes inside, left it with Green, he put it in.
Selfish play there.
Again, by Jason Payne with the assist.
Florence lead up at 18.
Simmons goes one-on-one.
He's done that a lot.
Pull back 19.
That would miss.
He's just forcing it up at this point.
You can tell they're looking for offense from somewhere.
The Falcons defense has definitely frustrated this team.
And, you know, Simmons, who's, you know, taking some great shots early on,
that was definitely forced.
Burnett lobs up, goes up, tip no good.
Too high on the lob and rebound taken down by Tarrant.
They push up the floor, knocks, spins out of it, goes up with the basketball.
No good.
But he's fouled.
And he'll go blind to shoot two.
That's one of those situations.
It's the first time in a while I saw Zion Burnett look like a freshman.
Yep.
You know, that was a freshman move right there.
He was looking for the flash play.
Yeah, we're up a lot.
Whatever.
Instead of just taking it hard to the basket or taking it hard to the basket
and dishing it, he tried for the flash play.
And that, you know, it's one of those lob plays.
It really was low percentage anyway.
When you play a freshman, though, Mike, you pretty much understand you're going
to have those moments with the players.
You're going to be a freshman player at times.
You have to live with it.
Oh, absolutely.
You know, the young man's grown before our eyes.
And you've got to kind of live and die by the sword in that situation.
First free throw, no good for Knox.
Simmons, who pressed a little bit, comes out.
Smart play there by the head coach, Tellis Groom of Tarrant,
who brings the star player out and says, you know what,
you're pushing and pressing a little bit.
I'm going to give you a little breather.
Lawrence leads it by 18.
Free throw, no good.
Rebound taken down by Payne.
They take a full court on Payne.
He gets rid of it quickly to Burnett.
Burnett knows one speed.
That's fast forward.
Ball knocked out of bounds.
It'll stay with Florence.
Burnett's a freshman, but, man, he may be the fastest player from coast to coast.
Boy, he can fly.
He's sneaky fast.
His length and his ability to burst, you know, it's almost he's so smooth it's effortless.
Speaking of smooth, there's Payne for three.
Good.
Zacian, you can tell he found his rhythm on that one.
Got 11 on the night.
And the Falcons lead it by 21, 53-32.
Goodwin tries to answer on the other end.
No good.
And great box out by three Falcons.
Pearson with the rebound.
Pearson surveys traffic.
Crossover dribble.
Keeps the dribble alive at the top of the key.
Behind the back.
Got it to Payne.
Fake the three.
Into the paint.
Looking.
Takes the 10-footer.
It won't go.
That 8-10-footer mid-range jumper tonight just won't fall for most of the Falcons for some
reason.
Goodwin puts up a tough layup because of that tip goes up and good by Robertson.
Robertson gets that basket.
Falcons break the press.
Roy in front court.
Crossover dribble.
Tripped up.
Didn't mean to be tripped up.
But Riggs got him.
And Roy.
Well, inbound it now for the Falcons.
Who brings in Skipworth and Burski.
And Green.
And someone else checked out there.
But there will be Burski, Roy, Pearson, Payne.
And we've got to clean up on all one.
Skipworth is in the game now as well.
So, official cleaning up there in the paint where there's moisture.
Keeping the players safe.
It's such a vital part of this as well.
These games like this are not area games.
You've got area games coming if you want to keep everybody healthy, Mike.
And that's one of the things, too.
Well, absolutely.
You know, getting, you know, up 19 points, you're going to look for some rotation at this point.
Just being able to get some guys in and get some quality minutes for some other guys and keep everybody healthy.
Pain and rhythm.
Three good.
That's from Roy.
And that's a great set there.
And he's hit four threes here in the second half.
And Florence lead big now.
Fifty-five.
Fifty-six.
Thirty-four.
Excuse me.
Good one.
Crossover dribble.
Good help by Pearson.
Forced at the 12-footer.
No good.
And Pearson got the rebound.
He and Burski played good defense there.
Pearson looks through the traffic.
Behind the back dribble.
Keeps his dribble alive and finally gets it to Payne.
Payne picks up his dribble over to the left side now.
And he'll run the point a little bit.
Gets the man-to-man defense.
He'll take the deep three again.
Why not?
Why not, young man?
After the first half where everything was falling short or long, right now everything's falling all net.
Layup is good and a foul.
Beautiful play there.
But a beautiful play.
Simmons, who came back in.
Gets it to fall with a soft touch.
And will go to the line to complete the three-point play.
J.C. on Payne.
Why is this game so good as a junior, Mike?
You know, his experience last year, he was able to really play with some great players in some high-leverage situations.
You know, just being able to be cool on the court there is definitely important.
And, you know, he's really grown.
But you can see it mostly in his leadership.
You know, he's one of those quiet guys.
He does it all on the court.
He does it all on the court.
Never gets rattled and everything.
But it's just the way he goes about his business.
It's something that his Falcon team should be proud of.
Timeout on the floor.
Florence takes the timeout.
Leading it.
This is Miranda Haddock with the Florence Education Foundation.
We invite you to support our Friends of the Foundation campaign.
As a Friend of the Foundation, you can contribute any amount to help fund classroom needs in Florence City Schools.
Please visit our website at FlorenceEducationFoundation.org to explore our new giving levels and the added perks available.
We want to wish Coach Burleson and the entire Falcon basketball team good luck this season.
421 to go.
Florence leads it big, 59-36.
Official came over and said, are you okay?
He had a little something in his eye trying to get it cleaned out.
Is that why he wasn't pulling his whistle?
I'm just going to say, there's a lot of jokes there, and I'm not going there.
I couldn't help myself.
Go figure.
Game day operations at this Florence High School do a great job.
From our scoreboard keeper to our clock operator.
He's sitting left with me here.
Our DJ that is the game announcer, PA announcer.
Great job, all of them.
Skipworth tried to pounce it inside to Roy.
He goes back and caught it.
And a shot up and no good, but he's fouled.
Not sure, but he got caught on the arm by Knox.
He'll shoot two.
Yeah, it was one of those situations where Knox had ball, and then as he went through and followed through on the block, wound up going down Roy's arm.
And you talked about follow through.
That's so hard when you're blocking the shots just to get your hand up there, but you follow through.
It's going to call every time.
Once you touch that ball, you think that play's over, you know, as a defender.
But really, you know, your whole body matters.
And so, you know, once he followed through, it was an easy call for the official.
I'm not sure what Cage Roy had for breakfast this morning, but his shot has been nice.
That free throw.
Second one's not on it.
The first one was rim, went high up, and came right through the nets.
He hit both of them.
He's really a fairly strong free throw shooter from what I recall.
Yep.
Long three on the way.
Banked in.
That's from Coleman.
Or Caldwell, excuse me.
Caldwell banks that one in.
61-39.
Florence with the lead with 3.40 to go.
Left wing.
Three on the way by Roy.
That one wouldn't go.
Rebound.
Staved in by Knox.
He was really good at keeping the ball alive and tipping it to his teammate.
Simmons.
Crossover.
Lost it.
Kicked.
I was going to say kickball by the Falcons as Roy got a foot on it.
Does a great job on help defense by Roy to come in on the back end there to even make a play on that ball.
So, you know, unfortunately it did go off his shoe.
But, you know, just great to watch this Falcon team develop, especially defensively as the season's gone on.
No, that's, was it a foul?
Was it just a sub?
So, just a little confusion here.
He's got a 30.
Just a little confusion here what it was.
They thought it was a foul.
But, actually, I think it was a kickball is what it was.
It goes back to Tarrant.
3.25 to go.
Florence leads it handily now.
61 to 39.
They were tied at 14 after one.
Led it to half by seven.
Extend the lead to 16 after three.
Robertson for three.
Short.
No good.
Rebound by Florence's.
Skipworth.
He gets it over to Jaceon Payne.
He wears number one.
Payne at the top of the key.
Looking for a screen.
Can't get one.
Got a double team coming.
Pull back.
Fade away three.
That one wouldn't go.
Roy got the rebound.
Spins and puts it in.
I think we found our player of the game tonight, Mike.
His name might be Cage Roy.
His work underneath there, you know, that low block move to go to the basket there.
That was definitely something special.
Something we didn't see early on in the season with him.
Simmons from NBA range won't go back around and hit the guide wire up top.
They go back to Florence and now hockey substitutions.
You bring three in for three.
Burnett, Lewis, and Jones will come in for Payne, Pearson, and Roy.
And Payne and Pearson will get a handshake.
But the last one, Roy, he's getting a couple of handshakes for several players and coaches right now.
Falcons lead at 63-39.
And haven't had many games like this this year.
Lawrence has played such a difficult schedule.
I know it feels good for them to get a win.
And Burski with it.
Great pass out to Burnett.
Burnett goes to the baseline.
Floater up.
Wouldn't go.
Burski tried to follow up behind it.
Wouldn't go.
Lewis on the other end.
But then JV and Lewis, the senior.
His first basket of the day.
But, Mike, this team has had so many close games go against them.
They need a game like this.
Absolutely.
You know, especially after taking five days off, you know, just being able to get out there,
get back in rhythm as we're headed towards back area play.
Watch out.
It is huge.
There goes Burnett.
Oh, he couldn't get the jam to go down.
Burski with a follow-up puts it in.
Zy Burnett trying to get his dunk to go in.
But he sort of got his steps mixed up.
Wouldn't fall.
But there was Burski to tip it back in.
67-39.
Shot no good.
Burski contested that one.
Rebound by Jones.
Jones looking up the floor.
Threw it away.
In a, you know, in kind of a blowout situation as this is, I don't mind the young man going up trying for the dunk there.
But in a close game, you better be putting up off the glass, son.
Yeah.
And we saw a couple of instances this year with that where they, you know, he thought, oh, he could dunk it.
And they laid it in because they knew the game was so tight.
Make sure of the points.
That says a lot about Dylan Burleson and his staff coaching this team up.
I got to speak with Dylan Burleson about his team earlier.
He felt really good about them this week.
Great drive-by by Simmons.
Boy, he has got all kinds of talent on him and his shoulders.
Burnett, front court, double team come.
Got it rid of the skipper.
He split the double team.
Left hand layup short.
Rebound tipped around.
Good job by Lewis.
Saved it out to Burnett.
Zy Burnett now running a little point.
Burnett gets by the defender and he's fouled.
This is the third team foul as Robertson reached in.
Zy Burnett, I have a 6'2 freshman.
And, Mike, when I look at him and Roy, I've got a feeling they could grow another couple of inches.
I think they could.
They're still young pups, man.
You know, and if they're able to put a couple more inches on them and whatever, they already have the talent.
But the sky's the limit.
You know, the sky's the limit as they develop, especially with this great coaching staff.
Burski to Jones.
Back to Burski.
Burski drives.
Goes up hard.
Put it up.
Wouldn't go.
He did everything right but couldn't get it to go.
Oh, I love the move, though.
You can hear the fans are going, oh, that was one they wanted.
Sometimes when you blow past a defense and you have an uncontested shot, that shot's harder than the contested ones.
Shot no good by Simmons.
Lewis with the rebound.
Dylan Burleson says the white flag.
Throw it up there and let's dribble this thing out.
Jones will hold it with 20 seconds.
Florence leading at 67-41.
Ball knocked away by Knox.
Coach Mark Johnson got the rebound and was thinking about taking a shot.
And thank goodness he didn't.
Did not want him to be embarrassing this big crowd tonight.
I'll give him a hard time about that later on.
Jones has it.
What about this coaching staff, Mike?
They're pretty good.
They are an excellent staff.
They really have grown together as the last couple of seasons have come on.
And it's been just a beautiful thing to watch this Falcon program come together.
Final score, Florence wins at 67-41 here at the Coffee Gym.
You're listening to the TNC Fireworks Post Game Show.
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Back here at the coffee gym where Florence wins on the Saturday night special,
knocking off the boys from Birmingham and Tarrant High School, 67-41.
Joined now by the head coach, Coach Dylan Burleson.
And Coach, a team that coming in was very talented, a team that's an older veteran team,
but your team had depth, your team played well, and you had some guys step up that haven't always
stepped up as much and really played well tonight.
We'll get you on here.
There you go.
My bad.
I'm sorry.
I thought we had some guys step up.
I thought we had some guys hit some shots tonight.
And, of course, that never helps.
I know that covers up some mistakes, but I thought we had some guys step up and hit some shots.
I thought the second half, really predominantly the third quarter, we came out of the halftime,
did what we needed to do to put it away.
And I didn't necessarily think we played bad in the first half.
I just didn't think we played up to the standard.
But really good job for our guys to get this win tonight.
I think Tarrant's going to have a chance to make a run in 4A.
But really proud of our guys tonight.
How about Cage Roy?
Cage Roy is a guy that's just round the game and all.
But tonight, he really found his shot.
He's tough, some confidence growing.
He's a youngster, too.
He is a youngster.
He's a 10th grader.
He's a sophomore that has come such a long way from the start of the season.
Like, his ability to be aggressive.
And I don't think he actually knows how great he can actually be.
He has a high, high ceiling.
I think he's just now kind of tapping into that potential.
But he had some aggressive takes tonight.
He's rebounding the ball really well.
We're really pleased with how he's progressed.
Jason Ipane did not have his shot early, but he showed maturity.
He got involved in other ways.
He did.
He did.
He was able.
I thought he got his hands with more balls than I than probably has.
There was a lot of times we had guys that wasn't tagging up.
He was one of those guys that weren't tagging up and, you know, giving ourselves another chance to get another possession.
And he saw the ball go in more in the second half.
But in the first half, it was him finding himself to find a way to be a part of the game when shots weren't going in.
Now you turn your attention to area play.
You got through this time, Christmas season, holiday season, area play.
What do you like about your team going into the next couple of weeks?
I think our guys, just the willingness to come to improve every day.
Regardless of what our record is or where we are right now in the area, like we're still approaching every game like we're 0-0.
Like that number beside our name is just a number.
So our guys being able to come in every day and improve and continue to buy into the process.
We play a tournament sport that's a one-game season.
But we've got two really big area games coming up this week.
We need a big crowd on Tuesday night.
That's what I was going to say.
The big crowd on Tuesday night should be a lot of fun.
Coach, best of luck.
We look forward to that.
And we go celebrate with your team.
Congratulations.
Appreciate you.
The head coach of the Florence Falcons, whose team wins it tonight over Terrence, 67-41.
A huge win for Coach Dylan Burles and his team.
He gets celebration with his kids here and his wife.
Family affair, they're all into it.
But it's just a beautiful win for the Falcons tonight because everybody got involved, Mike,
and that's what you want to see.
Yeah, definitely.
You know, when the Falcons have, you know, that opportunity to rotate some guys in
and get some production out of guys on the court here, you know,
it doesn't matter if it's the starting five or the guys off the bench.
It's definitely important to continue to, you know,
kind of have that rising tide raise all the boats.
And the Falcons have done that, getting some guys, you know, on the court
and getting them some quality minutes against some really stiff competition
because as the area play goes, we're going to need that depth coming in.
Should be a good one coming up on Tuesday night with Florence Host and James Clemens.
Need a big crowd on that one as well.
Let's take a 30-second timeout.
You're listening to the TMT Fireworks postgame show.
Florence Falcon Basketball is back in 30 seconds.
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1554 Florence Boulevard.
Good news, Falcon fans.
On the Saturday night special, Florence wins it 67-41 over Tarrant.
A game that you would hope that Florence would win.
Tarrant 10-7 on the year, but a really good 4A team.
He's played a lot of stiff competition.
The Falcons took care of the smaller school and did it well here at home tonight in the big win.
Our final stats brought to us by our good friends at Chick-fil-A.
And, Mike, I'll let you take it away.
Thanks, Kevin.
Leading the way for Tarrant was Jalen Simmons with 14 points.
Tristan Goodwin had 12.
We had Darian Knox with 8 points.
Antonio Caldwell with 3.
And Latrell Robertson with 4 points leading the way for the Falcons.
We had JC Ampain with 17 points.
Cage Roy with 15.
Jay Shaw Pearson with 8.
Taylor James with 6 points.
You got Kevante Green with 9.
JV and Lewis with 2.
Bo Berski with 2.
And Zion Burnett with 5 points.
Florence and Tarrant were tied at 14 in the first.
Falcons led it by 7.
31-24 at the half.
Extended the lead to 48-32 and ran away with it in the second half.
67-41.
And, Mike, as you watch this Falcons team after tonight, you know,
obviously it is not the same team as last year.
We all know that.
They know that.
And yet there's something about this team.
Throw the record away.
I just like this team.
There's something about a team that says, oh, no, we can play with anybody.
And they're starting to believe it, starting to show it.
The other night they lost an overtime to number 6-ranked Spartan here at home,
81-77.
So they believe they can play with anybody.
And now it's a tournament game.
You get into a one-game situation.
This would not be – the soccer team thinks they can win.
And rightly so.
I mean, look, we've got talent on this court.
And really just that experience that they've gained this year,
playing some of the best of the best,
has really gotten them in a situation where they're really playing a solid brand of basketball.
The coaching staff has done a phenomenal job.
The senior leadership on this team has really come together and brought this team together,
along with, you know, J.C.
I'm paying, yeah, while only a junior, had really a lot of quality time last year as well.
So just that experience mixed with a lot of the young bucks learning on the fly,
you know, with this coaching staff, this Falcon program is really in great shape,
where they started in the season and now heading towards tournament time.
You know, anything can go at this point.
And when you have that sort of belief in the ability to go out there
and actually, you know, back it up, it's, you know, makes the games easy.
And the Falcons have done that.
It does for sure.
And I think the Falcons have a chance to make some noise before it's over with
and they need to be crowded on hand as they take on James Clemens.
Our next broadcast, Friday night, on the road at Bob Jones.
That's going to do it for us tonight.
Falcons win it 67-41 over Tarrant.
For Caleb Pettis, our 93-9 score engineer, and our station manager, Greg Thornton.
For my good friend, Mike Albertson, our color analyst, I'm Kevin Johnson saying have a great night.
Don't forget, I'll see you in church on Sunday.
And now we get ready to send you down to Tuscaloosa and Alabama basketball
as they take on those long corns from Texas.
Good night, everyone.
You've been listening to Florence Falcons basketball on Sports Radio 93-9, The Score.
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Thanks for listening, and go Falcons!