IT'S OFFICIAL; THURGOOD WIN 2026 TAT CHAMPIONSHIP, DEFEATS ANNA

 IT'S OFFICIAL: THURGOOD WIN 2026 TAT CHAMPIONSHIP, DEFEATS ANNA 

COUGARS DEFENSE, DEPTH, STAR POWER FUELS 1ST EVER ALUMNI TOURNAMENT TITLE

By Deon Cash

The Thurgood Marshall Cougars entered in The 2026 Alumni Tournament as the last entry.

They registered right before the final deadline.

Joe Thomasson Jr, and Mark Alstork met, planned, coordinated, and then put the final team together. 

Once they put the team together it was all gas and no brakes as the Cougars steamrolled to the 1st ever The Alumni Tournament championship by defeating Anna 80-55 at the Wooden Gymnasium in Xenia, Ohio.

While The Alumni Tournament was electric from start to finish, the Cougars matched that same energy from the moment they entered the fray. 

The practices were intense. The players were invested. The mission was simple. 

Win. 

Once the roster was released,  they became one of the favorites quickly around the city to win it all. 

"Once we decided to put a team in, there was no question what we was going to do." 

Thomasson stated. 

"We knew we had the best team in the tournament. But you have to go and prove it." 

And that they did, as the Cougars shut down Xenia, Springfield, and Anna en route to the Title & the $20,000 championship pot. 

While elite programs lost early (Dunbar, Trotwood, Wayne, Westerville South, Portsmouth), Thurgood kept dominating throughout the tourney. 

"This was about the brotherhood. We did this for the Cougars, our families, and the fans who supported us." Mark Alstork stated.

Alstork was the guy who put the idea in motion. 

"We wanted to finish this one. We lost in the state and we knew there was no way in hell we wasn't gonna win the title this time." Jumpin Joe Ballard stated. 

"Jumpin Joe" Ballard with a fan 

While the Cougars captured the title, they also captured the hearts of Dayton along with the energy of high school, as Cougars TAT coach and Miami - Hamilton assistant Quinton Alstork felt the nostalgia of the event and what he saw.

"It was crazy to see these guys hooping again. It felt like it was 15 years ago all over again.

 It was a honor to coach these guys. The atmosphere was incredible and the team was completely locked in."

As for Anna?

The darlings of The Alumni Tournament were classy and gracious, which was one of the beautiful things about this tournament. 

The Rockets embraced the moment, so much so, that they brought their entire community to the games.

And even the Anna mascot. 

"We take our hats off to Thurgood, they were a tough team and the best team in the tourney. We battled but just came up a little short. We want to thank our city for all the support during the tournament. 

We're excited to see what The Alumni Tournament will turn out to be in the next couple of years." Derrick Billing, star guard of Anna stated. 

Congratulations to the Cougars winning the title in 26. 

Not only did they win a title, they infused some juice into the city. They made a impact (from the youngsters to the old heads) who missed their run in high school. 

And they put a lot of former hoopers on notice.

"We will see yall in 27. We gon' be ready." Thomasson stated. 

Thomasson did average the most points in the Kingston ending (4.5ppg), and hit the final 20k shot while Alstork powered the team in scoring on multiple nights, including the championship night. "Jumpin Joe" Ballard hit the Kingston Ending on a signature alley-oop against Springfield.  

With teams all over the state and the winners pot expanding in 27, who will be able to challenge Thurgood as they look to repeat in 27? 

Follow S.E.Live365 @SELive365 and The Alumni Tournament @TheAlumniTournament for more information regarding content, events and more.  

TAT Final Four Recap: Anna Survives, Thurgood Roll; Championship Details

 TAT Final Four Recap: Anna Survives, Thurgood Roll; 

Anna vs Thurgood for 26 TAT Title today

By Deon Cash 

With The Alumni Tournament reaching the Final Four mark, here are Headlines and Recap for the games that happened yesterday. 

 BILLING HITS GAME WINNER AS ANNA EDGES BUTLER 54-53 

Anna star guard Derek Billing started The Alumni Tournament on a roll, and is still rolling. 

Especially when the chips are down.

 In a thrilling game that went back and forth for most of the game, it would come down to the final moments of the game. 

The game featured A.J.Pacher, who was dominant throughout the game. With the game sitting at 51, Pacher would hit a free throw to take a 52-51 lead. 

Anna would come down and miss a layup on a chance to take the lead, and Butler would feed the ball to Pacher, who was fouled going to the basket. 

The Kingston ending was 54. 

Pacher missed the first FT, then hit the 2nd FT to set up the incredible ending (Butler ahead 53-51).

Billing would get the ball on the left wing, then dribble back right taking the screen toward the top right area of the 3-point line. 

He came off the screen and with both defenders in his face, fired a shot from 3-point range that swished through the net and sent the Anna contingent and fans into a frenzy. 

Anna would win the game 54-53. 

Butler was in shock and devastated to say the least. 

"That was a tough shot. Nothing you can say about that." Butler Head Coach said.

"It was brought to my attention that we thought about fouling, but we felt like we could play defense for one play - we felt like we would be ok." 

After the shot Anna would rush the floor, wreaking pandemonium on the court while Butler and their fans would watch their heart sink.  

Billing would talk afterwards.

"I was hoping McKane would be open, but they wasn't leaving him. So when I came off the screen i had a little daylight....Shooters shoot. 

So that's what I did." 

And with that shot, he lifts the team who was looked at as a afterthought before the tournament started to a legitimate chance to win $20,000. 

One game. 20k.

Billing spoke on that as well.

"Alex and the staff have done a great job with this event.

 We're looking forward to seeing it grow over the years. One game. 20 thousand. We'll be ready. " 

The TAT championship will go down today at 5pm as Anna will battle Thurgood for TAT supremacy at the Wooden Gymnasium in Xenia.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME:

 Derek Billing - ANNA

A.J. Pacher - BUTLER 

 

 THURGOOD ROLLS PAST SPRINGFIELD BEHIND DEFENSE, DEPTH

The Thurgood Marshall Cougars, who were the slight favorite coming into the event, have shown no signs of slowing down after defeating a game Springfield squad in the 2nd semifinal game of the day. 

While the game was close early, Thurgood used its conditioning, its depth, and its entire roster to wear down the Cats, who were without one of their top weapons on offense in Danny Davis III. 

The Cougars would push a double digit lead by halftime (38-26), and work it to a near 20-point lead by the end of the 3rd quarter. 

The Cougars had multiple guys playing solid, and once Springfield couldn't consistently hit buckets, it was all but over in the 2nd half. 

 Edmond Early Jr and Mehki Elmore was hot early, and it helped the Cougars settle into the game. Joe Thomasson also came alive offensively in the 1st half, along with Kadeim Jones,  Tremayne Hawkins and Dwayne Chastain.  

Offensively, the Cats just couldn't get anything going consistently. And while they kept the game close for most of the 1st half, it was clear to see they needed Davis, as there was no consistency in the offense area. Raheim Moss & Toliver brought some life to the offense but it was not enough.

 The Cougars would end the game on a "Jumpin Joe" Ballard slam from Elmore, and with it stamping their spot in the 1st ever TAT Championship. 

Mark Alsork spoke after the game. 

"Big win for us, we pulled it out....What we win by, 20?... There was a lot of chit chat, but we came in here and did what we needed to do."

PLAYERS OF THE GAME 

KADEIM JONES / EDMOND EARLY JR, Thurgood

RAHEIM MOSS  /  TOLIVER  Springfield 

The Cougars will face Anna for the 1st ever TAT Championship today at 5pm at Wooden Gymnasium in Xenia. 

The winner will recieve a TAT Trophy and a 20,000 trophy. 

Follow S.E.Live365 @SELive & The Alumni Tournament  for extensive coverage of the TAT Championship game and future content.