SELiveHot5: TAT Final Four Recap: Anna Survives, Thurgood Roll; Championship Details

Sunday, August 23, 2026

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.