Eufaula aiming for Prep Classic title

Eufaula needed one more stop.

It was unable to get it.

Bullock County’s James Tarver snagged an offensive rebound and then sank a turn-around jumper in the lane at the buzzer to give the Hornets a 49-47 win, and sink Eufaula’s chances of winning the 2007 Dothan Progress / Dothan Eagle / Southern Star Holiday Prep Classic presented by The Cochran Firm.

It was a learning experience for the Tigers, who finished as the tournament runner-up and eventually advanced to the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 5A Final Four.

“Playing in the Prep Classic last year was good for us,” Eufaula head coach Mike Henry said. “I think we learned what it takes to compete night in and night out because we played so many good teams right there in a row. We learned that you can’t even take one play off. I definitely think it helped us later in the season.”

That’s just what Henry is banking on again this season as the Tigers, who have opened the 2008-09 campaign 10-0 and have climbed to the No. 4 spot in the Alabama Sports Writers Association poll, attempt to win their first Holiday Prep Classic since 1994.

“It’s definitely our goal to win it,” Henry, who led Ashford to two Holiday Prep Classic titles and has led Eufaula to a third place and runner-up finish, said. “We know it’s going to be quite a challenge with the quality of teams that are going to be there, but we feel like we have a team that is capable of winning it if we play well.”

But first, Eufaula will have to get past an opening-round game with Andalusia. The teams will play on Saturday, Dec. 27 at 8 p.m.

The teams met in the second round of last season’s Holiday Prep Classic and Eufaula won in convincing fashion. The Tigers relentless full-court pressure gave the Bulldogs problems from the game’s opening tip and Eufaula cruised to a 74-36 victory.

Henry plans to make sure his team doesn’t look past Andalusia (11-0), which owns the No. 4 ranking in Class 4A.

“Andalusia is a very tough team,” Henry said. “We’re really going to have to be prepared not only physically, but mentally for that game. We played last year in the second round and were able to get a win, but this is a different season.

“We can’t take anything for granted. We’re going to have to bring our ‘A’ game because we know that they will be a traditional, strong, disciplined Richard Robertson team. We’ll have to play well to win and we’ve got to make sure we win that first one to have a chance to win the tournament.”