![Coach James Hartry talks to his team during their Class 6A boys' basketball state semifinal 52-46 win against Heritage. (Photo by Lester Wright)](https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/athletics/files/2019/03/Tucker-Team-Timeout-300x195.jpg)
Coach James Hartry talks to his team during their Class 6A boys’ basketball state semifinal 52-46 win against Heritage. (Photo by Lester Wright)
Braylen Seals hit six consecutive pressure-packed, free throws down the stretch to secure No. 5 Tucker Tigers 52-46 Class 6A boys’ state semifinal victory over the Heritage-Conyers Patriots at West Georgia University in Carrollton on Saturday.
Tucker (28-4) and the Patriots (17-13) played a back-and-forth game over the first three quarters. Heritage led 9-8 at the end of the first quarter with Tucker taking a 19-18 lead into the half. Tucker held a slim 30-29 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Nate Ogbu hit a pair of free throws with 2:38 to play as Tucker extended the lead to 46-40 heading into the final two minutes.
Heritage trailed 48-40 with 54 seconds to play after the first two of Seals free throws. The Patriots managed to close the gap to 48-46 with 20 seconds to play when Seals hit two more free throws to make it a four-point Tiger lead at 50-46.
Seals would go to the line with 10 seconds to play and hit two more free throws to put the game out of reach.
![Tucker's Nate Ogbu gets the Tigers' Class 6A state semifinal game underway with this tip-off against Heritage. (Photo by Lester Wright)](https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/athletics/files/2019/03/Tucker-10-Nate-Ogbu-181x300.jpg)
Tucker’s Nate Ogbu gets the Tigers’ Class 6A state semifinal game underway with this tip-off against Heritage. (Photo by Lester Wright)
The 19 points by Seals in the game led the Tigers and Ogbu contributed 17 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks. Jermontae Hill had 8 points to go with 10 rebounds and 2 blocks.
Tucker moves into the Class 6A state title game at 3:00 pm on Saturday against the Tri-Cities Bulldogs (23-6) which defeated Brunswick 83-74. The game is set for the Centreplex in Macon.
It will be Tucker’s seventh championship appearance including state titles in 1996 and 2007.
DCSD STATE BASKETBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Saturday, March 9
Class 6A Boys at Macon (GA) Centreplex
Tucker (28-4) vs. Tri-Cities (23-6), 3:00 pm