Tindley is not afraid to play anyone, and the Tigers proved that again Thursday night. Tindley took on 4A No. 7 Crispus Attucks.
Tindley opened the game with a Jayden Pinkston putback to take a 2-0 lead. After three offensive rebounds, Attucks answered back with a score from Jaylen Carson. That was a trend all night. Attucks finished with 16 offensive rebounds. From there, sophomore Jalen Hooks scored nine of the next 12 Attucks points. The highlight was an off-the-backboard dunk that Isaiah Stafford threw to Hooks.
After getting down ten, Tindley finished the first quarter well. Billy Brown drilled a three, and Antonio Robinson finished the period with a bucket. Heading to the second quarter, Tindley was only down five points.
In the second quarter, Attucks took advantage of ten Tindley turnovers to power a balanced attack. Donavon Barnett, James Smith, Stafford, Qu'Shawn Ware, and others played a part for Attucks. Despite the turnovers, Brown and Pinkston kept Tindley in the game. Tindley played hard, but the turnovers held back its offensive output.
Up seven at the half, Attucks took things to a new level after halftime. Within three minutes, Hooks, Jaylen Carson, and Stafford pushed the Attucks lead to 17 points. Hooks had three dunks in the third period after having a bunch in the first half. On nearly 50 percent of its possessions, Tindley continued to turn the ball over. Hooks and Attucks were more than willing to take advantage of them.
The Attucks lead ballooned to 41 points in the fourth. For the game, Tindley turned it over on 44 percent of its possessions. That's why the game developed into a blowout.
Attucks won 85-45 to give Chris Hawkins his 100th career win. This is his fifth season.
Hooks led Attucks with 19 points, three blocks, and three steals. Ware tallied 13 points off the bench; Carson added 11 points and nine rebounds. Stafford and James Smith each had ten points. Stafford also had six assists. Donavon Barnett finished with nine points and eight rebounds. Donovan Scott had eight points and six rebounds.
Brown led Tindley with 12 points. Pinkston recorded 11 points and 14 rebounds.
In the second half, Attucks outscored Tindley 52-19.