How TSSAA state tournament expectation breeds confidence for Jody Wright, Fulton
Fulton's boys basketball team has reached the TSSAA Class 3A state semifinals after a win over Portland on March 18.
MURFREESBORO − When it comes to the TSSAA basketball state tournament , expectation often breeds confidence. Fulton junior forward Nick Steen and the Falcons brought a lot of both to MTSU's Murphy Center. Fulton (25-9) will be advancing to the Class 3A state semifinals after a 59-50 win over Portland on March 18.
The Falcons will face top-ranked Upperman, a 56-49 winner over South Gibson, in the semifinals on March 20 at 1:45 ET. A win in the semifinals would put Fulton in the championship game for the seventh time in 11 seasons. That's quite a run for the Falcons and legendary coach Jody Wright .
"I feel like it's Coach Wright," said Steen, who had a game-high 23 points and 12 rebounds. "He coaches us up really well. He gets us playing really hard.
It's really our effort and our defense. He tells us, 'Defense is going to get us down here and win championships, and he's got the record to show it. ' " The is the 23rd time Wright has taken Fulton to the state tournament and the TSSAA Hall of Fame coach is seeking the program's sixth state title (all since 2008).