Cleveland High School basketball coach Reggie Tucker was asked if star guard JaCobi Wood ever does anything to surprise him after the Blue Raiders' 60-49 win over Howard in the Chatt-Town Classic at Chattanooga State on Friday night.
Tucker smiled, then let out a laugh before answering.
"No, he doesn't surprise me anymore," Tucker said of Wood, who put on a show in front of a packed gym by scoring 34 points. "That kid is something special. He's one of the hardest-working kids I've ever been around.
"He was in the gym on Christmas Eve, he was in the gym on the 26th and he beat me to the gym this morning. He loves to play the game. We always talk about doing something special at Cleveland High School, and he does it night in and night out."
The Belmont University signee, playing with a "banged-up knee," scored seven points in the second quarter - his lowest output in a period in the game - but he handed out three assists and made three steals as the Blue Raiders (10-0) rallied from a 15-12 deficit after one quarter to take a 30-25 lead into halftime.
The momentum continued in the second half as Wood opened with two 3-point baskets for a 36-29 lead. The Cleveland defense then did the rest to secure the win, holding Howard scoreless over the final four minutes to take a 12-point lead into the final quarter.
"We did a better job in the second half defensively," Tucker said. "We don't like to give up double-digit points in any quarter, so our guys kind of took it personally at halftime and did a great job in the third quarter. Our rotation was better and we located their scorers a little better."
A Kley McGowan 3-pointer and four Wood points pushed the lead to 14 three minutes into the fourth quarter, and the Hustlin' Tigers (6-1) never got closer than 10 the rest of the way.
McGowan added 11 points for Cleveland, while Jailen Sexton led Howard with 14.
The action continues Saturday with four boys' games starting at 4 - Grace Academy versus Sale Creek, Sequatchie County versus Soddy-Daisy, Northwest Whitfield versus Howard and Cleveland versus Tyner.
* Soddy-Daisy 60, Sale Creek 47
The Trojans (4-6) built a 30-18 lead in the first half as Braxton Reid scored nine of his 11 points, and they never were threatened in the second half. Addison Cabe also had 11 points, including a pair of 3s, with Seth Coffelt adding 10 and Tyan Massengale nine, six coming in the final quarter as the Panthers tried to rally. Korbyn Brown and Blake Nutt led Sale Creek (0-8) with 15 and 13 points.
* Sequatchie County 42, Grace Academy 39
Grace held a two-point lead entering the final quarter but the Indians (6-5) hit three 3-pointers, two from Jeffrey Smith, to pull out the win. Michael Cooper led Sequatchie County with 16 points, 12 coming on 3s, while Nick Smith added four of his eight points in the final minutes. Justin Carter led Grace (4-3) with 16 points, six coming in the third quarter.
* Tyner 50, Northwest Whitfield 44
The Rams (8-1) trailed throughout the first three quarters, with Northwest (5-5) leading 33-24 four minutes into the second half. Nieagell Sturkey sparked a 10-2 run with back-to-back baskets to end the third, his second a thunderous dunk on a drive from the free-throw line. Gary Porter then scored six consecutive points early in the final quarter, his 3-pointer giving Tyner its first lead at 39-38.
The teams exchanged leads before Kameron Dozier hit a 3 to give the Rams the lead for good with less than a minute to play. Sturkey led Tyner with 13 points, followed by Dozier with 11. Blane Greene topped Northwest Whitfield with 10.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.