Text message signaled return to state
HANCEVILLE — It was a simple text message, one sent by a mom of a former player. It was a six-year-old picture of Red Bay huddled together outside Legacy Arena.
And yet, it meant plenty to John Torisky on Monday’s ride to Wallace State.
“We were playing in Birmingham six years ago, so I thought that was maybe a good omen or a sign,” the Tigers coach said with a grin.
Judging by the scene in front of him, the happenings on his left and the gatherings on his right, all of them featuring a sea of blue and white twinged with orange, there was no coincidence.
Red Bay’s Dalton Lowery handles the ball during their game against Cold Springs on Monday morning at Wallace State. [SAMUEL CAMP/TIMESDAILY]
Red Bay is heading back to the state semifinals after its 64-52 win over Cold Springs in the Class 2A Northwest Regional Final. The Tigers (25-5) will face LaFayette (26-7) at 10:45 a.m. next Friday.
“My brother was on the last team to make it to Birmingham,” senior forward Jaxon Vinson said. “To be able to join him in the family feels great. I’ll have to let him know a little bit.”
Jalen Vinson was a junior when Red Bay lost to Calhoun and J.D. Davison 46-30 in 2020.
After that? The Tigers were eliminated in the regional semifinals — twice by Sheffield (2021 and 2022), twice by Tanner (2023 and 2025, which came in the game’s waning seconds) and once by Mars Hill (2024).
This season, however, felt different.
Three of Red Bay’s losses came in the first three games of the season while the football playoffs were still occurring. The other two came before the new year — a 75-53 defeat to West Union (Mississippi) on Dec. 13 and a 79-63 loss to Plainview on Dec. 27. The Tigers have won 15 straight since.
“I knew that first game (we had potential),” sophomore forward Khalil Luster said. “Even after we lost the first three games, I knew we were going to be good. Everything just had to play out.”
Red Bay’s Jaxon Vinson shoots a layup during their game against Cold Springs on Monday morning at Wallace State. [SAMUEL CAMP/TIMESDAILY]
On Monday, the Tigers never trailed after Luster’s putback to beat the first-quarter buzzer. They led by as many as 18 points.
Luster led Red Bay with 23 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including 4-for-5 on 3-pointers. He also had 10 rebounds. Vinson added 15 points and Bryant Harris 11.
