TALLADEGA - After falling short last season in Birmingham the Talladega Tigers prepare to make another run towards to the Class 5A state championship.

The Tigers’ road back to Birmingham begins tonight when they tip off their season at Gadsden City at 7:30 p.m.

“That is always the goal,” Talladega head coach Chucky Miller said. “You have to look at the big picture. This is just November; we are just getting started. We lost a lot of good players; we have some good players coming back. We just need to play and see how they fit into the system and get some confidence this year.”

The Tigers have a veteran ball club this season as they return six players off last season’s team. The Tigers are looking to the trio of Tyler Mosley, Justin Fuller and Sidney Reynolds to lead the way for them.

“We have 10 seniors and they have been playing together for a while,” Miller said. “We haven’t lost many of them to grades, moving, or injuries and things like that so they have been together. We have a core of them that has some pretty good experience. Six or seven of them played last year.

“So we have a good amount that has experience. We have our three guards back that played very well last year, especially towards the end of the season. Tyler Mosley, Justin Fuller and Sidney Reynolds. They are all versatile; all three can shoot the ball good, all three can handle the ball good and play defense good.”

Miller believes that Tyler Mosley’s game has matured from last season to this season.

“Tyler has worked real hard,” Miller said. “He has improved greatly over the last year. Everything that he does is a little bit better than last year, which was really good last year. He is a little bit calmer on the court; he doesn’t have to do everything so quick.

“We know that he can shoot the ball, but he can do other things to get everyone else involved. I am looking for a great year from him; he is in great shape and your senior year is the time to shine.”

Mosley averaged 14 points and 3.8 assists per game last season. The senior sharpshooter believes that the Tigers have what it takes to make it back to the Final Four this season.

“We are going back to state,” Mosley said. “We are working hard, we have stepped up our defense this year. That is our main point this year, defense. We have a little bit more height this year; we are trying to get the young boys ready to step up.”

Justin Fuller had a huge game for the Tigers last season in the Final 48. The senior guard led the Tigers with 22 points against Butler in the semifinals.

“Justin Fuller played the point for us last year,” Miller said. “He can score if needed, but he worries about all aspects of the game not necessarily scoring.”

Reynolds also came up huge for the Tigers in the post season. In the Regional Tournament against Selma Reynolds scored 18 points to help lead the Tigers to Birmingham.

“Sidney Reynolds, what else can I say about him toward the end of the year last year,” Miller said. “He had his biggest games when we needed them; he comes to play the bigger the game.”

The Tigers will depend on seniors Dominique Garrett and Jeremy Shirel to give them valuable production in the post this season.

“Inside we have Dominique Garrett that started half of the year last year,” Miller said. “Jeremy Shirel has been on varsity for two years, he has good experience. We have a couple of newcomers that will help us out in the long run. They have to get experience first and varsity-wise on our level experience counts for a lot.”