Even if the ETSU men’s basketball team doesn’t make it to the Final Four, there could be one Buccaneer making an appearance at Houston in April. Senior guard Justin Tubbs showed he is a viable candidate for the best dunker in the nation on Thursday night, during the dunk contest portion of the Blunanza event.

His biggest supporter might be head coach Murry Bartow.

“It’s fun to see a player that is only 6-3 but he is so strong and so powerful,” Bartow said. “He is an unbelievably phenomenal athlete. I think he potentially could be in the Final Four slam dunk contest, and maybe win it.”

During the week of the Final Four the NCAA hosts a dunk contest for the best dunkers in the country. Tubbs is looking forward to possibly appearing. “That is something I really want to do,” the high-flying guard said. “That is something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time. If I get the chance I am going to take full advantage of it.”

Tubbs won the Bluenanza dunk contest with a dunk entitled “Game over Part Two, The Final Chapter.”

He tossed the ball into the air, waited for it to bounce in the middle of the lane and then put the ball between his legs. He finished the dunk with one hand. This was his last-resort dunk. He did save some tricks for later, he says.

“I was supposed to jump over my teammate,” he said. “But when you get out there and get to going your mind kind of goes blank.”

Other events that took place Thursday night were two 10 minute scrimmages by both men’s and women’s teams, and a 3-point contest. It was Mike Smith representing the men and Natalie Pickwell representing the women. It would be Pickwell who won the contest at the last second, sinking her 10th 3 pointer and beating Smith by one. It was the second year in a row that the women have beaten the men in the 3-point contest.

About 1,500 fans were present to get an early glimpse of their teams. Bartow said he likes the concept, which is in its third year.

“I think that it is a great event because it showcases the men and the women and gives the fans a first glance,” he said.

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