Things went pretty well for the Red Bank Lions in the first half of their game against Boyd-Buchanan Thursday night, but for whatever reason, they quit doing what was working so well in the second half.
The result was nine total points in the final 16 minutes as the visiting Boyd-Buchanan Buccaneers overcame a seven-point halftime deficit to win going away at Red Bank's Susan Ingram Thurman Gymnasium.
The final score was 46-37.
The Red Bank girls won their first game in the opener with a 45-32 victory over the Lady Bucs.
The Red Bank boys graduated six seniors last year, including all five starters, so it’s a rebuilding year for the Lions. Despite a lack of varsity experience, the Lions are still extremely athletic and used that ability to build a 28-21 lead in the first half.
Cade Evans gave the Buccaneers an early 2-0 lead, but Will Thomas sank three straight free throws at the 4:20 mark to give Red Bank its first lead and the difference was 11-4 when the first quarter ended.
That lead was 28-21 at intermission, but the Buccaneers never saw a need to panic and were content to keep chipping away at Red Bank’s lead.
That seven-point halftime lead was trimmed to 34-31 when the third quarter ended.
A 3 from the key from Evans knotted the score at 34 with 5:30 to play. He added a pair of free throws about two minutes later for its first lead since he scored the first bucket early in the opening stanza.
Red Bank’s Tory Sewell nailed a jumper from the line with 1:48 left in the third quarter to keep his team ahead by that same margin when the period ended, but by the time Will Thomas bagged a 3 from the key with 18 seconds left, the Buccaneers had scored 11 unanswered points and were well on their way to their first win of the season.
Eli Evans canned four straight free throws in the final seven seconds for the final nine-point margin of victory.
“That was a hard-fought game on both sides, but it’s still early,” said Boyd-Buchanan head coach Daniel Gilbert after his team evened its record at 1-1.
“I’m really proud of the effort and I thought we played together. We got a ton of stops so we played good team defense and we were able to take a few charges.
“We were able to stick to our game plan and we had some kids come off the bench with some good minutes. These guys come to practice and work hard every day, but we held Red Bank to just nine points in the second half. That’s incredible,” Gilbert added.
Red Bank coach Nick Fite was left scratching his head following his team’s first game of the season.
“I thought we played really well offensively and defensively in the first half, but for whatever reason, we went away from what we were doing in the second half,” he said later.
“We had chances to score a bunch of easy buckets, but simply weren’t able to capitalize. I wish I knew the answer, but I guess it’s just a sign of our youth. We had a good first half, but just didn’t execute in the second. We just didn’t take advantage of our opportunities.
“If we played the second half like we did the first, it’s a whole different ball game, but give Boyd-Buchanan credit as they rose to the occasion. We just didn’t string together four quarters of basketball,” Fite added.
Evans was the only player for Boyd-Buchanan in double figures as he finished with 13 points. Thomas Baker was next with eight while Max Walker finished with seven and Will Emrey six.
Thomas had 13 points to lead the Red Bank scoring parade while Sewell was next with 10.
Red Bank won the rebound battle by an unofficial 34-28 margin.
Jamel Davis had 10 for the Lions while Chance Henderson and Darius Shelby both grabbed six. Thomas snagged five. Matt Serven had six rebounds for the Bucs while Evans and Walker both claimed five apiece.
RED BANK GIRLS 45, BOYD-BUCHANAN 32: The Lionettes played much better at home on Thursday than they did in two unofficial Hall of Champion games at Soddy Daisy Tuesday.
The results were a whole lot better too.
The Lionettes scored the final four points of the opening quarter for a 12-8 lead at the first break and that lead was extended to 26-15 by intermission.
The Lady Bucs got to within eight points early in the final eight minutes, but it didn’t last as Red Bank pulled away for its first win.
Layla Babb had 16 points for Red Bank while Jasmine Roberts followed with nine. Kensley Parker and Meredith Balthrop were both in double figures for Boyd-Buchanan with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
GIRLS SUMMARY
BOYD-BUCHANAN 8 7 12 5 -- 32
RED BANK 12 14 9 10 -- 45
BOYD-BUCHANAN (32) – Bone 5, Parker 11, A. Taylor, Hill 6, M. Taylor, Balthrop 10, High.
RED BANK (45) – Roberts 9, Babb 16, Romans 6, Brown, Claiborne 4, Evers, Kennebrew 6, Bowens, Ndiaye, Stewart 2.
3-POINT GOALS: Boyd-Buchanan 1 (Balthrop); Red Bank 3 (Roberts, Babb 2).
BOYS SUMMARY
BOYD-BUCHANAN 4 17 10 15 -- 46
RED BANK 11 17 6 3 -- 37
BOYD-BUCHANAN (46) – C. Evans 13, Edmonson, Walker 7, Gilley 2, E. Evans 4, Covington 2, Baker 8, Serven 2, Oliver, Beavers 2, Emrey 6.
RED BANK (37) – Delaney, Doss, Sewell 10, Henderson 4, Shelby 2, Thomas 13, Davis 4, Brown 4.
3-POINT GOALS: Boyd-Buchanan 1 (C. Evans); Red Bank 2 (Thomas 2).
(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)