Brainerd Advances To State With 74-55 Win

Tyner's Season Ends With 69-58 Loss At Macon County

  • Monday, March 6, 2017
  • John Hunt
Brainerd's Joseph Norwood leaps high to deny a shot by a Livingston Academy player. The Panthers pulled it together and slapped the Lions with  74-55 whipping, while punching their dance card for a return trip to the state basketball tournament, beginning next Wednesday at MTSU's Murphy Center.
Brainerd's Joseph Norwood leaps high to deny a shot by a Livingston Academy player. The Panthers pulled it together and slapped the Lions with 74-55 whipping, while punching their dance card for a return trip to the state basketball tournament, beginning next Wednesday at MTSU's Murphy Center.
photo by Dennis Norwood

The Brainerd Panthers can now make their motel reservations in Murfreesboro for next week.

The Panthers advanced to the Class AA division of the TSSAA state basketball tournament for the third straight year in the friendly confines of their Jackson-High Gymnasium Monday night, but the outcome wasn’t determined until late in the third quarter.

Leading Livingston Academy by a not-so-comfortable 49-41 with a minute left in the third stanza, Brainerd went on an 18-0 run in the next five minutes and the outcome was determined as the hosts advanced with their 74-55 victory.

Brainerd improves to 29-5 with its fourth straight win and 10th victory in its last 11 games.  The Wildcats finish the season at 19-15.

“I’m just excited that we have a chance to play for that gold ball for the third straight season,” said Brainerd coach Levar Brown after the game ended.

“We feel like we have some unfinished business in Murfreesboro as we let one slip away last year, but we’re thrilled to be going back.

“Livingston Academy is much better than most people thought as they didn’t make to this round for no reason.  I anticipated it going down to the wire as our press isn’t what it used to be.  But Kentrell Evans and Jessie Walker are our leaders and we go as they go.

“I try to get my guys fired up while Kentrell tries to get them to settle down, but he won’t let them get rattled,” Brown added.

It was a close game from the opening tip as the lead changed hands five times in the first quarter alone before the Wildcats took a 15-13 lead on a jumper by Cody Ray as the first stanza was winding down.

Wade Neely scored on a reverse layup in the first 30 seconds of the second period as the Wildcats led for the last time at 17-15.  Jessie Walker scored on a putback with 11 seconds showing as Brainerd took a 32-24 lead into the dressing room at the half.

Walker scored the first four points of the second half as the lead stretched to 36-24, but just as quickly, Livingston Academy scored the next six points and were only down by 36-30 with 5:07 left in the third.

Carter Hayes scored on a drive down the lane with 59 seconds left in the third to get the visitors within eight at 49-41, but that’s when the Panthers started hitting and the Wildcats started missing.

A layup by Vesta Melvin Jr. right before the buzzer gave the Panthers a 53-41 lead when the quarter ended and by the time Ray sank the second of two free throws with 3:57 to play, the game was all but decided as Brainerd had scored the next 14 points and were comfortably ahead 67-42 at that point.

Walker scored on a layup 36 seconds later to give Brainerd its biggest lead of the game at 72-42 before the Wildcats scored 13 of the final 15 points to make the final score just a bit more respectable.

“Brainerd was just too athletic for us,” said Livingston Academy coach Jimmy Miller after the game ended.

“I thought that Brainerd shot the ball better than they normally do, but we were just out-muscled and out-manned there in the second half.  We were struggling to be a .500 team before the district tournament began, so you have no idea how proud I am of the strides they’ve made in the last couple of weeks.

“We played with a whole lot of heart tonight, but it just wasn’t enough,” he concluded.

Walker was simply too big and strong on the inside for the Panthers as he finished with 28 points, including 14 in each half.  Evans was also in double digits for Brainerd with a dozen points while Melvin was next with nine.

Neely was tops for the Wildcats with 16 points while Xander Miller was next with 15.

Livingston Academy did win the rebound battle by an unofficial 24-17 margin.  Neely had seven for the Wildcats and Cole Smith five while Walker topped Brainerd with six.

TYNER’S SEASON ENDED at Macon County Monday night as the Tigers prevailed by a 69-58 final. 

"They jumped on us early and we were never able to get over the hump, but it was a tough environment we were playing in," said Tyner coach Keitha Booker after his team's season had ended at 26-5.

"We missed 14 free throws and gave up way too many offensive rebounds as we just didn't match up well with them down low.  We aren't very big and that's why we play up tempo most of the time.

"We accomplished a lot this season, but we didn't reach our main goal which was to advance to the state tournament.  We still have a lot to be proud of and have no reason to be hanging our heads," Booker added.

LIVINGSTON ACADEMY  15  9  17  14  --  55

BRAINERD  13  19  21  21  --  74

LIVINGSTON ACADEMY (55) – Miller 15, Smith 6, Craig 6, Neely 16, Hayes 5, Qualls, Ayres, Ray 7, Allen.

BRAINERD (74) – Herman 6, Sow 3, Melvin 9, Bradley 5, Evans 12, Norwood 2, Hampton 7, Chapman, Wofford 2, Walker 28, Menifee, Mynatt, Freeman.

3-POINT GOALS: Livingston Academy 3 (Miller, Hayes, Ray); Brainerd 6 (Sow, Melvin, Bradley, Evans 2, Hampton).

(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)

Kentrell Evans (10) soars through the air on his way to the hoop and two of his 12 points to help lead Brainerd to a 74-55 pummeling of Livingston Academy for a Class AA sectional win.
Kentrell Evans (10) soars through the air on his way to the hoop and two of his 12 points to help lead Brainerd to a 74-55 pummeling of Livingston Academy for a Class AA sectional win.
photo by Dennis Norwood
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