After having trailed Signal Mountain for almost the entire championship game, the Brainerd Lady Panthers put together a huge 19-point fourth quarter to claim the District 6-AA Basketball Championship Plaque, in an emphatic 47-37 victory.
“I’m proud of this team, they did a great job,” Brainerd Head Coach Stanley Jackson said, “It feels like we’re a part of Brainerd High School history.”
The methodical first quarter ended 8-8, both teams ran their offense beautifully. Brainerd moved the ball well across Signal Mountain’s two-three zone, sometimes the ball would find an open shooter, but usually the Lady Panthers would use the space created to drive to the bucket.
Brainerd’s primary ball handler #23 Raijeria Bell made her presence felt early and often throughout the game. Her quick handles and explosive change of direction allowed her to create her own shot, especially off fast breaks. She put up 4 of her shared team-high 14 points in the first quarter.
Signal Mountains’ game plan was to run the offense through #45 Olivia Koontz, their talented center, and for good reason. Koontz’s soft touch at the low post allowed her to shoot from any angle underneath the basket. In the first quarter she put up 6 of her eventual game-high 20 points.
Early in the second quarter Brainerd’s #32 Arteya Scott added he name to the scoring sheet, she would end the game with 9 points. Scott was a huge part of her teams’ championship effort all game. Not only was she a vocal leader on the court, she also threw herself onto the court for every lose ball that bounced her way, giving her team energy down the stretch.
Eagle’s guard #10 Janie Kennedy, who played every second of the game, nailed her second mid-range jumper at the end of the second. That shot, along with a smooth three-pointer from #24 Harmony McCarter, and Koontz’s continued dominance, meant that Signal Mountain went into half time on their home floor up 15-19
The games’ physicality picked up noticeably after halftime; ball handlers started lowering shoulders and defenders started reaching in. Brainerd’s quick guard #3 Tyliyah Ward put up a team-high 4 points the third quarter, both her baskets came off acrobatic drives to the bucket.
Signal Mountain’s #13 Carlee Lowery also put up 4 points in the third, both her made baskets came after offensive rebounds. She was matched by Koontz, who added four of her own.
The Lady Panthers lit up the final quarter: #4 Frances Wright scored 4, Scott scored 4, Bell scored 6 and #22 Le’Niya ‘Strawberry’ Mason put up 6 points.
Mason was her teams’ most valuable player on the night, she put up a shared team-high 14 points and dominated under the boards. Her understanding of rebounding was even more impressive than her scoring prowess, the ball seemed to look for her after a miss.
Koontz put up a 6-point fourth quarter and even with the help of #21 Cassidy Pawson, who was Signal Mountains most effective ball handler on the night, the Lady Eagles couldn’t match the flood of points coming from the Panthers. Brainerd claimed the championship title 47-37.
“Our senior leaders are great,” Coach Jackson said, “They kept their composure and we played as a team, we stayed together as a family.”
SUMMARY:
BRAINERD 8 7 13 19 - 47
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN 8 11 10 8 - 37
BRAINERD (47) – Raijeria Bell 14, Le’Niya Mason 14, Scott 9, Wright 6, Ward 4, Belcher 1.
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN (37) – Olivia Koontz 20, Kennedy 4, Lowery 4, Pawson 4, McCarter 3.
3-POINT Goals: Brainerd 1 (Wright); Signal Mountain 1 (McCarter).
(Email William Shelton at wil.shelt21@gmail.com)