The Tyner Rams did two things Monday night on their quest to a Class AA state tournament berth: They celebrated the end of an era, playing one final game on a gym floor that Ram basketball teams have occupied for the past 50 years in frantic, but grand style, holding off Austin-East, 65-58 in the AA Sectional.
And in doing so, they stamped their position in program folklore, making sure the final Tyner team to set foot on the old hardwood will always be remembered as the winningest squad to wear the maroon and gold, tying the school record of 28 wins set in 1994.
The Rams will now take a program best 17-game win streak into next Wednesday's AA state tournament game against Memphis Business in a 6:30 EST tip at MTSU's Murphy Center in hopes of solidifying the record all to themselves.
"It obviously meant a lot being the final game here with all that was on the line. The football team won its last game on the field before they tore it down three years ago to build the new school on the site, and that team won a state title. That's the kind of ending we are looking for," said all-state guard Rodney Henderson, whose layup at the buzzer will go down as the final bucket in the old gym.
Henderson, who helped lead Tyner to a state berth as a freshman in 2022, is the pillar in what is now the best four-year stretch in Ram basketball history, last night's win giving him 96 for his four-year career. And on a night when the two greatest players to suit up for Tyner (Gerald Harris and Geoff Herman) were inducted into Chattanooga's Sports Hall of Fame across town, Henderson added 18 more points to a total that is already tops in program history.
"I'm a Brainerd guy. I played there and coached there, but I grew up watching this program with Coach (Gerald) Harris and Coach (Jimmy) Dillard leading it. Tyner has adopted me, and it is very special to me. I think I wear the Tyner colors pretty well. Tonight was special for a lot of people, and I'm glad we get to tell this story," said coach E'Jay Ward, who will direct his third Tyner squad into a state tournament.
With eight straight 20-plus win seasons to start his coaching career since getting the Tyner job, Ward has established Tyner had the dominate boys' program in the area with 181 wins in that stretch, 20 more than any other boys' program. And with a sixth straight sectional battle and seventh total under his direction in those eight years, the Rams were ready to go from the onset last night. Especially with losses at this stage in each of the last two seasons.
"We always say, no struggle, no story. Tonight would not be possible without the struggle of losing the last two years in the sectional. You are what you emphasize, and we have emphasized defense all year long. I thought our start on defense took a lot out of Austin-East, and ultimately, it took a lot out of us because we were fatigued late, but we had dudes step up when it mattered," Ward said.
Tyner (28-6) took an 18-2 lead at the start, forcing three Austin-East airballs, blocking six of the Roadrunners first nine shots and forcing eight first quarter turnovers. Sophomore Gary Beeson had four of those blocks in the paint and was a force all night long.
"I couldn't wait to get to play for this program. I have followed it since I was a kid, and being able to be part of something like this is amazing. It means so much. We've been a defensive team all year long, and we wanted to impart our will on that end of the court from the tip," said Beeson, after the Rams blocked 12 Austin-East shots on the night.
Tyner held Austin-East to just five makes in the first half and 23 misses, and the Rams thrived in the run game. A pair of Adarius Brewster layups and then three straight dunks, two by Henderson and a monster one from Zion Pinkerton le a 17-2 run at the end of the half to make it 38-14 at intermission.
"I thought we got a little lackadaisical with the big lead, and it cost us. Credit to Austin-East for the fight in the fourth quarter, but we weren't going to be denied. I've been dreaming of going to the state since I got here last year," said Brewster, a defensive whiz who transferred from East Hamilton before last season, and has been the heart-and-soul this year.
The Rams slowed it down in the second half from the frenzied pace, and got a little out of rhythm, yet still led 48-28 heading into the final period. The Roadrunners used an all-out press to force nine fourth quarter turnovers, and after a 24-10 brought them to within 59-52 with 1:38 left.
But it was Brewster thrice dishing for assists to Kalvontay Moore, the biggest of which led to a layup with 1:09 remaining which sealed the deal. Moore and Pinkerton each hit massive 3s and Moore answered the bell with six of his seven total points in a four minute stretch.
"I never felt any pressure. It was all about hitting the open shot when I got it. We've got a lot of weapons on this team to get things done," said Moore.
Henderson led the winners with 18 points and Brewster added 16 while Pinkerton had 11, but unsung heroes like Beeson and point guard Kohl Ward made their marks on the game.
"Those two guys got after folks. Kohl does things that never show up in the stats, but he guards guys for 94 feet every time down the court. Beeson is just a sophomore, but his presence inside has been big for us down the stretch run. I really like our guards going to Murfreesboro, and we will keep emphasizing that defense," Ward added.
The Rams made 26 of 59 shots while Austin-East used a 30-point fourth quarter to do what hardly anyone had done against the Rams this year. The 16 second half goals by the Roadrunner were more than any team has scored in a game since postseason play began.
"Give Austin-East credit. We knew they would fight. I wish we had closed it out a little better, but we did what we had to do. We will learn from it," Ward added.
THE RAMS will be joined at the AA state tourney by Alcoa, Loretto, Liberty Creek, Hickman County, Jackson County, Jackson Central-Merry and Memphis Business.
SECTIONAL SUMMARY
AUSTIN-EAST 8 6 14 30 -- 58
TYNER 21 17 10 17 -- 65
AUSTIN-EAST (58) -- Justin Pruitt 16, Curry 2, Lamone Winton 14, Jones, Stewart, Fenderson 2, Juwaan Troutman 11, Turner 6, Johnson 5, Hundley, Weaver 2.
TYNER (65) -- Thompson, Rodney Henderson 18, Zion Pinkerton 11, Howard, Adarius Brewster 16, Felder, Moore 7, Beeson 8, Harper, Ward 5.
3-point goals: Austin-East 4 (Winton, Troutman, Turner, Johnson); Tyner 3 (Pinkerton 2, Moore).
Records: Austin-East (17-18),Tyner (28-6).
(Contact James Beach at 1134james@gmail.com)