In a battle of state-ranked AA teams and with the season on the line, third-ranked Tyner rallied past No. 4 Tellico Plains, 46-43, in Tuesday night’s Region 2-2A semifinals to move into Thursday night’s championship game. Kingston got past Chattanooga Arts & Sciences, 66-48, in the other semifinal and the sixth-ranked Yellowjackets will host the Rams in a 7 p.m. tip for the right to host a state sectional at stake.
It marks the sixth consecutive region final for Tyner (26-6) and the Rams will be shooting for their first region title since the 2021 season having lost the last three finales. And while Tyner has grown accustomed to the title tilt, Kingston ends an 11-year finals drought for District 3-2A. McMinn Central won the title in 2013, but it has been an all-District 4-2A finale every year since then.
And with three state ranked teams in the region and only two spots available to keep the dreams of a state title alive, Tellico Plains was the odd man out by the slimmest of margins in a game that came down to the end. Tyner fell behind early, but used a 7-0 run to start the second half to get its first lead (29-28) since 2-0 and it was nip-and-tuck to the final horn. Tyner, which had missed seven straight free throws between the second and third periods, made all six charity tosses in the final period and held the Bears to 15 second half points.
Zion Pinkerton had four big points down the stretch while Adarius Brewster and De’Marquese Howard each hit a pair of free throws to give the Rams the 46-43 lead with 13.4 seconds left, and the tying 3-pointer was missed. All-state guard Rodney Henderson led Tyner with 12 in the defensive battle, while Pinkerton added 11 and Brewster 10. Tellico (25-4) ended its season one possession short and was led by Rylan Woods’ 18 and Chadwick Davis with 10.
Aaron Layne led Kingston (27-3) with a game-high 20 points while Aiden O’Leary added 18.
In the 3-4A region, Walker Valley and Bradley Central both advanced with semifinal wins and will meet in Thursday’s title game at Walker Valley. The Mustangs (29-3) used a 20-0 start and scored 80 or more points for the seventh consecutive game to hand East Hamilton an 80-54 whipping and the Bears (22-8) knocked off McMinn County, 87-83, to earn their ticket.
Zach Davis powered Walker Valley with his 24 points and Ramireon Taylor led Bradley with 32 in their win.
In the Region 3-3A event, Heritage ended Red Bank’s season with a 64-46 victory and East Ridge’s season came to a close with a tough 50-46 loss to Lenior City. In Region 3-1A, defending state champ Chattanooga prep handled South Pittsburg, 69-51, while Van Buren edged CSLA, 43-37. The two winners will meet for the crown Thursday at 7 p.m. at Polk County.