Staff Photo by Tim Barber/Chattanooga Times Free Press - February 23, 2015
Ensworth's Nick Rolfe (22) and Brycen Hopkins (32) surround McCallie's Mac Hunt (15) to fight for a rebound late in first half action of a Division II state tournament quarterfinal game at McCallie on Monday.After the first quarter Monday night, McCallie looked to be in complete control with a fast, swarming defense overwhelming Ensworth. By the time the buzzer sounded for the last time, though, the Blue Tornado had to swallow a tough 55-51 loss in the Division II-AA state basketball quarterfinals.
It was a bitter end to one of the most successful regular seasons in program history -- one in which McCallie was used to being on the right side of close games.
"We won every close game this season -- every close game," first-year Tornado coach John Shulman said. "We had buzzer beaters, made clutch free throws and all of that. You play with fire, you're going to get burnt, but what a way to start building a program.
"We won 24 games, won two tournaments and were ranked No. 1 in the state at one point. I'm proud of our guys."
The 24 victories are one shy of the most in school history.
McCallie led by 15 points after a physical first quarter that set the tone for the rest of the night, with the teams combining for 15 fouls. Ensworth's defense thrived on creating pressure, too, and started to claw its way back in the second quarter.
The margin went from 15 to nine by the 4:29 mark of the second quarter, and with 3:15 to play it was all the way down to five. The raucous Blue and White crowd had grown quiet, and Ensworth's Jordan Bone ended the half with a 3-point basket that made it 35-30.
"Their defense is just relentless," Shulman said. "That's why they've won four state championships. No matter how the game is going, they don't let you take a possession off."
The Tigers roared all the way back in the third quarter, and the final period was a brand-new game at 41-41.
The two heavyweights rocked each other but could not deliver the knockout blow. Desmond Cambridge, who scored 24 points, gave the Tigers their first lead since they hit the game's first basket, but McCallie got it right back and the teams proceeded to continue trading leads.
With the clock winding down, the Blue Tornado managed to hit only two of six free throws, while Cambridge hit four to ice the game.
"We've come a long way," Ensworth coach Ricky Bowers said. "A month ago we lose that game. Well, two and a half weeks ago we lost that game."
With its seniors fighting foul trouble, McCallie was led by Seth Clark's 10 points.
Contact Idris Garcia at sports@timesfreepress.com.