WOODBURY, Tenn. -- Playing their fifth game in six days, the Brainerd High School basketball Panthers somehow found the energy to come up with a big run in the second half Tuesday night and pull away from Cannon County.
The Panthers used that 14-5 spurt to help win 57-45 in the Class AA state sectional game and extend their season to Murfreesboro next week.
Brainerd (22-7) had to play the Region 3 championship game Monday night due to weather delays, losing to Chattanooga Central, setting up the sectional game on the road against the Lions. The entire tournament had to be pushed back because of the weather conditions in Chattanooga last week.
"My kids worked so hard," said Brainerd coach Levar Brown. "We had to fight a lot of adversity. I just can't be more proud of my kids."
The Panthers held a 33-32 lead when they went on the 14-5 run. That increased the lead to 46-37, and the hosts couldn't get any closer the rest of the game.
Marques Tipton keyed the run for Brainerd and scored all nine of his points in the second half.
During that stretch the Lions missed open shots and couldn't connect from behind the 3-point arc. Cannon County was 0-for-7 from 3-point range in the second half, 6-of-23 overall from the field, and committed 11 turnovers.
"We did get our share of looks," said Cannon County coach Matthew Rigsby. "I don't know what the percentage is, so I wouldn't necessarily say it was a poor shooting night, but versus a great team like that, we've got to take advantage of those looks. If the shots aren't falling, you have to pick it up in other areas, and turning the ball over, it gives them added opportunities."
The Panthers had the first run, taking a 23-14 lead by scoring the first 10 points of the second quarter.
The Lions came back to tie it at 25 behind the shooting of Garrett McReynolds and A.J. Daniel. Both had 3-pointers in the first half. Daniel scored 13 first-half points to lead the Lions.
The score remained close throughout the third quarter, until Brainerd went on its final run.
Kentrell Evans led the Panthers with 17 points, and Malik Beavers and Da'V Moore added 12 and 11 in the rematch of a Hall of Fame Classic game, both teams' season opener. Brainerd defeated Cannon County 70-58 on Nov. 11.
"We know Cannon was going to shoot the ball really well," Brown said. "They play hard. Their coach is a great guy. I know they're not done."
Brainerd's win snapped a 16-game winning streak by Cannon County (28-6). The Lions hadn't lost since Dec. 31, to Webster County, Ky., in a tournament in Panama City Beach, Fla.
Cannon County was attempting to get to the state tournament for the first time since 1985.