Little by little, Brainerd continued to build a first-half lead in Friday's District 6-AA boys' high school basketball game at Howard. Then in the second half, the Panthers seemed to add to it a lot by a lot.
The Panthers ended up winning their district opener 71-38, turning a 16-point lead midway through the third quarter into a 64-32 lead with a 19-3 run.
Brainerd (2-0) scored the first seven points, but the Hustlin' Tigers were within three points at the end of the first quarter. The Panthers then slowly began building their advantage and got it to 34-20 by halftime.
Brainerd coach Levar Brown said once his team started improving on the boards, that's when the lead started to grow.
"We have to do the job rebounding," Brown said. "We told the kids earlier, 'It's something you've actually got to want to do. You've got to want to box out. You've got to want to rebound.' We explained that to them at halftime and after the game."
Inside player Jessie Walker was one of two Panthers to score 18 points. Ten of his points came in their 23-point third quarter, which he exited at the 1:33 mark and did not return.
"Our backcourt is very young," Brown said, noting that Michael Hampton was the only returning guard with varsity experience. "I was pleased with what they did, but we have to be smarter offensively. We've got to be more patient.
"We've got a three-time all-state player inside we need to get the ball to. We did a better job of that in the second half, especially the third quarter. But it's on him, too. He has to demand the ball."
Hampton got his points by making four of Brainerd's five 3-point goals. Malik Hymon, who came off the bench, was the other Panther with 18.
Brainerd played all substitutes in the fourth quarter and limited Howard to one field goal and six points in the period.
"I think they maintained the level of execution," Brown said of his reserves. "I just think we've got to do the little things better: Boxing out; diving for loose balls; the small things."
The Tigers' leading scorer was a reserve, Demetrius Bowens, whose points came on the three 3-point shots he made in the second half.
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him on Twitter @KelleySmiddie.