Less than one day after a disappointing loss in the semifinals of the annual Times Free Press Best of Preps tournament at Chattanooga State, Brainerd's young basketball team showed plenty of maturity in an impressive 53-46 win over stubborn Van Buren County in Saturday's third-place game in the boys' bracket.
The Panthers (11-3), with eight sophomores, jumped out to an early lead and used an up-tempo style to wear on the Eagles (12-4), who didn't have as much depth.
"After watching them the first two nights, we knew they would have a little bit of tired legs," Panthers coach Levar Brown said. "We really wanted to wear on Caden (Mills) because he's the guy you have to slow down for them. He's tough."
Mills is a Class A Mr. Basketball finalist last season who has signed with Tennessee Tech and scored 41 points Thursday in Van Buren's tournament opener. He finished with 22 against the Panthers.
Brainerd extended its one-point lead with a 6-0 run late in the fourth quarter to pull away. Senior post Jessie Walker led the Panthers with 16 points, while Joseph Norwood finished with 12 and Michael Hampton added 11, including three 3-pointers. Walker and Norwood played much of the fourth quarter with four fouls.
"The games we've lost or struggled in, Jessie has been in foul trouble," Brown said. "Keeping him and Norwood on the floor down the stretch was really big for us."
-Rhea County girls 60, Heritage 45: The Lady Eagles jumped out to an eight-point first-quarter lead and maintained an advantage on the scoreboard throughout to win the third-place game.
Mallory Hampton topped the list of three double-digit scorers for Rhea (15-3) with 18 points, with Haley Cameron adding 13 and Micah Black 12.
"The experience we gained at this tournament will hopefully help us when the postseason rolls around," said Rhea County coach Darvin Gill, whose team bounced back from a one-point loss to Baylor in Friday's semifinals. "A setting like this, playing three games in three days, teaches your kids how to play with tired legs, and it's set up a lot like the district, region or even a state tournament, so it's great experience.
"Our jump shots looked like we were tired, but our transition game was a key. Their zone kept it close for a while, but I liked our effort and energy and the way we responded."
Heritage (8-6) was led by Emily Wiley and Ansley Bice, each finishing with 11 points.
-Ooltewah boys 68, Tyner 66: With the fifth-place game tied in the final minute, the Owls used a 6-0 run to take control and win. Tyner connected on a pair of 3-pointers in the final seconds to make the final margin closer.
Ooltewah (6-7) led by nine points in the first half, but Tyner (6-4) rallied with a strong third quarter. Senior guard Cametre Chambers and sophomore Kobe Smith each finished with 21 points to lead the Owls, while Logan Henry added 16, including three 3-pointers.
Tyner was led by Jeremy Elston's 25 points, and Javon Craddock had 12, all on 3-pointers.
-Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe girls 39, Notre Dame 29: The Lady Warriors steadily pulled away to earn fifth place, led by Macey Gregg's 17 points, including two 3-pointers.
LFO evened its record at 7-7, while Notre Dame fell to 13-7.
-Heritage boys 55, Notre Dame 52: The Fighting Irish used a 22-12 third-quarter run to build a seven-point lead going into the final period, but Heritage rallied late to win seventh place.
The Generals (7-7) got fourth-quarter points from five players, including 10 from Will Allen, while outscoring Notre Dame 25-15 to end the game. Adam Thacker led a balanced offense with 14 points, while Allen finished with 13 and Luke Grant 12.
Notre Dame (10-10) was led by Derwin Lewis's 15 and Tarik Nelson's 13.
-Van Buren 57, GPS 52: The Bruisers led by one going into the final quarter, but Van Buren's Mallory Christian scored 11 points in the fourth - she made all six of her free throws - to rally her team in the seventh-place game.
The senior finished with a game-high 35 points as the only scorer in double figures for Van Buren (5-11).
Brooke McCurdy's 26 points paced GPS (6-6).
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.