In their first matchup of the season, the Baylor School boys' basketball team came back and defeated Ensworth on the road after trailing through three quarters. This time around, the Tigers rewrote the script.
Baylor's Red Raiders again came from behind Tuesday night to grab the lead heading into the final period. However, James Wiseman and Imani Starling combined for 34 points for the game and the visiting Tigers pulled out a 62-52 Division II-AA East/Middle Region victory.
"We executed a little better and I thought we played a little stronger defensively," Ensworth coach Gregory Eubanks said. "They got a lot of easy shots there in that run in the second quarter and some in the third quarter, so I think our play was stronger defensively."
A seesaw third quarter had nine lead changes after Jaylon Baker's layup capped a 9-2 Baylor run that evened the score. The Tigers regained the lead with 30 seconds to play in the third, but Baylor's Beyaun Hendricks laid one in off the backboard as time expired in the quarter to give the hosts a 47-46 edge going into the fourth.
But a 10th lead change proved to be enough as Jaylon Clemmons' layup in the first minute of the final quarter gave the Tigers (15-8, 5-4) the lead and they proceeded to solidify it as Baylor scored only five fourth-quarter points.
"I thought we played well," Baylor coach Austin Clark said. "They did not miss many shots in the first half, but we weathered that storm and got right back in it. We had some open looks at the end, but we just could not get them to fall, and that is when the separation occurred."
The first quarter had the makings of a blowout as the visitors shot the lights out early. Wiseman scored the first eight points for the Tigers to help them double up Baylor 24-12 through one quarter.
The Red Raiders (9-8, 3-6) picked up their play, though, and their 11-0 run in the second shifted momentum. Baylor outscored Ensworth 35-23 during the second and third quarters.
Wiseman led his squad with 20 points and seven rebounds, while Starling added 14 points for the Tigers.
Patrick Urey led Baylor with 17 points, 11 coming in the second half. Hendricks scored 14.
* Ensworth 39, Baylor 27: A hot start for the visitors was too much to overcome for the Lady Red Raiders.
The Lady Tigers led by 20 near the end of the first half and went into the locker room with a 27-11 lead. The Lady Red Raiders, who were without Mya Long, held Ensworth to 12 second-half points and cut the deficit to 10 at one point, but Dontavia Waggoner's basket in transition sealed the victory for Ensworth.
Jordyn Cambridge led the Lady Tigers with 13 points, knocking down three 3-pointers. Tutoryia Willis led Baylor's scoring column with nine points.
Contact Anthony Sigismond at sports@timesfreepress.com.