Tyner's signature press defense brought the fight to Loudon on Saturday night, and the Rams' hot shooting finished it.
Overall the Rams turned in one of their best performances of the season to down the visiting Redskins 76-47 in the quarterfinals of the Region 3-AA boys' tournament.
Tyner's Solomon Bridgeman led all scorers with 19 points inside the paint. Teammates Javon Craddock and Michael Little each scored 14 points, and each hit four 3-pointers. J.D. Thaxton and Mason Small were the only Loudon players in double digits with 16 and 12 points, respectively.
"Today was a complete game for us," first-year Rams coach E'Jay Ward said. "We've had so many close games this year because we haven't been able to play up to our potential, but today we put it all together with a little more sense of urgency."
The Rams drained 11 3-pointers, starting with a Kameron Dozier triple late in the first quarter that gave them a lead they never gave up.
In the second quarter Tyner's jump shots started falling from all over, forcing Loudon to break through the Rams' press nearly every time up the floor. The Redskins found some success in weaving through the pressure, but more often than not, the Rams' defense created easy shots for themselves on the other end with turnovers.
"That's what we want our identity to be," Ward said about his press defense. "It doesn't always work in our favor, but today everybody had great energy to make us look good."
Loudon's 16-point halftime deficit grew to over 20 points after back-to-back 3-pointers from Tyner guard Michael Little early in the third quarter. The District 6-AA runner-up's lead swelled to 25 by the end of the third quarter, and the Rams' reserves held their ground in the final frame.
In Tuesday's semifinals, the Rams will visit a Red Bank team that knocked off District 5 top seed McMinn Central. Red Bank will host, and tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Contact John Mitchell at sports@timesfreepress.com.