In a fast-paced sport where making good decisions is important and at a position where it's absolutely essential, McCallie senior Parker Robison has displayed a high-level basketball IQ.
Robison's playmaking ability showed again as the Blue Tornado's aggressive point guard scored a game-high 21 points and added seven assists in a 70-52 victory over Signal Mountain on Thursday as the Times Free Press Best of Preps tournament tipped off at Chattanooga State.
Two years after beginning the season by winning 19 of its first 20 games, McCallie is once again off to a red-hot start at 11-1 overall as the Blue Tornado prepare to face Notre Dame (3-11) for the third time this season in a semifinal at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
"We have beat them twice, but it will be different this time with Cole (McCormick) back for them," McCallie coach Steve Robison said of the Fighting Irish star who had been sidelined by injury but made his senior season debut Thursday and helped Notre Dame to a 52-40 win against Brainerd.
"The Best of Preps is a lot of fun," Coach Robison added. "This environment is great for the kids. We played a great first half but were pretty lackluster in the second. Signal is a good team who has some talented guards and post players that battle."
Signal Mountain (9-6) went into Christmas break as the front-runner in TSSAA District 6-AAA at 4-0 in league play with wins over Soddy-Daisy, Red Bank, East Ridge and Central. Andrew Matucewicz, who recently reached the 1,000-point milestone for his prep career, had a team-high 14 points against McCallie, while Chris Kennedy scored 13 in the second half and Blake Wolfard added 11 in the defeat.
The Eagles, though, could not contain Parker Robison, who scored eight of the Blue Tornado's 24 first-quarter points and set up his teammates with great finds.
(READ MORE: Back from injury, Cole McCormick sparks Notre Dame boys to impressive Best of Preps win)
Bryce Kennebrew and Kaleb Gallman also helped McCallie catch fire early as each scored six points in the first quarter. Kenneth Chime shined for the victors with two dunks in the second quarter, one on a backboard assist from Will Kwasigroch.
"Parker has to be aggressive," Coach Robison said of his son. "He has figured out the plays we have and knows where the help is coming from. We have talked all along about just making the right decision. When you make the smart play based on what you see, it makes the game much easier."
Chattanooga Christian 68, East Hamilton 59: Chattanooga Christian School (7-4) started the game with a 10-0 run that was capped by Caiden Bauldwin's one-handed slam, and the 6-foot-5 junior had 18 points on nine field goals to lead a balanced scoring attack.
The Chargers totaled 40 points in the first half, with sophomore Reid Conley scoring 12 by intermission on his way to 17 in all. Dre Jackson added 14 points and Zach Wescher had 13 for the winners.
East Hamilton (2-12) was led by junior guard Peyton Harris, who made five 3-pointers and scored 13 of his game-high 19 points in the second half.
Tyner 56, Red Bank 53: Freshman point guard Kohl Ward scored a go-ahead layup with less than 30 seconds left to play to lift the Rams (7-1) to victory in a thrilling finish.
The Lions (11-3) were led by senior stars Anthony Bonner, who scored a game-high 25 points, and Kendrick Lloyd, who added 19.
Tyner junior guard Rodney Henderson produced a gym-shaking reaction from the crowd in the first half, when he stole a pass on one end of the court, headed to the other and went behind his back as he took off for a ferocious one-handed dunk. Henderson finished with a team-high 19 points and combined with Ward for 10 assists.
Red Bank led 19-9 early, but Tyner fought back to tie at 21. Henderson's two free throws helped create the final cushion, and the Lions' last-second 3-point heave went off the back right edge of the rim.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.