Many boys’ games were difficult to explain in topsy-turvy District 6-AA this high school basketball regular season, so why should the district tournament be any different? Friday night at Brainerd, it wasn’t.
In the matchup between the closest-seeded teams in the quarterfinals, fourth-seeded Brainerd was dominant from the start in its 64-38 victory over fifth-seeded Central.
Brainerd (20-9) will host all the remaining games in the tournament. The Panthers, who have now earned a region berth in all 36 seasons coach Robert High has been in charge, will take on Tyner at 8:30 p.m., after Howard plays East Ridge at 7.
Action begins with girls’ semifinals. Red Bank faces Tyner at 4 and Central takes on East Hamilton at 5:30.
Brainerd led from the opening half-minute when Jabari Greer’s 3-point goal from the left wing started a 9-2 run. With the Panthers leading by nine points at the end of one quarter, the Purple Pounders’ Dakota Smith made two free throws before Brainerd hit them with a run of 10 straight points to make it 32-15.