The winning boys’ coaches Tuesday in the Region 3-AA high school basketball tournament adhere to the belief that the outcome of any matchup involving District 6 rivals Brainerd, Howard, Red Bank and Tyner – two of which took place at East Ridge – will be determined in the final eight minutes of play.
“It’s been that way all year,” said Howard coach Walter McGary, whose Hustlin’ Tigers’ 32-point fourth quarter pushed them past Red Bank 79-54 in one semifinal. “Whoever wins the fourth quarter usually wins the ballgame.”
Tyner defeated Brainerd 52-49 in the first semifinal when the Panthers’ Darrius Higgins had his 3-point shot from the right wing in the waning seconds bound off the rim.
Howard (21-6) and Tyner (17-9) will play for the region title tonight at 7 at East Ridge. They’ve already secured berths in Monday’s state-sectional round.
Red Bank ended its season 24-8 and Brainerd wound up 18-14.