The East Ridge Pioneers came out in the second half of their District 6-AA basketball tournament semifinal Saturday pumped, as through they had just been motivated by one of the nation’s most inspirational coaches. Or the next-best thing.
Whatever lit the spark, the Pioneers looked like a different team in turning around a seven-point halftime deficit into a three-point lead at the end of three quarters on the way to a 57-49 victory over Howard at Brainerd.
No. 1-seeded Tyner played Brainerd in the late boys’ semifinal.
On the girls’ side, third-seeded Red Bank won 33-31 over Tyner, which had beaten the Lady Lions by 20 points eight days earlier. Top-seeded East Hamilton, which had defeated Central by 19 points in December and more recently by 41, found itself with a three-point lead late in the third quarter before finally disposing of the Lady Purple Pounders 54-44.
The tournament resumes Monday night with girls’ and boys’ consolation games at 6 and 7:30. Finals are Tuesday at the same times.