Zane Restelli attacked with purpose and intensity, and the Baylor sophomore closed with authority in the Red Raiders’ 57-49 victory over Tyner in a Best of Preps tournament semifinal Thursday at Chattanooga State.
The 6-foot-4 guard used spin moves, crossovers and high ball screens to drive into the paint. Restelli scored 20 of his game-high 27 points in the second half, including 12 straight in the fourth quarter, and he did his damage without making a 3-pointer as coach Mark Price’s team advanced to Friday’s 8:30 p.m. title game against rival McCallie.
“The high screen is our thing to get our offense going,” Restelli said. “My teammates trust me to go out there and hoop and make plays off the dribble. We are motivated to win this tournament and keep Coach Price undefeated in the Best of Preps. He has won the other two he’s been in, and we’re trying to help him win a third and go 9-0.”
The Red Raiders won the Best of Preps title in their two most recent appearances in 2018 and 2019 and will now try to take down the Blue Tornado, who are aiming to repeat as tournament champions.
Baylor (4-4) jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first quarter against Tyner as 6-foot-6 junior forward Jack Shutters used his size advantage down low. Shutters scored 10 points to help build a 27-20 halftime lead.