Brainerd’s Jailen Wofford (34) takes control of the ball from Tyner’s Kevin Cameron (3) in first half action of 60-56 win by the Panthers over the Rams in the boys’ semifinal game at Chattanooga State. Brainerd coach Levar R. Brown, right, approves of the battle as Keyshun Bradley (5) waits to assist.Come March, Thursday night’s 60-56 win over Tyner won’t mean a lot, but for Brainerd coach Levar Brown and star point guard Kentrell Evans, it was proof the Panthers’ game plan is working.
It’s a plan meant not just for the basketball court, and following the thrilling semifinal win in the Best of Preps tournament, both coach and player praised the same aspect of the team.
“We talk about character all the time,” said Evans, who led the winners with 18 points. “What you do off the court translates into what you do on it. We want to stay as brothers and represent the Brainerd brand of basketball. All that led to the last four minutes, the extra passes and all that, and was the difference in the game.”
Brainerd (10-2) will face McCallie in tonight’s championship game, Tyner (8-1) will go against Meigs County in the third-place game.
A Dembo Sow 3-pointer with just less than four minutes left capped a 6-0 Panthers run that put them up 51-45. The lead grew to seven on an Evans three-point play with three minutes remaining before Tyner went on an 8-0 run to take a 56-55 lead on Kevin Cameron’s layup with 1:07 left.