Identifying what position Tiara Boston plays is about as difficult as trying to guard her. One game she could be a wing center. The next she might be a point forward. Is there such thing as a power guard?
Brainerd’s Carolyn Jackson has earned more than 800 coaching victories. She said Boston is the fourth player she’s had in that time to have such exceptional versatility. The others were Regina Parks, who was on the 1984 Class AAA state-championship team, and Candace Benford and Chantel Yates from the late 1990s.
“She’s an all-round player,” Jackson said. “She can play any position, 1 through 5.”
The 5-foot-8 Boston was averaging 19.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, three assists and two steals per game heading into Thursday’s game against Ooltewah. With Boston totaling 24 points, Brainerd beat the Lady Owls 46-26 and improved to 14-3.
“Last year as a freshman I was just a shooter,” Boston said. “That’s what everybody knew me as. This year I’ve started posting up, because that’s what the team needs from me.”
Jackson said she moved Boston from the perimeter to forward after injuries to senior Tyresha King and sophomore Erica Davenport. King tore an ACL in her knee in the fourth game and is out the rest of the season, and Davenport has been out the last couple of weeks with a strained knee. She’s hopeful of returning by tournament time.
Last Saturday, Brainerd hosted Cedar Grove, Ga., and was trailing in the waning seconds. Boston received a pass inside, then made a spin move to the middle of the lane to get away from defenders. That drew defenders from elsewhere and she dumped a pass down low to Chanel Rogers, who made the basket and was fouled. Brainerd won 49-48.
“She can usually find that open spot,” Jackson said of Boston. “She sees the floor real well.”
So well that against Hixson on Jan. 29, Jackson put Boston at point guard and she responded with six assists. The coach said she wanted to test her in case they need her to play there at some point in the future.
The Lady Panthers are hoping this year’s future includes a lengthy stay in the playoffs. They split regular-season games with Red Bank, which will be top-seeded in the District 6-AA tournament. Brainerd is on pace to get the No. 2 seeding.
Boston said the defense the Lady Panthers played when they beat Red Bank is the type they need to have a successful postseason run. Although this season they didn’t play any of the District 5 powers — teams they could face in the Region 3 tournament — she thinks they’ll be better equipped than when they faced them last season.
“I think we can make it to the state tournament,” Boston said. “Two seniors graduated last year, so we’ve got most all of our team back. We know what we’re going against.”
Conversely, Brainerd’s opponents know less about what they’re going against. That’s because of an extraordinary utility player who’s proven to be remarkably consistent.
“If I’m not mistaken, she’s been our leading scorer every game except for one,” Jackson said. “The last several ballgames she’s really been a force inside. She can take you off the dribble, or she can take you outside. When we played her at the 2 she saw a lot of box-and-one. Playing the 3 and 4, they triple-team her and she’s still scoring.”