It was the way a league championship is supposed to be settled. For every action, there was a reaction. For every point, there was a counterpoint.
The top-seeded boys’ high school basketball teams in District 6-AA looked nothing short of two of the top teams in the state in Tuesday’s tournament final at East Ridge. Ultimately Tyner slipped past Howard 62-58 in a game that after the first quarter was never more than a one-possession game until Travis Jones’ free throw with 20.4 seconds remaining provided the final score.
“I thought both teams battled,” Tyner coach Gerald Harris said. “I told the guys that if we could rebound with them and be smart with the ball, we would have some success. I thought both teams played very hard and very smart. We are probably two of the best teams in the state, but we’ll see. You never know.”
Second-seeded Brainerd beat top-seeded Red Bank 57-44 in the girls’ final.
The District 5-AA boys’ consolation winner will play at Howard (23-3) and the loser will play at Tyner (20-6) in the first round of the Region 3 tournament Saturday. Red Bank (23-8) will play at the District 5 runner-up and Brainerd (19-11) will play at the champion.