Tyner could be considered one of the favorites to win the boys’ side of the 12th Times Free Press Best of Preps basketball tournament. So, too, could Baylor.
However, one is guaranteed not to be playing in a semifinal. That’s because the Rams and the Red Raiders are scheduled to face each other this afternoon at 4 in the first boys’ game of the tournament at Chattanooga State.
Brainerd is scheduled to play Soddy-Daisy afterward, followed by Meigs County against Arts & Sciences. Central takes on McCallie in the day’s final game slated for 8:30.
Baylor boys’ coach Austin Clark, shown directing the Red Raiders in last year’s Times Free Press Best of Preps basketball tournament, will direct his team against Tyner today at 4 p.m.To illustrate the potential competitiveness of the boys’ opening game, first consider that Tyner is 7-0, 4-0 in District 6-AA. The Rams have a highly anticipated showdown Jan. 17 at Brainerd, which is 3-0 in the district.
Division II-AA Baylor’s season began with a 58-55 loss at East Hamilton (7-1, 2-0 District 5-AAA), but the Red Raiders since have won three straight. The first of those was against Brainerd – 70-69 in overtime at Brainerd on Dec. 6.