CHARLESTON, Tenn. — Senior guard Ramireon Taylor held on to his tournament MVP plaque with pride Thursday night after helping guide the Bradley Central boys’ basketball program to its first region championship since 2013.
The individual honor for the TSSAA Region 3-4A tournament came after the Bears’ hard-earned 57-48 win over host Walker Valley, and Taylor was important to their success in the title game after doing plenty to help them get there.
After scoring 32 points in a shootout win over McMinn County in Tuesday’s semifinals, Taylor’s free throws with 7:28 left to play in the fourth quarter gave the Bears (23-8) the lead for good as part of a 9-0 run that built a 44-37 lead with six minutes remaining.
Taylor scored 14 points Thursday, and his sticky defense on the perimeter also paid major dividends as the Mustangs (29-4), who had averaged more than 76 points per game this season entering the region final, were held to a season low in points while shooting just 5-for-27 from 3-point range.
The Bears have won 11 consecutive games since a 10-point loss to reigning Class 1A state champion Chattanooga Prep on Jan. 21, and Taylor doesn’t want to stop now.