The lingering question over whether Central's players would have any spring left in their legs after playing three games in four days was answered moments after Monday night's Region 3-AA championship game.
Just after shaking hands with Brainerd's players and coaches, Central's 6-foot-4 senior Tre Tiller, who had thrown down four monstrous dunks during the game to help his team claim a nine-point win, completed a back flip to celebrate the Purple Pounders' first region basketball championship in 55 years.
"I just felt like doing something special," said Tiller, who led the way with 22 points and couldn't contain an ear-to-ear grin. "I haven't done one of those since fifth grade, but me being a senior and us achieving so much, I just had to do something to celebrate how I was feeling."
All of Central's supporters should be feeling downright giddy as the team prepares to host Livingston Academy in a state sectional tonight at Chattanooga State. Should the Purple Pounders (21-4) wrap up their 12th straight win -- despite it being their fourth game in a five-day stretch -- they would finally earn a week's rest before beginning play at the state tournament in Murfreesboro.
"We've got to get home and get to bed right away," said worried Central coach Rick Rogers. "We've got six juniors who have to take the ACT tomorrow, so that'll be mentally draining, and then we play an awfully good team that we haven't gotten to scout at all. I literally don't know anything about them, but they were here to watch us tonight, so besides being more rested they also have that as an advantage."
The delayed semifinals of the Region 3-AA tournament were held at Loudon. Because of the added travel, last week's snow and the threat of more bad weather caused that tournament to be pushed back more than others in the area. That has now caused both Central and Brainerd, which travels to Cannon County tonight, to be at a disadvantage.
Both local schools petitioned the TSSAA to move their sectional games back one day to allow their players a day to rest before tipping off the biggest game of their season. Those requests were denied.
"It makes no sense not to move those games back even just one day," said an aggravated Rogers. "The boys' (state) tournament isn't for another week, so why would it matter? It really leaves us and Brainerd with a huge hill to climb.
"We'll just show up, turn our guys loose and hope for the best."
Central led throughout the game and tried to slow the pace early in the second half to conserve energy. But Brainerd wouldn't allow that, and the game quickly resorted back to the up-and-down track meet it had been.
Despite the Panthers closing within five points in the fourth quarter, the last of Tiller's dunks put Central back in control and on its way to the third win in five meetings this season.
And if his teammates and Brainerd's players can match Tiller's postgame energy, there might be a sixth matchup between Chattanooga's top teams on the horizon. Of course that would be in the final of next week's state tournament.
"We'll be all right come game time," Tiller said, assuring that his coach's concern wasn't necessary. "We're young and excited and we'll be ready to go.
"When (Livingston Academy) gets on the court with us, they'll get the same type work from us that Brainerd just got."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.