Two perennial Chattanooga high school basketball powers will meet in Friday's semifinal round of the Times Free Press Best of Preps tournament at Chattanooga State, though each has had an atypical start to the season.
McCallie and Brainerd - with a combined 13 losses coming in - are set to play at 7 p.m. Friday after impressive wins in Thursday's opening round. McCallie's Blue Tornado started strong and never looked back in a 70-41 win over Stewarts Creek, while the Panthers had to rally from an early hole to get past Ooltewah, 61-53.
Brainerd (5-5) trailed 18-12 after one quarter but soon got in a groove after switching to a zone defense and putting the ball in the hands of point guard Kelvin Halfacre Jr. He responded with eight of his game-high 16 points in the second quarter as the Panthers went on a 16-2 run to take a 30-28 lead into halftime.
"As a returning all-state point guard, he has to take over at times," Brainerd coach Levar Brown said. "He has to be a leader, and he knows we are only to go as far as he can take us. He has to embrace that and understand that, and he's starting to do that."
The Owls (6-7) stayed close, using a three-point play from Chayel Williams and a layup at the third-quarter buzzer from Chris Styler to close within five. Brainerd, however, opened the final quarter with an 8-0 run - the final five points from Cameron Evans - to secure control of the game.
* McCallie 70, Stewarts Creek 41
The Blue Tornado (5-8) rolled into the semifinals with four double-figure scorers. Joryan Saizonov led the way with 17 points, 13 coming in the second half, followed by veteran Eric Rivers with 13 and Spencer Turner and Trey Hamilton with 10 each.
McCallie established its inside game early as John Hardy scored six first-period points, then two-sport star Rivers took over in the second with eight points.
"Early on, John Hardy and Spencer Turner did a great job of making themselves available inside," McCallie coach David Conrady said. "They are also willing passers, so it's great to be able to play through them. Also, our perimeter guys did a great job of getting the ball to them. That got us off to a good start offensively, and that always helps your defense.
"In the second half Joryan Saizonov and Eric were able to get some things in transitions. I was really pleased with how we played offensively, but I was even more pleased with how we stuck with it defensively."
Bryce Jackson topped Stewarts Creek (6-6) with 16 points.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.