Staff photo by Troy Stolt / Howard's Demetrius Bowen drives to the basket during the Region 3-AA championship game against Tyner on Thursday night at East Ridge High School. Howard won 66-58 after losing three games in a row to the Rams this season.Kerrick Thorne didn't wait to be told he had to be better. He already knew.
After a disappointing performance in Howard's Region 3-AA basketball semifinal win Tuesday, when he fouled out after scoring just three points, Thorne took the initiative by texting Hustlin' Tigers coach James Talley just six words on the ride home: "I'll be ready to go, coach."
Howard's 6-foot-6 junior post followed through on that vow Thursday night with an inspired performance that helped lead his team to a 66-58 upset of Tyner for the program's first region championship in seven seasons.
"I was really worried whether I was even going to get to start in this game after the way I played in the semifinals," said Thorne, who finished with 19 points and nine rebounds. "I was on a mission. I wanted to take over the game because I knew they couldn't stop me if I came out and played the way I can."
The Hustlin' Tigers (24-7) will host the runner-up from Region 4 in a state sectional Monday, when Tyner (24-4) must travel to that region's champion. The Region 4 title game, between York Institute (23-8) and third-ranked Upperman (29-2), will be played Friday night.
Tyner had beaten Howard in their first three meetings this season, each time by single digits. Even before Rams senior Kobe Smith - the team's leading scorer this season - left Thursday's game with a bruised back after a hard fall on a rebound attempt, Howard had begun to control the post, scoring its first 14 baskets in the paint.
That included Thorne's dunk over Smith that brought the overflow crowd to its feet. Once Smith was forced to sit out, Thorne took over, scoring 10 points in the second quarter alone.
"I know they missed Smith, but Thorne was taking it to them even when he was out there," Talley said. "The difference tonight from the first three games is we didn't make as many mistakes and we rebounded better.
"Once we got some momentum in the second half, we knew it was time to turn up the tempo."
Kerrick Thorne puts an exclamation on Howard’s 66-58 win over Tyner for the Region 3-AA championship. Howard’s first win in four meetings with the Rams this season #bestofpreps pic.twitter.com/IvtMZVREKZ
— Stephen Hargis (@StephenHargis) March 6, 2020
After a first half with 12 lead changes, the Hustlin' Tigers opened the third quarter with a 7-0 run and maintained their advantage the rest of the way, pulling out to as much as a 14-point lead, despite making just nine of 21 free throws.
Smith returned in the fourth and scored all 14 of his points, including four 3-pointers, in the final six minutes to help Tyner get within five before Howard answered with five points in 20 seconds to extend the lead back to double digits.
"We just wanted it more," said Meechie Bowens, who added 12 points, including a pair of 3-pointers in the fourth to help Howard maintain control late. "The biggest thing is we get to play at home now with a chance to get back to the state tournament."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.