Staff photo by Robin Rudd / Boyd-Buchanan's Ryan Lopez brings the basketball downcourt as a Christ Presbyterian Academy player defends during a TSSAA Division II-A state quarterfinal on Saturday night at Boyd-Buchanan. The host Buccaneers lost 72-52.With Christ Presbyterian Academy and host Boyd Buchanan tied at 35 with a little less than six minutes left in the third quarter Saturday night, senior guard Braden Zapp took command of the game for the visitors.
The Trevecca Nazarene basketball signee buried a 3-pointer from the right corner, the first of his 13 points in the quarter, and he impressed with quickness and jump steps to get to the hoop as he led the Lions to a pullaway 72-52 win in the TSSAA Division II-A state quarterfinals.
Zapp finished with a game-high 24 points and was one of four players in double figures for CPA, which leads the state in scoring at 82 points per game.
Boyd Buchanan's Ace Bailey, a 6-foot-6 freshman standout, made several big shots in the season-ending loss for the Buccaneers (18-9) who won both a district title and a region championship for the first time since 2014. Bailey showed off a solid mid-range and outside jump shot on his way to 20 points despite playing with a chipped foot bone.
Sophomore Caden Johnson finished with 10 points and four assists for the Bucs, and Ryan Lopez was sharp in the first half as he scored seven points. Boyd Buchanan trailed 32-31 at the break as Karson Gay grabbed one of his four offensive rebounds for a putback basket late in the second quarter to get his team close.
"Our kids had a great tournament run," Boyd Buchanan coach Josh Templeton said. "They represented themselves and their family really well. They are unselfish and hard workers. I am just thankful to be their coach. I really love this team. We are bringing a lot of talent back, but we are really going to miss our three seniors, who gave us everything they had."
CPA (28-4) advances to the state tournament. The Nashville program will face Tipton-Rosemark on Thursday in the second semifinal at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, with Goodpasture and Evangelical Christian School meeting in the first semifinal.
Division II-AA state quarterfinals
Knoxville Catholic 45, McCallie 36: While leading after the first quarter, the Blue Tornado could not take down the reigning state champions.
Brentwood Academy 55, Baylor 40: The Red Raiders were outscored 20-9 in the fourth quarter. Troy Boynton led Baylor with 12 points, while Cameron Sparks added 10.
Region 3-AAA quarterfinals
East Hamilton 66, Stone Memorial 38: The Hurricanes were led by Darwin Randolph, who had 20 points and seven assists. Marcus Long (18 points) and Cade Pendleton (13 points, 10 rebounds) also shined in the victory.
In other results, Cleveland beat Cookeville 55-54, Warren County beat McMinn County 62-46 and White County beat Walker Valley 65-56.
Region 4-AA quarterfinals
Watertown beat Grundy County 58-56, Upperman beat Sequatchie County 66-30 and York beat Bledsoe County 82-60.
Region 3-AA quarterfinals
Tyner 65, McMinn Central 48: The Rams used a 23-12 second-quarter run to take control and were led by Melique Hambrick's 14 points.
Howard 91, Sweetwater 70: The Hustlin' Tigers exploded for 32 first-quarter points. Kerrick Thorne and Meechie Bowens led the way with 21 and 19 points, respectively, while Cobi Dixon (13), Jadon Jenkins (11) and Deveon Dupree (11) also scored in double figures.
In other results, Red Bank beat Sequoyah 58-57 and Loudon beat Brainerd 61-53.
Region 2-A quarterfinals
Arts & Sciences 65, Wartburg 60: Jarius Cameron made 10 free throws to finish with a team-high 16 points, fellows sophomore Justin Brown added 14 points and senior Ethan Brown had nine in the home win for the Patriots, who led 36-26 at halftime.
In other results, Harriman beat Sale Creek 59-26 and Oneida beat Copper Basin 70-31.
Region 3-A quarterfinals
Monterey beat South Pittsburg 70-61, Clay County beat Hardy Memorial 91-33 and Pickett County beat Whitwell 83-33.
GHSA state playoffs, second round
Class AAA boys- LaFayette 63, Greater Atlanta Christian 54: It's not that Hank Peppers' Ramblers haven't won big playoff games at home - they reached the quarterfinals a year ago - but when a perennial state power comes calling in the postseason, the stakes rise.
LaFayette (22-1) withstood a pair of runs by the battle-tested Spartans (17-12) to earn another berth among the final eight teams in the bracket as Aidan Hadaway and Decameron Porter scored 19 points each and guard Junior Barber added 18 big points, including seven in the final quarter.
GAC took its first lead on a 6-0 run early in the third quarter, starting with a dunk from 6-foot-9 center Eddie Page and ending with four of Josh Fulton's 24 points for a 34-31 lead. Hadaway, held to six points in the first half, erupted for five quick points, the last three on a banked 3-pointer, to regain the lead for the hosts.
Hadaway then blocked two shots, leading to Barber's 3-pointer and a five-point lead. The advantage swelled to nine on another Barber 3 and a Hadaway drive three minutes into the final quarter, but Fulton scored four straight to cut the lead to five again. Barber and Hadaway combined to lead a clinching 6-0 run moments later for an 11-point edge.
Next week, LaFayette will host familiar foe Cross Creek, the program the Ramblers lost to in last year's Class AAAA quarterfinals.
Class A private boys - Christian Heritage 68, Athens Academy 56: When the Lions needed to ice the win, they turned to a pair of talented freshmen to lead the way. Jax Abernathy and Zundra Jackson combined for 17 points in the final eight minutes as Christian Heritage (22-3) put away pesky Athens Academy (8-17).
Abernathy led the Lions with 23 points, with senior Nash Bingham adding 17 - 12 in the third quarter - Jackson finishing with 16 and senior Evan Lester chipping in eight. Coach Tyler Watkins' team will travel to First Presbyterian for next week's quarterfinal.
Class AA girls - Callaway 66, Chattooga 61 (OT): The Lady Indians (13-8) were eliminated on the road despite a game-high 32 points from Makiya Parrish.
Compiled by Stephen Hargis, Patrick MacCoon and Lindsey Young. Contact Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293 and follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis. Contact MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon. Contact Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.