Led by a stingy defense, the Tyner boys' basketball team has asserted itself as the top team in District 6-AA more than halfway through the regular season.
Tyner won its sixth straight game as senior guard Trent Gresham's contagious defensive play helped key a 63-31 victory Thursday night at Red Bank. Gresham had three steals and two of the five blocked shots by the Rams.
After a monthlong hiatus over the holiday break with Hamilton County's public schools shut down due to COVID-19, the Rams have shut down their district foes, who in four games since Jan. 15 have averaged a mere 35 points.
Tyner has won back-to-back district titles and three of the past four, but this season's Rams (7-1, 7-0) are still intent on improving.
"I didn't expect us to be as locked in as we are given all that has gone on this season, but we will roll with it," Tyner coach E'Jay Ward said. "We still have to get better as a team and stop making unnecessary fouls. We have been hanging our hats on defense, and that's got us this far. We have to continue to build off that."
Melique Hambrick provided a spark in the first half as heconnected on three of his six attempts from 3-point range, making one from each corner. Junior Anthony Sims was a force down low, pounding his way inside and providing a nice touch on his shot for nine points to help build a 33-17 halftime lead.
Hambrick - who banked in the winning 3-pointer against Red Bank a region semifinal last year - has been a big spark for the Rams.
"Melique has been starting the past three years and has been unselfish this season as he comes off the bench. He has really given us that spark we need," Ward said. "Big Ant also helped set the tone in the paint and battled."
Red Bank's lone answer early came in the form of senior forward Cam Bell, who scored all 12 of his points in the first half. The Lions fell to 5-3, 3-1.
Tyner received stellar play from sophomores Keelan Jackson and Nehemiah Bloodsaw, who each scored 10 points in the second half. Jackson added a pair of blocks.
Howard 69, Signal Mountain 31: Meechie Bowens and Kerrick Thorne combined for 31 points to help the Hustlin' Tigers to the win. Signal Mountain senior Braeden Wolford led his team with 12 points.
Central 62, Hixson 29: Jailon Jackson had 18 points and 15 rebounds for the Purple Pounders, who also received 15 points from Donovin Taylor-Wade. Hixson's Braxton Burton finished with 14 points.
Baylor 68, Chattanooga Christian 30: The Red Raiders excelled on defense again, and Robert Morton led with 14 points in the runaway victory.
McCallie 46, Walker Valley 18: Kollin Claridy and Eric Rivers combined for 26 points, and the Blue Tornado turned in their best defensive performance of the season.
GIRLS' BASKETBALL
Signal Mountain 66, Howard 11: Cassidy Pawson scored 14 points and Jaylah Hardy added 11 in the Lady Eagles' victory.
Hixson 49, Central 22: Anna Johnston hit five 3-pointers in the second half and finished with 21 points, while Rickell Crutcher also helped the Lady Wildcats roll with 13 points and 15 rebounds.
Bradley Central 43, Cleveland 37: Trailing 21-18 at halftime, Class AAA's top-ranked Bearettes kept a long district winning streak alive. Jamia Williams had four assists and four steals, while Kelsey Carman and Karsee Weber combined to shoot 5-for-6 from 3-point range.
WRESTLING
Cleveland 49, Walker Valley 24: Walker Valley led 18-9 six matches in after Class AAA's top-ranked 285-pounder, Jadon Langford, pinned his way to victory. However, the first-ranked Blue Raiders stormed back as Logan Fowler, Bentley Ellison, Arlo Laxton, Blake Randall and Jackson Bradford propelled the victory with five straight pins from 106 to 132 pounds to win the district championship match.
BOWLING
Walker Valley's Justin Brown took second overall in the TSSAA Division I championship in Smyrna. He bowled an 873 over his first four games (209, 212, 219, 233) and had a 197 in the finals.
Notre Dame's CJ Petrin will compete today for the Division II individual state championship. He rolled games of 234, 200, 173 and 225 for a total of 832 to earn a spot in the finals.
Boyd Buchanan's Caleb Kelley will compete for third after a four-game average of 185. McCallie's Andrew Haun finished 12th overall (179 average), while Notre Dame's Boston Eberly and Griffin Lee finished 18th and 19th, respectively, with 167 averages.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.