Trent Gresham was all smiles Thursday night after helping Tyner fight back from a 12-point deficit to take down Howard, 53-49, for the Region 3-AA boys' basketball championship.
Gresham's calming presence and poise have meant a great deal this season to the Rams, who with Thursday's home victory are 20-2 and one win away from a trip to the state tournament in Murfreesboro.
"I have enjoyed every single moment with my brothers," said Gresham, a three-year starter whose defense stands out. "I love them and would do anything for them. This season has made me enjoy basketball even more because nothing was promised. I have taken a lot of care for this team and stepped in to my role as a leader.
"I love it here. Making it to state would mean everything to us. We are locked in and want to make it to state."
Tyner will host Upperman at 7 p.m. Monday in the sectional round, while Howard (18-5) will travel to York Institute.
Howard's offense stole the show early, with the Hustlin' Tigers scoring 22 points in the first quarter, but it was a big block from Tyner sophomore Keelan Jackson that sparked a game-changing 12-3 run over the final 4:48 of the game.
Jackson swatted away a layup underneath the rim to the hands of Gresham, who fired a pass to region tournament MVP and senior Amarion Dillard. His score cut the Rams' deficit to 46-43, and he hit the go-ahead free throws with three minutes left and blocked a shot late.
"Our team leans on the seniors. We have been playing varsity for a while and don't panic. We do our best to come through for our team. We are all very dedicated," said Dillard who finished with a team-high 10 points after scoring 18 in his previous game.
Point guard Keilan Holloway and Anthony Sims have also helped the Rams.
Holloway had a nice spin move for a layup, assisted a big shot by Sims to build a 49-46 lead late, and also dove to save a ball from going out of bounds while calling a timeout. Sims helped build a 51-48 lead as he fought for an offensive rebound with two minutes left.
Senior Melique Hambrick sealed the title with a pair of free throws with two seconds left.
"We battled through adversity against another state championship- contending team," Tyner coach E'Jay Ward said. "Our guys did the little things well. They won the 50-50 balls late, rebounded and hit free throws. To see our seniors experience this means everything because they have been here putting in the time. We are one win away from state, and we are going to lay it all on the line."
Howard was led by Meechie Bowens, Xavier Fisher and Kerrick Thorne, who combined for 39 points. Thorne led all scorers with 14 and set a nice screen for Fisher, who built a 42-39 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Tyner trailed 22-10 early, but the Rams fired back as Nehemiah Bloodsaw provided a spark with steals and a big dunk, and Latavious Conyers scored with force in the paint in the second quarter.
Region 3-AAA final - Cleveland 73, Warren County 44: The Blue Raiders earned the right to host in Monday's sectional round with a dominant second half. After building a nine-point halftime cushion, Cleveland pulled away with a 24-10 run in the third quarter. Cleveland's defense limited visiting Warren County to just 10 points in each of the first three quarters. Klay McGowan led the Blue Raiders with 23 points, including five 3-pointers, while Grant Hurst added 14 points and Judah Sault nine.
Region 3-A final - Harriman 54, Arts & Sciences 42: The Patriots fell into an early hole on the road, managing just two points in the first quarter. A fourth-quarter rally brought CSAS within five but no closer, and with the loss will travel to North Greene in Monday's sectional round. Ethan Brown led the Patriots with 13 points and Louis Bell finished with nine.
BASEBALL
North Murray 4, Northwest Whitfield 3: Taylor Frazier drove in a pair of runs and earned the pitching win after going four innings, allowing no earned runs and striking out four batters for the Mountaineers (3-5). Aiden Hosford had a pair of hits, while Gavin Morgan and Matt Redmond drove in a run each for the Bruins (5-2).
Calhoun 6, Ringgold 3 (8): Dante Morton drove in two runs on a pair of hits, including a double, while Cohen Chadwick had two hits and Braden and Barrett Saunders each drove in a run for the Yellow Jackets (4-2) in the extra-inning win. Hagan Banks went the first five innings for Calhoun, allowing an earned run and three hits while striking out eight, with Bryse Ingle going the final 2 2/3 and allowing a run to get the win. Kenyon Ransom pitched seven innings for the Tigers (4-4), giving up two earned runs and three hits while striking out 12. Sam Mills and Colin Mountjoy had two hits each for Ringgold.
Southeast Whitfield 5, LaFayette 1: Jacob Gentry was 3-for-4 with two doubles to back the stellar pitching of Johny Vega (6 1/3 innings, no earned runs, two hits, 11 strikeouts) as the Raiders improved to 7-0. Bryson Lofton added two hits, and Brady Ensley, Aiden Patterson and Cobey Patterson each drove in a run.
Dalton 5, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe 3: Brady Pendley allowed an earned run and three hits while striking out nine over six innings to earn the win for the Catamounts. Kaleb Valdez had a home run among his two hits and drove in two runs, while Caleb Nix added a solo homer and Brock Johnson a two-run double for Dalton.
Northwest 4, LFO 0: Junior Cade Fisher extended his scoreless streak to 21 innings after limiting the Warriors to one hit and striking out six in a complete game Wednesday. Fisher has now thrown two one-hitters and a no-hitter in his 3-0 start. Morgan drove in a run and Will Roper scored three times for Northwest.
TENNIS
Dalton boys 3, Sonoraville 2: The Catamounts had a singles win from Jay Patel and a doubles victory from Ernesto Garcia and Reid Rehberg. The second doubles match was forfeited to Dalton's tandem of Landon Bryant and Tristan Thompson.
Dalton girls 3, Sonoraville 2: Mincey Jones and Ava White earned singles wins for the Lady Catamounts, with Sarah Wise and Halie Dycus-Floyd winning in doubles.
Roundup 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.