WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsBattle of unbeatens set for Best of Preps boys final

Tyner locks down Baylor late for semifinal win
CHATTANOOGA (WRCB) -- Tre Suttles and Travis Murphy scored 14 points apiece and Tyner's defense stepped up to the challenge in the fourth quarter to seal a 44-32 win over Baylor in the semifinals of the Times Free Press Best of Preps Tournament on Thursday night at CSAS.

The Red Raiders never led, but never trailed by double digits in the first three quarters. They started the final period down just 35-31, but were held to just one fourth-quarter point by a stout Rams' defense.

Leo Born scored 15 points to lead Baylor (2-3), while Reggie Upshaw added 10.

The Rams, who held off Ooltewah for a hard-fought 65-59 win in Wednesday's opener, stayed perfect at 10-0 on the year.

McCallie overwhelms Red Bank
CHATTANOOGA (WRCB) -- Cordell James and Terrance O'Donohue combined to score 34 points as McCallie jumped out to an early lead and cruised to a 73-55 win over Red Bank in the semifinals of the Times Free Press Best of Preps Tournament on Thursday night at CSAS.

The Blue Tornado ripped off a pair of 13-0 runs in the first-half to build a 22-point halftime lead.

Red Bank came alive to score 21 points in the third quarter, which was two more than they scored in the entire first half. The Lions cut the lead down to 12 early in the final period, but would get no closer.

Niquia McDuffie led the Red Bank (5-6) with 18 points. Fred Murphy chipped in 13.

Jamal Calvin added 12 points for McCallie (9-0), who advances to a battle of unbeatens with Tyner in Friday night's Best of Preps boys final.

GPS dominant in semifinal rout of CCS
CHATTANOOGA (WRCB) -- The first Best of Preps girls semifinal was over in a hurry Thursday afternoon at CSAS.

GPS jumped on Chattanooga Christian with an early 24-0 run and cruised to a 70-33 win over the Lady Chargers.

Four Bruisers (12-1) scored in double figures, led by Chadarryl Clay's 18 points. Simone Busby finished with 15 while Jeneh Perry and Brianna Farris added 13 each.

Mary McEwen led CCS (3-7) with 14 points.

Cleveland's rally tops Baylor
CHATTANOOGA (WRCB) -- Norah Berry hit a 3-pointer with 21 seconds left to cap a second-half rally and lead Cleveland to a thrilling 35-34 win over Baylor in the semifinals of the Best of Preps Tournament on Thursday night at CSAS.

Berry hit three of her four 3-pointers during an 18-2 run that turned the Lady Blue Raiders' 27-14 deficit into a 32-29 lead with just over a minute to play. Amber Howard drilled a 3-pointer at the other end and then added two free throws to give Baylor a 34-32 lead with 55 seconds left.

Cleveland patiently worked the ball around to find Berry open for the go-ahead basket, then managed to escape a trio of game-winning attempts from Howard in the final 14 seconds.

Only five Lady Blue Raiders scored, led by Berry's 15 points. Baylor had just three players in the scoring column, led by Howard's 17 points and Mary Ellen Williams' 11.

Girls Scores
Northwest Whitfield 53, Tyner 35 (consolation)
LFO 66, East Hamilton 53 (consolation)
GPS 70, Chattanooga Christian 33 (semifinal)
Cleveland 35, Baylor 34 (semifinal)

Boys Scores
Cleveland 55, CSAS 41 (consolation)
Ooltewah 68, Notre Dame 60 (consolation)
Tyner 44, Baylor 32 (semifinal)
McCallie 73, Red Bank 55 (semifinal)

Friday Schedule (all times Eastern)
10am - Tyner vs. East Hamilton (Girls seventh-place game)
11:30am - CSAS vs. Notre Dame (Boys seventh-place game)
1pm - LFO vs. Northwest Whitfield (Girls fifth-place game)
2:30pm - Ooltewah vs. Cleveland (Boys fifth-place game)
4pm - Chattanooga Christian vs. Baylor (Girls third-place game)
5:30pm - Red Bank vs. Baylor (Boys third-place game)
7pm - GPS vs. Cleveland (Girls Championship)
8:30pm - McCallie vs. Tyner (Boys Championship)