WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsEast Ridge, Howard win 6-AA tourney openers

East Ridge holds off East Hamilton in 6-AA opener
EAST RIDGE, Tenn. (WRCB) -- East Hamilton did what it could to spoil one of East Ridge's best seasons in recent memory.

But the Pioneers found a way to make it last just a little bit longer.

Alfonzo Cox and Eddie Hitchcock combined for 34 points and East Ridge pulled away in the closing minute for a 63-51 win over the visiting Hurricanes in the District 6-AA quarterfinals on Friday night.

The Pioneers advance to face Howard in Saturday night's semifinals at Brainerd High School, and also secure their spot in next week's Region 3-AA tournament (top four in each district advance).

It looked like it was going to be an easy win for East Ridge, who held East Hamilton to just two first-quarter field goals. Ten of Cox's 18 points and eleven of Hitchcock's 16 came in the first half as the Pioneers raced out to a 23-4 lead early in the second quarter.

The Hurricanes managed to regroup, cutting the deficit to ten at the break before making a serious run in the second half. Cody Knox scored eleven of his game-high 24 points in the third quarter as the Hurricanes mounted a furious rally to pull within three on a few separate occasions.

The lead stayed in single digits until the closing minutes when Greg Besley and Chris Green fueled an 8-0 finishing kick that sealed the Pioneers' win.

Green finished with 11 points while Besley added 10.

Tyner cruised past Hixson and Brainerd beat Central in 6-AA's other quarterfinal matchups. The Rams and Panthers, who also clinched spots in next week's region tourney, will play in Saturday night's other semifinal.

Walters leads Howard past Red Bank
CHATTANOOGA (WRCB) -- Brandon Walters scored 13 of his game-high 29 points in the fourth quarter to help third-seeded Howard pull away from visiting Red Bank for a 62-47 win in the District 6-AA quarterfinals on Thursday night.

The Hustlin' Tigers used a second-quarter surge to open an eight-point lead at the break, and pushed it to double figures in the opening minutes of the second half.

The Lions rallied to trim the deficit to three midway through the third quarter, but still trailed by six at the end of the period. Walters' big finish sparked a 22-point final quarter for the Hustlin' Tigers, who advance to play East Ridge in Saturday night's semifinals at Brainerd.

Ivan Nowson led Red Bank with 12 points, all coming in the first half.

Other high school scores from Friday night:

Boys Basketball
Tyner 64, Hixson 37 (District 6-AA quarterfinals)
Brainerd 64, Central 38 (District 6-AA quarterfinals)
McMinn County 59, Rhea County 45 (District 5-AAA quarterfinals)
CSAS 51, Boyd-Buchanan 47 (District 5-A semifinals)
Grace Academy 46, Silverdale Academy 35 (District 5-A semifinals)
Polk County 51, McMinn Central 41 (District 5-AA semifinals)
Sequoyah 82, Meigs County 65 (District 5-AA semifinals)
Dade County 70, Calhoun 58 (Georgia Region 7-AA semifinals)
Coosa 59, North Murray 53 (Georgia Region 7-AA semifinals)
Allatoona 50, LaFayette 37 (Georgia Region 7-AAA semifinals)

Girls Basketball
CSAS 55, Grace Academy 46 (OT) (District 5-A semifinals)
Silverdale Academy 56, Copper Basin 50 (District 5-A semifinals)
Sequoyah 48, Meigs County 43 (OT) (District 5-AA semifinals)
McMinn Central 55, Polk County 39 (District 5-AA semifinals)
Walker Valley 50, Ooltewah 46 (District 5-AAA quarterfinals)
Model 48, Dade County 37 (Georgia Region 7-AA semifinals)
Calhoun 47, River Ridge 29 (Georgia Region 7-AA semifinals)
Gordon Lee 56, Trion 30 (Georgia Region 6-A semifinals)
Darlington 56, Bremen 38 (Georgia Region 6-A semifinals)
Father Ryan 44, Baylor 28