Brentwood Academy boys are 3-1 in the region heading into Tuesday's home game with MBA. (Photo by Barry Robbins)

Big home games looming against MBA, BGA, Ensworth

By CAROL STUART
Brentwood Home Page
The Brentwood Academy boys basketball team has won three in a row in the region and currently ranks second place in the standings heading into a crucial string of home games against MBA, BGA and Ensworth.

The Eagles have only lost once in their last six games, and went to overtime in that region-opening loss to Ensworth, 79-70. On Tuesday night, BA begins the critical home-stand with a game against Montgomery Bell Academy, a team Coach Lyle Husband’s squad defeated 50-48 two weeks ago.

BA post player Josh Lester (42) takes it to the hoop. (Photo by Hal Henninger)   Tuesday’s games Brentwood High at Independence, girls 6 p.m., boys 7:30 p.m. Ravenwood at Hillsboro, girls 6 p.m., boys 7:30 p.m. Harpeth Hall at Brentwood Academy, girls 6 p.m. MBA at Brentwood Academy, boys 7:30 p.m.   Friday’s games Centennial at Ravenwood, girls 6 p.m., boys 7:30 p.m. Hillsboro at Brentwood High, girls 6 p.m., boys 7:30 p.m. BGA at Brentwood Academy, girls 6 p.m., boys 7:30 p.m.

“It's a real tough stretch,” Husband said. “I think this next week or so will kind of reveal a lot about where we are as a basketball team.”

The Brentwood Academy boys basketball program usually gets off to a slow start due to several athletes competing into the postseason with the football team. And then sometimes they might be coming off injuries, such as standout wide receiver Al Thompson who suffered a neck injury in the quarterfinals.

“I think part of it is we're finally got our whole team,” Husband said. “I think Friday night was our first game where we had everybody back. We had a stretch there where we had a lot of injuries. We have our team back and healthy.

 “The other thing is I think we've got some really good internal leadership, guys with some great attitudes, guys really pulling for one another and just kind of buying in,” Husband said.

Point guard Tyler Emery has been playing well, and Thompson has come on strong and given the team a boost after returning from injury. Eric Henninger has been valuable especially on defense, and post player Josh Lester also has the ability to step out and shoot the ball, Husband said.

Danny McGrath has had big shooting nights, and football player D’montre Wade scored 16 points in the previous outing against MBA, made the winning free throws and has ability to drive to the basket.

 “I think we're a little unique, in that I don't know that we have top players – we have new guys each and every night step up,” Husband said. “. . . I don't know that we have one person that stands out, but we've also have some different guys that can do some different things and that's good.”

MBA’s David Howard, a 6-foot-9, 225-pounder who has signed with Evansville, poses a big challenge for the Eagles and had 25 points in their last meeting. Austin Blackwell gives the Big Red good guard play, Husband said.

 “Howard is tough to guard,” Husband said. “He's very difficult for us to guard him with just one person. And that means if we help off of others, it leaves somebody else open. He just buries us, he’s just a tough matchup in size.”

Henninger and Lester are the tallest players for the Eagles, both standing about 6-4.

Point guard Tyler Emery goes up for a layup. (Photo by Hal Henninger)

“We tried to play behind and double, but he buried us so deep,” Husband said of the previous matchup. “He just scored before the double-team could get there."

The Lady Eagles will tip off at 6 p.m. against Harpeth Hall before Tuesday night’s game vs. MBA.

On Friday, Battle Ground Academy will visit the Eagles’ nest, and next Tuesday has Ensworth  playing at BA.

Battle Ground Academy has a 15 plays in a five-player in-and-out rotation somewhat similar to Belmont’s, and this will be the Eagles’ first meeting against the high-powered Wildcats.

“They have really great handlers, several people on the perimeter that can shoot, pass and dribble,” Husband said. “I think most teams have maybe one or two guys that can do that. As far as I can tell, I think they have several players that can, several good perimeter players that can defend, shoot, pass, dribble, break it down.

“So they're hard to guard because I think they have several good players that can score and beat you.”

Ensworth’s Corn Elder scored 31 points in the Jan. 6 game at the Tigers’ den. BA outscored EHS 21-14 in the fourth quarter to force OT 70-70, but only scored two points in the extra five minutes.

“They’re very athletic, and obviously defensively they create a lot of problems with their pressure,” Husband said. “They create a lot of turnovers, which leads to their offense.

D'montre Wade shoots for the Eagles. (Photo by Hal Henninger)

“They have a really good tough kind of duo with Corn Elder's ability to drive and penetrate and then on top of that you've got very good perimeter shooters, so it's kind of pick your poison a little bit.”

BA trails Ensworth by a half-game since the Tigers have played one more Division II-AA East/Middle Region game, but both teams have only one region loss.  The Eagles are coming off Friday’s 52-49 victory at Father Ryan, which saw Graham Waldrop lead the team with 12 points.

“It's a really tough league,” Husband said. “Everybody is really well coached and plays really hard. And you've got to play well every single night.”

After five seasons at BA, Husband said this year’s team is one of the best teams as far is chemistry is concerned as he’s had.

“I'm just really proud of them, mainly their attitude and unselfishness and the way they pull for one another,” he said. “It's really encouraging to watch.

Coach Lyle Husband now has his players all healthy, including Al Thompson, right, who wore a neck brace early in the season after a football injury. (Photo by Hal Henninger)