Raptors boys, girls could force another meeting with rivals

By CAROL STUART
For Brentwood Home Page
Brentwood High stepped in last week to host the Region 6-AAA tournament when Centennial had a scheduling conflict, and now it might pay off big for the Bruins' district tournament champion boys and girls teams.

The Bruins will open region play on their  home floor Friday night, with the girls playing Cane Ridge at 7 p.m. and the boys facing McGavock at 8:30p.m.

The BHS boys team probably faces a tougher test than District 11-AAA runner-up Ravenwood since Hillwood (10-15) knocked of McGavock (17-10) 69-67 Monday for District 12-AAA's third seed.

"We have to play them eventually anyhow, and we might as well do it Friday night -- at Brentwood," Bruins Coach Dennis King said.

Ravenwood's teams also both advanced and are in action Saturday, with the third-place RHS girls meeting 12-AAA runner-up Overton at 4 p.m. and the Raptors boys playing Hillwood at 8:30 p.m.

"That's basketball and that's the beauty of the way it's set up in Tennessee. You get a second chance when you get beat," Raptors Coach Patrick Whitlock said after his team's third loss of the season to Brentwood, 70-60, in Tuesday's district final.

 "We'll take (Wednesday) off and we'll prepare on Thursday and Friday for a Hillwood team that's going to present a lot of problems and be ready to go. We're upset and we need to channel some of the energy into having good practices on Thursday and Friday."

In Division II, Brentwood Academy's girls team travels to St. Benedict to play in the state quarterfinals Friday night. The Lady Eagles, led by senior Taylor Reece, are shooting for a spot in next week's II-AA semifinals at Lipscomb University's Allen Arena.

BHS senior Kyla Kerstetter was district MVP for the season and tournament. (Photos by Mike Walters / Sportr8s by Mike)

Ravenwood, Brentwood girls could meet in semifinals

 Brentwood gets District 11-AAA's top seeds, putting them in opposite brackets from 12-AAA boys champion Overton and girls winner Hunters Lane.

Last year the Lady Bruins fell in the region semifinals to Hillsboro by a basket -- one step short of also qualifying for the sub-state round. Tuesday night Brentwood defeated the Lady Burros for the second time this season and avoid Hillsboro until the finals.

"It was pretty much the same team; we didn't really lose many,"  BHS senior Kyla Kerstetter said.

"I think we've grown so much this past year like through the summer and everything, and toughened up so much. It shows, because they were practically the same team they were last year. It's always good competition."

Brentwood (22-4) will be in the same semifinal draw with crosstown rival Ravenwood, who beat the Bruins on their homecourt 35-32 in their first matchup of three.

The Lady Bruins' only other losses are to Blackman, who just ended defending AAA state champ Riverdale's 55-game losing streak; nationally ranked Clarksville; and Hillsboro 33-31 in one of their three meetings. Brentwood won at Overton 56-35 on Dec. 9.

Brentwood Coach Ronnie Seigenthaler was happy how his senior-laden team responded to the championship pressure Tuesday.

"District championships are always exciting because it brings an atmosphere, it brings that emotion, and you never know how kids are going to handle the emotion," Seigenthaler said. "We saw tonight, our bunch demonstrated a lot of poise."

Cane Ridge (17-10) had 17 points from Tasie Blue in the 12-AAA consolation loss to Glencliff (11-15) and gave up 33 points to Briana Morrow.

The Lady Raptors played Saturday's opponent, Overton (18-11), earlier in the season and lost 56-50 in overtime, back on Nov. 23. Caselia Campbell had 16 for the Lady Bobcats, and Jayne Rice scored 16 for RHS.

Overton's Consuella Buford-Spencer scored 17 in the 12-AAA finals loss to Hunters Lane (21-5), led by 20 from Diamond Wright and 18 from Deandrea Sawyers.

Bruins senior James Cox hit four 3-pointers in Tuesday's district finals.

Bruins face tough challenge in quarterfinal game

King said his Brentwood boys team (23-7) will get a charged-up McGavock squad after their loss in the 12-AAA consolation.Michael Green scored 16 and Reggie Horton and DeAnthony Patrick had 15 apiece in the loss to the Hilltoppers.

"The top three teams all year over there have been Overton, Hunters Lane and McGavock, and we're supposed to get the weakest one by winning this, " King said about the district tourney title.  

"But Hillwood upset them, so we're getting a very dangerous McGavock team that is very well coached and they play hard. ... McGavock's going to go down swinging."

The Bruins have rebounded from a 12-13 season, with senior sharpshooter James Cox and junior point guard Jack Montague providing leadership and scoring from the backcourt. Senior Will Joiner has been a force inside, and sophomore Cody Shelton has come on strong.

"I think we play a lot better as a team this year and we have great chemistry on the team,"  said Cox, district tournament MVP. "Everybody's real good friends."

Brentwood has beaten Hunters Lane 56-50 (13-13) in a holiday tournament, but lost to Overton (22-7) 63-51 on Dec. 9.

Ravenwood (20-10), meanwhile, has defeated both Overton, 65-64 on Nov. 23, and Hunters Lane, 80-69. The Raptors, led by seniors Evan Forhetz and Robert Veal, are coming off a 20-win season in which they notched their first region victory.

The Raptors are hoping to have back 6-6 senior center Sam Wilcox, who missed the district finals after suffering a concussion in a freak accident in practice. But 6-7 sophomore Joey Barnes stepped in with several points and at least three blocks.

"Obviously, (Wilcox) is a major, major factor. Sam is a great player, a senior leader," Whitlock said. "But Joey Barnes is a capable player and is finally showing that he is capable, and he had an excellent tournament, and we're looking for that to springboard him into a great junior and senior season."

RHS and BHS could meet again in the region finals if both advance.

REGION 6-AAA TOURNAMENT
At Brentwood High School
Quarterfinals, Friday, Feb. 25
4:00 p.m. -- 1 Hunters Lane vs.  4 Franklin, girls
5:30 p.m. -- 1 Overton vs. 4 Centennial, boys
7:00 p.m. -- 1 Brentwood  vs. 4 Cane Ridge, girls
8:30 p.m. -- 1 Brentwood vs. 4 McGavock, boys
Quarterfinals, Saturday, Feb. 26
4:00 p.m. -- 2 Overton vs. 3 Ravenwood, girls
5:30 p.m. -- 2 Hunters Lane vs. 3 Hillsboro, boys
7:00 p.m. -- 2 Hillsboro vs. 3 Glencliff, girls
8:30 p.m. -- 2 Ravenwood vs. 3 Hillwood, boys
Monday, Feb. 28
Girls semifinals
6:00 p.m. -- Hunters Lane-Franklin winner vs. Hillsboro-Glencliff winner
7:30 p.m. -- Brentwood-Cane Ridge winner vs. Overton-Ravenwood winner
Tuesday, March 1
Boys semifinals
6:00 p.m. -- Overton-Centennial winner vs. Ravenwood-Hillwood winner
7:30 p.m. -- Brentwood-McGavock winner vs. Hunters Lane-Hillsboro winner
Wednesday, March 2
7:00 p.m. -- Girls championship
Thursday, March 3
7:00 p.m. -- Boys championship

DIVISION II-AA STATE TOURNAMENT
Girls state quarterfinals
Friday, Feb. 25
7:00 p.m. -- Brentwood Academy at St. Benedict
At Lipscomb University, Allen Arena
Friday, March 4
2:00 p.m. -- Class AA semifinal
5:15 p.m. -- Class AA semifinal