The Epic Clash: Brainerd – Alcoa

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Riveting. Tip to horn.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>FINAL: 71-68 Alcoa.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Young Stoudamire <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1028859' first='Dennis' last='Lewis Jr.']</strong> fluttered his gorgeous three-pointer up, seemingly in desperation. Good-and-plenty! Alcoa was up 68-65 with the ball and the charge to secure a win. Alcoa hero [player_tooltip player_id='1121414' first='Jahvin' last='Carter'] hit a pair and then <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1387694' first='Boo' last='Carter']</strong> hit a 25-footer to close the game to three points again with 10ish seconds remaining.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jahvin hit another pair, and Carter heaved a less attractive three-pointer instead of feeding the better shooter [player_tooltip player_id='1028859' first='Dennis' last='Lewis Jr.'], who did have a defender near him. Missed. Season over. Brainerd fell. The '23 Panther core slain.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Supporting Cast</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1856728' first='Brandon' last='Winton']'s</strong> return to the Knoxville-area helped Alcoa Friday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Winton made a grand left-handed stop-and-go layup just over 90 seconds left over [player_tooltip player_id='1401439' first='Donivon' last='Thomas'], the thrilling, springy shot-blocker and then hauled down an assertive defensive rebound seconds later. Neither assured Alcoa of victory, but both made the comeback attempt of Brainerd more challenging.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Formerly a top 15 basketball prospect in the Class of 2025, Winton moved to Florida from Knoxville Webb to play football. His return to Alcoa was almost certainly a football-decision. The school earned its reputation as a football school, though the hoops team is now playing for their third State Championship golden ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>First Half</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#42 hit a monster three-pointer late in the first quarter to Brainerd's Panthers their very first lead of the evening, 11-9. It was short-lived. Alcoa's swift offense went to work without a beat and scored right away. Brainerd answered back with a layup seconds later off of the hands of<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1028857' first='Quintus' last='Broadnax']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Quarter one ended 14-13 Alcoa, an electrifying chapter to be sure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Then the Tornado touched down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>By the half Alcoa was sitting on the mound, looking down upon Brainerd, leading 37-25. A 23-point quarter against Brainerd truly conveyed the </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alcoa scored 89% of their free throws in the opening half and easily outrebounded the Panthers: 15-8. Brainerd suffered seven first half turnovers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>NOTES: Wednesday <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1121414' first='Jahvin' last='Carter'] </strong>earned a Middle Tennessee offer, just a couple of hours after playing on the Blue Raiders' home floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Third Quarter</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1121414' first='Jahvin' last='Carter']</strong>. The star poured in 18 first-half points. Hit 20 seconds into the second half. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brainerd tried [player_tooltip player_id='1028858' first='Joshua' last='Hood'] matching up one-on-one with Carter. How did he do? </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Very well. Carter scored "just" five points in the third, and no baskets were scored against Hood. Carter's most impressive moment of the quarter was the final moment of the quarter. After an Alcoa make, Brainerd tried to inbounds with buzzer-beating urgency, only to be intercepted by Carter. Jahvin fluidily stole the ball and lofted a tender 8-foot floater at the horn. Good.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>BHS Head Coach Levar Brown deliberately fed the post, operating through their Adonis, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1401439' first='Donivon' last='Thomas']</strong>. The future SEC footballer finished repeatedly, above the Marrooners. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Astutely, Thomas did his best to establish a problem and then kick out. Often, Thomas' kicks found another Carter, not Jahvin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Don't be scared. Orlando "Boo" Carter bulled his way into the danger zones, yet impressed with his left-handed whip pass, his hesi-dribble, his guile. Slick and strong, Carter did plenty to help Brainerd cut it to 43-42 after a sizable halftime deficit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1028859"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6414f486546d7"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alcoa is playing in their 22nd State Tournament. They last played in the finals in 1992. The Tornadoes last won the State Tournament in 1967. This is their seventh appearance in the State Tournament since the 21st century arrived.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->