Baylor wins over McCallie in the finals of Best of Preps 45-35
Baylor's boys came in well aware that McCallie had lit the nets on fire from long range during the first two days of the event, including a tournament-record 18 3-pointers in the opening round, so coach Mark Price's staff focused on defending the perimeter.
The game plan worked as the Blue Tornado (7-7) hit just two bombs in the first half as the Red Raiders (5-4) built a 23-12 lead, thanks in part to a 8-0 run to end the half that included 3-pointers from Joao Rego and Brock Barton.
Baylor built that lead for the most part without leading scorer — and tournament MVP — Zane Restelli and fellow starter Evan Haynie after each picked up two early fouls.
"The other guys really stepped up," Price said. "If you would have told me Isaiah Whaley would be out with injury and we had those guys in foul trouble in the first half, I would have said it would be hard to win. TJ Fields, Brock Barton, guys who have been role players in our program, are coming into more pertinent roles. They are the reason we won tonight."
The win wasn't without drama, though, as the Tornado finally caught fire midway through the third quarter with five 3-pointers, three of them by Kolin Claridy. His last cut the lead to one 45 seconds into the final quarter, but McCallie would score only two points over the next four minutes as Baylor regrouped defensively and used back-to-back 3s from Restelli and Rego to stretch the lead back out.
Jack Shutters led Baylor with 10 points, with Restelli adding nine and Barton seven. Claridy topped McCallie's list with 16.
Boys' all-tournament team: Baylor — Zane Restelli (MVP), Evan Haynie, Jack Shutters; McCallie — Parker Robison, Kolin Claridy, Guillaume Bogaert; Tyner — Nehemiah Bloodsaw, Rodney Henderson; Brainerd — Boo Carter; East Hamilton — Juan Bullard.
Defense rules the day for Best of Preps basketball champs LFO and Baylor | Chattanooga Times Free Press
***Coach Price is 9-0 since coming to Baylor at this tournament winning 3 titles***
#WeAreBaylor
