Booker T. Washington 86, Power Center Academy 64
The Booker T. Washington High School boys basketball team don’t want a repeat of the feeling they had to end last season – an 80-79 overtime loss to Manassas in the semifinals of last year’s regionals. Currently, the Warriors are No. 1 in Class A and want to make a trip to the state tournament.
This year, the Warriors (21-4) ended the regular season with an 86-64 win over Power Center Academy and will host the District 16-A tournament this week.
“It feels good to be back in the county championship,” said head coach Antonio Harris. “These kids have worked hard in the summer and the offseason, and it just paid off for them.”
The Warriors run a high-tempo offense driven by their guards with very unselfish play.
“On any given night we could have anybody that can score the majority of the points,” Harris said. “I am glad they are being unselfish, because that is what I have been teaching them.”
Harris has been showing his team the tapes from the losses from last season to keep them grounded and as a reminder of what can happen to them if they don’t take care of business. The competition in West Tennessee is always tough and this season is no exception and the Warriors path will be filled with obstacles.
Memphis Business Academy 54, Westwood 35
The Memphis Business Academy Lady Executives did not let the bright lights of playing in their first SCIAA Championship game affect them.
In their 54-35 win over the Westwood Longhorns, they took control of the game early, controlling the tempo throughout.
“It is an amazing feeling winning the championship,” said MBA head coach Reshun Spears “Hopefully we can put the brand MBA on the map in Memphis.”
Located on Overton Crossing in Frayser, MBA indicate they are not just happy to get the SCIAA Championship; they want more. The road will be difficult to make it to Murfreesboro, but they are willing to take on that challenge.
“We started with our eyes set on the state championship,” Spears said. “The city championship is a big accolade, but it is just something to accomplish along the way. We know this is not the end, just an award. And we just keep on moving.”
