SPORTS

Defense leads Brentwood Academy boys back to DII-AA final

Michael Murphy

USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Brentwood Academy's Camron Johnson (22) guards Ensworth's Warren Zager (24) during the second half of a Division II-AA semifinal game at Lipscomb on Thursday.

Brentwood Academy forced 22 turnovers and held rival Ensworth to a season-low 42 points in Thursday’s Division II-AA boys basketball semifinal win at Lipscomb’s Allen Arena.

Mr. Basketball finalist Darius Garland scored a game-high 23 points to lead the top-ranked Eagles (29-2), who strung together a 13-1 run to close out the first half. Teammate Camron Johnson added 13 points, four rebounds and four steals in the 56-42 triumph.

“Coach told us coming into the final four that the best defensive team was going to win,” Johnson said. “We knew that if we came in and played our kind of defense, locked down and said, ‘We’re not going to let people score,’ that we could win this game.

Junior Warren Zager finished with a team-high 11 points for Ensworth (18-10), while sophomore Mr. Basketball finalist James Wiseman was held to just seven points and five rebounds.

Reach Michael Murphy at mfmurphy@tennessean.com or 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.