MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — A 28-win season for the Red Bank boys came to a close on the opening day of Class 3A competition at the TSSAA’s BlueCross Basketball State Championships.
The Lions, making the fifth state tournament appearance in program history but first since 2009, lost 50-34 to Creek Wood on Thursday in a quarterfinal at Middle Tennessee State University’s Murphy Center.
Red Bank pulled within a basket of Creek Wood with 6:28 remaining, 32-30, as senior Kamarion Johnson made a 3-pointer in front of his team’s bench. However, the Red Hawks (23-8) would answer with a 15-0 run to advance to Friday’s semifinals, where they will face Ridgeway (26-5), which beat David Crockett 62-39 in the second Class 3A quarterfinal Thursday evening.
Red Bank (28-8) was led by senior guard Kendrick Lloyd’s team highs of 10 points and eight rebounds, with half of those off the offensive glass.
“We worked so hard this season. From summer to preseason conditioning up until now. It was hard, but I am glad we left Red Bank with something that will be remembered forever,” said Lloyd, who finished with career totals of 1,100 points, 577 rebounds, 248 assists, 184 steals and 37 blocks.
“Nobody can ever take away what we were able to accomplish this season.”
Malik Rizer had back-to-back offensive rebounds in the second quarter, resulting in a putback basket and two made free throws to help build an 18-11 advantage for the Lions with 4:24 left before halftime. It was the biggest lead of the game for Red Bank, which also got eight points and two assists from Jaylen Rice.
Nick Fike’s ninth season as head coach produced the program’s most victories since the 2005-06 Lions won 32 games. Red Bank’s only appearance in a state semifinal came in 2008, after Dominique McDuffie had 18 points, nine rebounds, six assists, four steals and two blocks to lead a 68-62 quarterfinal victory over Dobyns-Bennett.
“What I will miss the most is the camaraderie, the car rides and just being around the guys,” an emotional Fike said. “You are together so long, you become family. We will miss being with each other. It really doesn’t hit you until you walk into school next week, and the bell rings and you aren’t going to the gym anymore.”
Creek Wood’s Demodest Henderson was tough on the defensive end with four blocks, while teammate Jamison Ford scored a game-high 14 points. The Red Hawks began the fourth quarter ahead 29-27, then outscored Red Bank 21-7, making all three of their 3-pointers in the game during that period.
The Lions earned district and region championships this season before winning their sectional to secure the program's long-awaited return to the state tourney.
“These guys did the extra things and really studied the game. They would text me at 11 o’clock and say, 'Coach, this guy does this and that, and we need to do this,'” Fike said. “They operated at another level. They leveled up this program. There will be a district and region championship (banner) hanging in the gym. Three weeks from now, even five, 10, 20 years from now, they can walk in our gym and tell their kids: 'We did that.'
“If you can do that, it’s something to hang your hat on.”
Red Bank senior Anthony Bonner scored an area-best 754 points this season, including his team's first basket Thursday, when he used a spin move in the lane and a tough finish to set up a three-point play. Bonner scored at least 12 points in every game this season until Creek Wood ran a box-and-one defense that limited him to five points.
“The memories will always stay with me from this season and team,” Bonner said. “We were very connected and worked extremely hard to accomplish the things we did.”
Just one local team remains in the title hunt in Murfreesboro, with Chattanooga Prep (25-6) set to face Santa Fe (26-5) at 1:45 p.m. Eastern on Friday in a Class 1A semifinal.
(READ MORE: Chattanooga Prep wins blowout, advances to Class 1A semifinals)
The Sentinels, a third-year varsity program with no seniors, are trying to become the Chattanooga area’s first boys’ basketball team to win a TSSAA state championship since 2007.
(READ MORE: Chattanooga boys’ basketball scene in midst of title, talent drought)
Area girls' basketball programs have been more successful in that stretch, including Bradley Central's Bearettes repeating as Class 4A champions last weekend.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.