Baylor advances past Father Ryan, 46-39

Staff photo by Erin O. Smith / 
The basketball goes through the net during the UTC vs. Liberty University womenÕs basketball game at McKenzie Arena Wednesday, November 21, 2018 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Staff photo by Erin O. Smith / The basketball goes through the net during the UTC vs. Liberty University womenÕs basketball game at McKenzie Arena Wednesday, November 21, 2018 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

It's often said in sports that defense wins championships. As the prep playoffs began for the Baylor boys' basketball team Tuesday night, the Red Raiders showed just how effective stingy defense can be when it's time to survive and advance.

The hosts limited Father Ryan to 19 points in the first three quarters and made the most of their limited opportunities on offense in a 46-39 victory in the first round of the TSSAA Division II-AA state playoffs. Baylor will travel to Memphis to take on Christian Brothers on Saturday with a spot in the final four on the line.

"I was really pleased with us on the defensive side of the ball," said Baylor coach Mark Price. "I felt like whatever we tried to do defensively from a game-planning standpoint, we executed. People talk about the offensive execution, but defensive execution against a team like them that grinds is equally as important."

Baylor (21-5) had to make every possession count on both ends of the court against an Irish team (5-22) that played ball control on offense and deployed a zone defense that forced the Red Raiders to be patient with their shot selection.

Baylor didn't take its first shot of the game until nearly three minutes after the opening tip, and each team took just four shots in the first quarter as the Red Raiders had a 6-5 lead at the end of the period.

"If you look at their scores throughout the season, that's the way they play everybody," Price said. "I told our team that they need to feel good about this win and the way they played. Our points per possession was right where we want it to be."

Baylor extended the lead in the second period, led by Blake Pruitt, who scored eight of his 13 points in the first half. Tennessee Mr. Basketball finalist Beyuan Hendricks was held to a single point in the half, but the home team took a six-point lead to the locker room.

Hendricks wouldn't stay quiet when his team needed him the most, however. With his team leading by eight to start the fourth quarter, Hendricks drained a 3-pointer and got fouled on the first play of the final period. After he made the free throw, Baylor had its largest lead of the night at 12.

Father Ryan tried to claw its way back in the game, scoring more points in the fourth quarter (20) than it did during the first three combined. The closest the Irish were able to get was four points, but Baylor salted the game away in the final two minutes, going 7-of-9 from the charity stripe.

Hendricks scored 11 in the fourth to lead Baylor with 14 points. Baylor shot 52 percent from the floor on just 27 attempts but also went 14-of-19 from the free-throw line and made 4 of 12 shots from behind the arc.

Contact Kevin Llewallyn at sports@timesfreepress.com.

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