The Webb School of Knoxville Spartans faced the Brentwood Academy Eagles in a TSSAA Division II-AA state tournament semifinal at Hooper Eblen Center on Friday, March 3, 2023, in Cookeville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Parker)
BY JESSE SMITHEY and DANNY PARKER
COOKEVILLE — The opportunity was there. The seizing of that just didn’t happen.
Webb School of Knoxville, seeking to exact revenge on the team that ended its season a year ago, failed to make the second-half push needed against the Brentwood Academy boys basketball team in a Division II-AA state semifinal at Tennessee Tech.
The Eagles scored a 62-57 win over Webb on Friday night, though the score wasn’t all that close in the second half. Only a late 3-point barrage by Webb freshman Owen Lentz closed the gap in a game that was not in doubt during the final 12 minutes or so.
“We weren’t at our best, but a lot of that goes to them (Brentwood Academy) and their credit,” said Webb coach Ricky Norris. “They were a lot of the reason why we weren’t very good.
“Proud of our guys. We had a heck of a year when you look at what we’ve accomplished and done and been through. I couldn’t be more proud. Won the East Region and advanced to the Final Four in this league.”
Webb (24-8) wanted to keep the game low scoring against Brentwood Academy, Norris said, even though the Spartans like to play with speed most nights. Match-up wise, Norris felt a slower rhythm to the game would benefit Webb on Friday against the Eagles.
Webb trailed by just two (22-20) at the half. But Brentwood Academy (29-3) constructed a 13-3 run in the first four minutes of the third quarter to take command of the contest. That advantage swelled to as many as 15 in the third and BA led 46-33 with a quarter to play.
The Spartans lost to BA, 62-59, in last year’s state quarterfinal round in Nashville. And this meeting Friday was the first between the two since that 2022 postseason encounter.
Webb just couldn’t throw a comeback scare into the Eagles in the fourth, though. It never got closer than 11 with its starters in. Webb’s starters checked out with 1:48 to play, down 15.
Lentz made three 3s in the last 1:08 to make the score respectable. He finished with a team-high 18 points and made 5 of 6 from deep.
Webb’s Mr. Basketball finalist Lukas Walls had 12 points on 4-for-8 shooting. But the Samford signee needed more than twice those eight shots for Webb to keep pace with Brentwood and its star point guard Tyler Tanner’s pace.
BA just did a good job defensively of limiting Walls’ opportunities.
Meanwhile, Tanner, a junior and also a Mr. Basketball finalist, led the Eagles with a game-high 24 points on 10-for-17 shooting.
Brentwood Academy will take on Briarcrest (33-2) on Saturday night for the championship. Webb was seeking its first championship-game appearance since winning it all in 2019.
“Coming in, you watch them on film, and, man, they’re fun to watch,” Webb coach Ricky Norris said about Brentwood Academy. “Unfortunately, it’s difficult when you’re the opposing team. They just have a lot of pieces, led by their point guard — who, I love the way he plays. It’s obvious that his teammates love playing with him. He’s talented. He plays with a great pace.
“But it’s not just him. They’ve got pieces. Guys who can shoot. Guys who can defend. And two long guys inside. And they’re really well-coached. We knew it was going to be a big challenge coming in.”
5STAR PHOTOS: Webb School of Knoxville vs. Brentwood Academy – 2023 Division II-AA Semifinals