BTW boys and girls take District 16-A titles

image and article from Commercial Appeal

Booker T. Washington’s Terrica Robinson, who had 22 points and 10 rebounds, lunges for the ball during the Warriors’ District 16-A championship game win over Memphis Business Academy.

It took the Booker T. Washington boys basketball team about 2½ quarters to get going Wednesday night. But once it did, the Warriors turned in a championship-caliber performance.

The Warriors used a smothering defense down the stretch to pull away and defeat visiting Memphis Academy of Health Sciences, 65-59, to capture the District 16-A tournament championship. Both teams advance to regional play next week in Jackson.

Tournament Most Valuable Player Zarmarlus Griffin scored 18 points to lead BTW, which trailed 41-30 midway through the fourth quarter.

“Hats off to MAHS,” said Warriors coach Fred Horton. “This is the third time we’ve played them this year and they came in with a very good game plan. Sometimes, when you play a team that many times, it makes a difference.”

It was all MAHS early as the Lions picked apart the Warriors’ interior defense to score easy basket after easy basket.

That 11-point lead was their largest of the game, though, and Booker T. Washington outscored the Lions 13-5 the rest of the quarter to trail 46-43 heading into the fourth.

“I think inserting Andrew Bell was a turning point in the game,” said Horton. “He doesn’t play much but his defense ... he’s a scrapper and I think he played one (heck) of a game.

“I just reminded them of the importance of the game and remind them of the fact that we have to play defense and rebound in order to be successful.”

Bell also hit a big 3-pointer in the fourth for the Warriors and inside players Derwin Fitch and Torreirous Carwell (11 points each) and Angelo Smith came up with big buckets down the stretch to help the Warriors pull away.

Kelvin Pruitt scored a game-high 20 to lead the Lions, who also lost to BTW two weeks ago in the Class A city championship game at FedExForum.

“I don’t take away any positives from this,” said Lions coach Todd Day. “We feel like we’re the better team, but they put pressure on our guards and we couldn’t handle it. It’s the same story.”

BTW also got a strong challenge in the girls title game, mainly in the form of Memphis Business Academy freshman Marnesha Hamer, before winning 62-55.

Terrica Robinson had a terrific all-around floor game to lead the Warriors, with 22 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and five steals. Renisha Hale added 18 points and 15 boards for BTW.

“We got caught playing helter-skelter,” said Warriors coach Derek Hunter. “We were just running down the court and jacking the ball up ... Robinson, there’s no one that can guard her one-on-one.” Hamer had a big game for the Lady Executives with 29 points and 27 rebounds.