Division 2 state basketball preview

from Commercial Appeal

Briarcrest (27-1) vs. Brentwood Academy (17-10)
Time: 10 a.m. Thursday LIVE AUDIO/PayPerView
What to watch for: The Lady Saints enter the tournament on a 26-game winning streak, having not lost since falling to Memphis Home Education Association back on Nov. 16. Coach Lee Smith has a balanced, versatile team that can hurt you in many ways. Miss Basketball finalist Jasmine Cincore (5-7 junior) is the floor leader and the player that makes the Saints go, while Sidney Smith (5-6 junior) provides good 3-point shooting. Bailey Kramer (5-10 senior) and twins Brynn and Elise Holden (5-7 sophomores) are also very solid players. The Saints were tremendous on defense in their 29-18 win over Father Ryan last week but will need to shoot better. If they do, they should have not trouble advancing to the D2-AA championship game, where they will most likely face a one-loss Nashville Ensworth team.
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Southern Baptist Educational Center (25-7) vs. Franklin Road Academy (28-3)
Time: 10 a.m. Friday LIVE AUDIO/PayPerView
What to watch for: The draw could have been a little bit kinder for the Trojans, who will face the unenviable task of trying to slow down FRA’s Derrica Wyatt, a two-time D2-A Miss Basketball winner who has signed with Oklahoma. It won’t be easy, but SBEC enters the tourmanent with plenty of momentum and good feelings following their 48-47 overtime victory over Ezell-Harding on Saturday. Eighth-grader Ashtyn Baker hit the game-winner at the buzzer in that one and she’ll need to continue to play above her years against FRA. Kimberlee Keltner (5-8 junior) was the team’s leading scorer in the regular season and Kayleigh Patterson (5-6 senior) and Karlee Russom (5-7 senior) also make big contributions for coach Barry Gray’s team.