Stratford knocks off East Nashville 65-57 in Region 5-AA semifinals

Michael Murphy
The Tennessean
East Nashville's Jayden Lockett, center, looses control of the ball as he's defended by Stratford's Tendril Windrow (2) and Ivan Buford (5) during their Region 5-AA semifinals game on Tuesday. on Tuesday. Stratford won 65-57.

The Stratford boys basketball team used a dominant third-quarter effort to come from behind and capture a 65-57 Region 5-AA semifinal victory over East Nashville on Tuesday night.

Stratford, which suffered a pair of regular-season losses to East Nashville, quickly erased a six-point halftime deficit, reclaiming the lead with a momentous 22-4 run, and the District 10-AA tournament champion Spartans never looked back.

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Michael Wallace finished with a game-high 17 points and 13 rebounds to lead Stratford (20-9), which won despite committing 24 turnovers, while Kevonte Boyd shot 3 of 5 from beyond the arc, finishing with 12 points.

Taras Carter tallied a team-leading 15 points and five assists for East Nashville (30-2), which posted a perfect 28-0 regular season, while Mr. Basketball finalist Jayden Lockett added 12 points in the losing effort.

East Nashville shot just 3 of 20 from 3-point range. 

The Spartans, who secured a spot in Saturday’s Class AA sectionals with Tuesday's triumph, will square off against Whites Creek in Thursday’s Region 5-AA championship at East Nashville.

Reach Michael Murphy at mfmurphy@tennessean.com, 615-259-8026, and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.