Red Bank's Tory Sewell drives to the basket past Brainerd's Malik Hymon in a December game at Red Bank's Susan Ingram Thurman Gymnasium. The Lions are also hosting the District 6-AA tournament.With four players on the Red Bank boys' basketball team who can throw down a windmill dunk, senior guard Tory Sewell hopes his final high school postseason is filled with powerful slams and a piece of the net.
However, the Lions' high-flying bunch must survive a gantlet inside their Susan Ingram Thurman Gymnasium to climb the ladder by the end of the District 6-AA tournament.
"I am a big competitor, and our district is full of others, too," said Sewell, who has averaged 18 points and four assists per game this season. "Any team can show up and win. Every night is a battle and a dog fight. Our team can win it all, but we have to lock in together."
Red Bank (17-10) is seeded fourth for the tournament, but its notable wins in 2018-19 include a sweep of 6-AA regular-season champion Brainerd, a Christmas tournament victory over Brentwood High School in Nashville - the Bruins have won 21 games so far this season - and a recent victory over Howard that ended with a Lucas Brown Jr. dunk that spread like wildfire on social media.
The Lions received a bye in the district tournament, so they'll tip off their postseason in the 6-AA quarterfinals Friday at 7 in an elimination game against East Ridge (16-12). The two split their regular-season meetings, with the Pioneers winning 72-43 at home on Jan. 25 but losing a four-point lead in the final 54 seconds Feb. 8 at Red Bank as the versatile, 6-foot-2 Sewell made a 3-pointer, forced a steal on an inbounds pass and dunked to help the Lions win 59-56.
Sewell posted back-to-back 30-point performances early in the season - including making seven 3-pointers against Soddy-Daisy - scored 28 points in a home win over Brainerd and is 51-for-133 (38.3 percent) from 3-point range this season.
"He has spent so much time in the gym and has really done a great job picking up his teammates," Lions coach Nick Fike said. "It's been intriguing to watch him grow as a young man, basketball player and leader. He is leaving a mark behind those under him can follow."
The Lions thrive on transition play and try to build momentum when opportunities for emphatic dunks occur.
"We have a team with multiple scorers and guys who can do different things," Fike said. "We have the depth and two savvy leaders in Tory and Calvin (Jackson). When we play that go-go-go style, we are going to get fans off their seats."
The semifinals are Saturday, with the Red Bank-East Ridge winner facing top-seeded Brainerd (15-9) at 7:30 p.m. and No. 2 Tyner (18-6) taking on No. 3 Howard (20-6) at 4:30. The district championship is Tuesday night at 7:30.
Brainerd has won 10 of its past 11 games, but Panthers coach Levar Brown called this tournament the "Bermuda Triangle" because of the danger it presents. First-year Howard coach James Talley echoed that wariness.
"East Ridge moves the ball well and shoots the 3-ball better than anyone," Talley said. "Red Bank is as athletic as anyone in the state. Brainerd has put all the pieces together, and Tyner is well-oiled. We are probably in the toughest district in the state."
District tournament notes: Signal Mountain's boys won the 6-AA title last year, while 6-AA runner-up Tyner avenged that loss in the Region 3-AA tournament title game and joined the Eagles in advancing to state. Signal Mountain's girls are going for their fifth straight district championship. In the District 5-AAA tournament at Soddy-Daisy, the fourth-ranked Bradley Central Bearettes are shooting for their ninth straight championship. Among the 5-AAA boys, Cleveland has won 15 straight games and is looking for its third straight district title.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.