Freshmen take center court during Branded for Knowledge Classic
Photo by Tevin Stinson
Demons hold off Spartans to take 2016 title
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
With December upon us the 2016-2017 basketball season is starting to pick up steam. While upper classmen prepare for big name tournaments like the David Lash, earlier this week the ninth graders took center stage during the Branded for Knowledge (BFK) Basketball Classic.
This year eight local schools; Atkins, East Forsyth, Glenn, Mount Tabor, North Forsyth, Parkland, Reagan, and R.J. Reynolds battled it out for the title and bragging rights for an entire year.
The only tournament in the area exclusive to high school freshman the BFK Classic was started by security expert Bobby Kimbrough in 2014. Each year the tournament held at Glenn High School is filled with tons of excitement and this years’ tournament was arguably the best yet.
Here’s a summary of the semi-finals and the finals.
Mt. Tabor 49, Reagan 47; after picking up easy wins in their first round games against North Forsyth and Atkins, the Spartans and Raiders added another chapter to their storied rivalry that dates back to 2005 when Reagan first opened.
What looked like an easy win for the Spartans early quickly turned into an instant classic. In the first half the Spartans used their height, and a fast pace offense to jump out to an early lead, but the Raiders came storming back. After trailing 31-18 at the half Reagan started the third quarter with a 19-8 run to cut the lead to only two points.
The Raiders threatened again late but in the end, the Spartans managed to hold on to the lead, and take the victory. Javon McAlister, Ogden Kirk, Michael Rawlinson, Davis Blackwell led the way for the Spartans. Aaron Potter and Happle Randolph put on notable performances’ for the Raiders.
The second semi-final match up
Parkland 46, Reynolds 50; the second semi-final match up was just as exciting as the first. In the battle between the Mustangs and the Demons, the lead changed at least 10 times. Both teams used a fast pace offense to catch the other defense off guard.
In the game filled with “and ones” and sharp shooting from behind the arc the Demons upset Parkland, 50-46. Reynolds was led by Tyler Thaxton, Travon Murphy and William Capeeze. Tamauri Miller, Chaz Phifer and Denaris Wardlow had stellar games for the Mustangs.
The championship game
Mt. Tabor 37, Reynolds 45; in the championship game the Cinderella story continued for Reynolds who had the seventh seed coming into the tournament. Behind some strong guard play from tournament MVP Travon Murphy, the Demons escaped with the victory.
Capeeze and Miles Simms also had productive games. Although they fell short of reaching their goal McAlister, Rawlinson and Blackwell all had good games for the Spartans.
