LFO boys close out Preps tourney with win
The LFO Warriors endured a couple of tough losses during the first two days of the 2022 Best of Preps Tournament last week, but the Red-and-white rebounded to close out the tournament with a momentum-building victory headed into January.
MCCALLIE 81, LFO 47
The week began for the Warriors last Wednesday night with a loss to the Blue Tornado at Chattanooga State.
LFO trailed 20-16 after the first quarter, but McCallie took control over the next two periods as they outscored the Warriors, 40-16. The Chattanooga private school power knocked down 18 threes a team to pull away.
Jayden Dover and Brent Bowman scored 12 points each for LFO and Amari Burnett added 10. Bryce Brock scored four and Jackson Flanagan added three, while two points each from Jared Mitchell, Darian Keefe and Tyler Davis rounded out the scoring.
EAST HAMILTON 77, LFO 50
One day later, the Warriors fell to a good East Hamilton squad back at Chattanooga State. The Hurricanes stormed out to a 19-7 lead after the first quarter and took a 37-22 lead into halftime.
LFO briefly cut East Hamilton’s lead down to 12 in the third quarter, but the Hurricanes held the Warriors to just eight points in the fourth to complete the win.
Bowman had 16 points and Dover added 11, all in the second half. Brock finished with six, while Burnett and Mitchell each had five.
Three points by Davis and two each from Flanagan and Zyan Eastman rounded out the total for LFO.
LFO 64, SIGNAL MOUNTAIN 57
In the first boys’ game of the day on Friday, the Warriors outscored the Eagles in the seventh-place game.
Down three after one quarter, the Warriors rallied to take a 24-19 lead at intermission and were able to hang onto it in the second half, thanks in part to a senior and a freshman.
Mitchell, the rookie, had 13 of his team-high 15 points in the final two quarters, while Brock, the senior, scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half. Dover and Bowman both scored 11 to give LFO four players in double figures. Burnett added seven and Flanagan hit two big threes in the fourth period to finish with six points.
Chris Kennedy led all scorers with 33 points for the Eagles. He had five 3-pointers and 19 points in the fourth quarter alone to try and lead the comeback attempt.
LFO ( 7- 7) will get back to Region 6- 3A action on Friday this week with an 8:30 p.m. tip at Ridgeland.