Merrol Hyde Magnet senior forward Zach Shonting releases an interior shot over Red Boiling springs junior Jordan Powell during second-quarter action. Shonting scored nine points.
RED BOILING SPRINGS The Merrol Hyde Magnet boys basketball team arrived at Red Boiling Springs ready to shoot.
The visiting Hawks hit eight 3-pointers and had three players score in double figures during their 62-41 victory over the fourth-seeded Bulldogs in a District 8-A Tournament quarterfinal contest played on Tuesday evening.
Seniors Jenord Taylor (15 points) and Tucker Beals (12) joined junior Connor Dunn (13 points) in double figures as the fifth-seeded Hawks (6-13) won at RBS (10-23) for the second time this season.
“We were confident, because we had come in here and won pretty easily (a 59-44 victory on Jan. 5) the first time,” Dunn said. “We knew that we didn’t shoot well the second time around at our place, and we lost in double-overtime (in a 51-41 loss on Jan. 28).”
The Hawks shot 55.8 percent from the field (24-of-43) on Tuesday, making 8 of 13 from three-point range.
“It’s odd … sometimes, we actually shoot worse at home, which doesn’t make any sense,” Hawk head coach Kory Craighead said.
Merrol Hyde Magnet junior Connor Dunn elevates to shoot a 3-pointer over Red Boiling Springs junior Jordan Powell during first-quarter action. Dunn scored 13 points.
One of those 3-pointers came from senior post player Zach Shonting in the waning seconds of the first quarter.
“He’s never really going to shoot a three unless it’s the last seconds of a quarter,” Craighead said of Shonting. “Jenord found him wide open, and when he’s spotted up, he can usually hit from anywhere. That was a huge lift.”
Shonting provided seven points in the opening quarter as the Hawks held a 17-9 lead after the first eight minutes.
The Hawks extended the margin to 12 points (29-17) after sophomore guard Ollie Talmadge picked up a steal and turned it into a layin with 2:39 left in the half.
Merrol Hyde Magnet led 31-21 at halftime after Beals hit a 10-foot, baseline jump shot with seven seconds remaining.
“This whole season, we haven’t had one man score,” Dunn said. “It’s all been spread out. There’s no one person you can guard.”
Merrol Hyde Magnet senior Tucker Beals maneuvers inside against Red Boiling Springs junior Josh Tirjan during second-quarter action. Beals scored 12 points.
Taylor helped the Hawks pull further away early ln the third quarter, completing a three-point play at the 5:14 mark before forcing a turnover on the next possession, which resulted in two free throws from Beals. The Hawks held a 38-24 lead at that point.
“From all five (starters), and even from Tucker Beals as the sixth guy off the bench, they all hit shots when it mattered and played great defense,” Craighead said.
Taylor, Dunn and sophomore Connor McCutcheon all hit two 3-pointers.
“Jenord had a good shooting night,” Craighead said. “He’s shown signs that he’s really worked on his outside shooting as well. He’s always been able to take it to the goal and hit elbow jumpers, but defenders have been giving him that extra step. He’s challenged himself, and I’ve challenged him to make that outside shot more reliable.”
Red Boiling Springs senior guard Chance Asberry led the Bulldogs with 13 points.
The Hawks earned three additional games with the victory. They advanced to face top-seeded Watertown at 6 p.m. on Thursday at Gordonsville and are slated to play on Saturday as well in either the championship game or consolation contest.
Merrol Hyde Magnet also advanced to the Region 4-A Tournament with Tuesday’s victory.
It was the third consecutive season that the Hawks faced RBS in their tournament opener, alternating wins and losses over those three contests. Merrol Hyde Magnet’s only other regional appearance came thanks to a win over the Bulldogs in the district quarterfinals two years ago.
“It’s tournament time,” Dunn said. “It’s time to come prepared.”
Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.
MERROL HYDE MAGNET (62) – Jenord Taylor 15, Connor Dunn 13, Tucker Beals 12, Zach Shonting 9, Connor McCutcheon 6, Jacob Richardson 3, Kyle Richardson 2, Ollie Talmadge 2.
RED BOILING SPRINGS (41) –Chance Asberry 13, Elijah Byfield 9, Jordan Powell 7, Justin Bergdorff 5, Hunter Kirk 4, Ian Pandorf 3.
Half: 31-21, Merrol Hyde Magnet. Three-point goals: Merrol Hyde Magnet 8 (Dunn 2, McCutcheon 2, Taylor 2, J. Richardson 1, Shonting 1), Red Boiling Springs 5 (Asberry 3, Byfield 1, Pandorf 1). Records: Merrol Hyde Magnet 6-13, Red Boiling Springs 10-23.