3 takeaways from MBA’s DII-AA title win over Brentwood Academy
Montgomery Bell Academy (16-2) knows what it feels like to win the big one, again. It felt like 2010 all over again for Big Red head coach Kevin Anglin as his team defeated Brentwood Academy (20-4), 72-51, to win this…
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Continue ReadingMontgomery Bell Academy (16-2) knows what it feels like to win the big one, again.
It felt like 2010 all over again for Big Red head coach Kevin Anglin as his team defeated Brentwood Academy (20-4), 72-51, to win this season’s Division II-AA Boys State Tournament Championship.
Anglin, in his 18th season, now has two state titles as the head coach of MBA.
Here are 3 takeaways from the Big Red’s win over the Eagles.
Anyone can get hot for MBA
Senior guard Miles Versa was the one who led the offense in the Big Red’s quarterfinal win at MUS, with 17 points on 6 of 12 shooting. Sophomore forward Joshua Roberts was the only who led the offense in MBA’s double-digit win over Knoxville Catholic in the semifinals round, with 12 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, three steals and one assist.
In Saturday’s championship game, senior shooting guard Will Montana led the offense, with 25 points on 10 of 12 shooting, which included going 5 for 7 from deep.
This was probably one of Montana’s best offensive performances of the postseason. As talented as the 6-foot-4 shooting guard is, his number hasn’t had to be called in the past two games, because one of his teammates had it going.
That’s a great luxury to have, and the main reason is because of the unselfishness of this team.
“We have so many players. We’re hard to guard when you try to take out one person,” said Montana, who also had five rebounds and three assists. “You have to deal with the next four still. We have a lot of good players.”
Montana ended his night with a breakaway dunk late in the fourth quarter, with his team up 69-49, while admitting he was trying to dunk “really hard.” It was pre-celebration to ignite the crowd for a state title that was well on its way to the Big Red.
MBA’s guards set the tone early
Versa and sophomore guard Marcel Reed set the tone from the tip, pushing the basketball up the floor, swaying the basketball to every angle of the floor until a great shot was available. The Big Red recorded 19 assists on 25 made field goals.
Reed had five of those assists.
The pace of the game was in MBA’s favor. It was able to get up and down the floor with ease, getting scores in transition.
The duo of Versa and Reed made it possible.
“One of the things we try to get them to buy into is the idea we have depth of really good players,” Anglin said. “And not one guy has to do it. They all are willing to work together and share it, and that’s really hard to play against.
“Some nights it’s Miles, some nights it’s Marcel, some nights it’s Will, some nights it’s Jackson (Francis). Some nights it’s all four of them. When they’re all engaged, that’s when we are at our best. Tonight, they were engaged.”
Big Red’s defense smothered McNair
MBA’s defense didn’t allow junior shooting guard Trent McNair to get any great looks at the rim. The Big Red sent double teams, sometimes three players, his way each time he tried to make a move towards the basket.
McNair was kept out of the paint a lot Saturday night and was forced into a lot of bad shots. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard finished the game with 17 points on 5 of 17 shooting.
All-Tournament Team
Chandler Jackson (Christian Brothers), Tyler Tanner (Brentwood Academy), McNair, Francis, Montana and Reed were named to the DII-AA All-Tournament Team.
Junior point BJ Edwards (Knoxville Catholic) was crowned this season’s DII-AA Mr. Basketball Award winner. Edwards became the first player in school history to win the award.