Welcome to Atlanta for the final weekend of the official "live" period for the On the Radar Hoops Power 24 at lovely EmoryUniversity.
A brewing showdown in the 15 and under On the Radar division was brewing as two of our top 15 and under squads the Tennessee Tigers and Team Nashville appeared headed for a collision course in the semi-finals.
Now the good news or the bad news.
Bad news first...Team Nashville battled but fell to Team Forest 50-47 right after the Tennessee Tigers fell in a close one 59-58 to the Georgia Kings.
Good news the two would meet in the consolation bracket and neither squad came to disappoint.
Jordan Bone (Ensworth) converted an errant shot at the buzzer and Team Nashville escaped with a 49-48 win over the Tigers.
Things looked daunting from the outset for the Tigers as they fell behind early and trailed 31-18 at the half.
Pride and determination would rear its competitive head as the Tigers went on a 15-5 run behind Kenny Bunton (East Hamilton) and brought the game back to reality.
The Tigers took their first lead on a put back from Sterling Hewitt (Pearl Cohn) but it was short lived as Bone countered and Team Nashville led 42-41 late in the contest.
The game went back and forth for the final two minutes before a Jordan Long (Chattanooga Central) runner put the Tigers up by three.
Bone continued his heroics with a deep three to knot the score at 47 with only 30 ticks remaining on the game clock.
The Tigers converted one of two from the line and took the lead with 18 seconds remaining.
Having fouls to give the Tigers smartly fouled on successive possessions in an attempt to run out the game clock.
On the ensuing possession the attempt to foul Bone was not whistled and he launched a desperation heave towards the bucket and recovered to snatch the carom and convert the game winner lifting Team Nashville to the 49-48 victory.
Everyone should be proud of the combined efforts of both teams as they battled to the end.
Bunton took scoring honors with a fine game ending with 22 points. Hewitt added 12 for the Tigers.
Bone led Team Nashville with 15 followed by Clayton Hughes (USJ) with 10.
