In a battle of ranked basketball powerhouses, Hamilton Heights and Brentwood Academy locked horns in a barn-burner Thursday night.
The visiting Hawks (21-2), ranked No. 24 nationally, got a 24-point performance from Therren-Shelton-Szmidt in a 58-55 victory over Brentwood Academy (20-3), the top-ranked Division II-AA team in Tennessee.
It’s the third straight game that Szmidt has led the Hawks in scoring.
“It was great that we could get the lead, hold the lead the entire game and leave with a win,” Hawks coach Zach Ferrell said in a telephone interview. “Brentwood has great players, they’re well-coached and we knew it would be a difficult game to win.
“Therren made a ton of great plays for us and hit a lot of great shots.”
Szmidt made 4-of-7 3-pointers and the Hawks finished 6-of-15 behind the arc.
When it came down to individual scoring, however, Eagles sophomore Darius Garland stole the show, scoring a game-high 31 points, including 7-of-11 3-pointers. The Eagles were a collective 7-of-16 on 3s.
Garland scored 14 fourth-quarter points when the Eagles mounted a furious rally – they outscored the Hawks 23-14 – that came up just short.
Brentwood suffered its second consecutive loss after having dropped a 63-55 decision to rival Ensworth on Tuesday.
Szmidt scored 14 first-half points, helping Hamilton Heights build a 29-19 lead. He had 20 after three quarters.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 12 points and five steals.
The Hawks outrebounded the smaller Eagles, 33-21.
Hamilton Heights’ highly-touted Abdul Ado, who failed to score in the first half, finished with six points, seven defensive rebounds and a whopping six blocks. He also had four fouls.
Jeremiah Oatsvall, who led the Eagles to the 2015 state football championship, scored 10 points, six coming in the second half.
Hamilton Heights now turns its attention to the McCallie Classic on Friday and Saturday.
The Hawks will play Chattanooga Central, the state’s No. 1-ranked Class 2A team in one poll, at 6 p.m. on Friday at McCallie’s Sports and Activities Center. The host Blue Tornado takes on famed Oak Hill Academy, ranked No. 3 nationally, at 8 p.m.
On Saturday, Central takes on McCallie at 6 and then the biggest attraction of the weekend will be Hamilton Heights playing Oak Hill at 8 p.m.
The four teams have a combined 89-8 record
“It’s great to have the opportunity to play two games in front of Chattanooga fans,” Ferrell said. “Central will be another tough game and, obviously, Saturday’s going to be tough against Oak Hill. We’re excited to be playing both of those teams.”
What is it like for a coach and players to be facing the powerful Oak Hill squad, which went 40-1 last season, losing its final game in the national championship tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York.
“We’re really trying not to look forward to that game right now,” Ferrell said. “Our guys want to focus on Central.”
BOXSCORE
Hamilton Heights 15 14 15 14 – 58
Brentwood Academy 9 10 13 23 – 55
Hamilton Heights (58) – Abubakar 2, Ado 6, Therren Shelton-Szmidt 24, Nickeil Alexander-Walker 12, Massengill 2, Gilgeous-Alexander 6, Adheke 4.
Brentwood Academy (55) – P. Suedekum 2, Darius Garland 31, G. Suedekum, Jeremiah Oatsvall 10, Schoenwald 3, Johnson 4, Taylor 1, McNair 2, Pierson, Mathews 2.
3-Point Goals – Hamilton Heights 6 (Shelton-Szmidt 4, Alexander-Walker 2), Brentwood Academy 7 (Garland 7).
(E-mail Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @larryfleming44)