The special run of the 2018-19 Bartlett Panthers was in jeopardy, trailing 29-15 to the Whitehaven Tigers at halftime Monday night.
The standing-room only crowd in the Bartlett Gymnasium was a sea of split emotions. The fans wearing the black and gold of the Tigers were happy and optimistic at that moment of the 2019 Class 3A Sectional contest.
Meanwhile those sporting red, white and blue in support of the Panthers were nervous their team was 16 minutes away from the season ending.
Bartlett displayed signs of life, erasing the deficit to take a 38-37 lead late in the third quarter courtesy of a Wynne Brown Jr. triple. But the moment was a short-lived breath of relief for the Panthers. Whitehaven responded, outscoring Bartlett 28-11 the rest of the game to prevail 28-11.
“That’s how they are, a bunch of fighters,” Bartlett Head Coach Dion Real said of players. “They are a bunch of under-the-radar guys. They come in every single day and give everything they have on and off the court. This is a very, very special group.”
The 2018-19 Bartlett Panthers are winners of more than 30 games, District 14-3A champions and kings of Region 7-3A. But the main goal all season was to get to the Class 3A State Basketball tournament. All that stood in their way Monday night was Whitehaven.
The Tigers made the trip to B-Town last season and ended the Panthers’ run. Bartlett came out determined to reverse that result with a 6-3 lead, courtesy of a Brown shot and a Rodney Mason Jr. triple.
The Tigers clawed back with an 11-0 run to close out the first quarter. The highlight of the period was a one-hand slam by Tiger guard Matthew Murrell. He was fouled and made the free throw for a three-point play.
The Tigers’ 14-6 advantage grew to 29-15 by halftime. The third quarter belonged to the Panthers, with Bartlett outscoring Whitehaven 23-12.
The Panthers used full-court pressure to cause Tiger turnovers and miscues. Bartlett received big baskets from Antavion Collum, Jeff Walker, Sly Thompson and Takori Rooks.
After the Panthers took the lead at 38-37, the Tigers got another clutch shot, courtesy of Murrell. Whitehaven held a slim lead at 41-38 heading into the fourth.
The Tigers grabbed momentum early in the final period when Devine Owens scored on a layup and drew a foul. His three-point play made the tally 44-38.
Whitehaven was minutes away from booking a trip to Murfreesboro as Murrell made big shot after big shot. He scored seven points in the fourth quarter to help the Tigers advance.
As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Real started to realize the chapter of “coach and player” with his 12 seniors was coming to a close. When Real arrived to Bartlett four years ago, his mission was to restore the pride in Panther Hoops with his new bunch.
“On Senior Night I had a tribute for them, just talking about how they are a part of my family,” he said. “When I say that, I mean the rest of my life. These kids will always be connected with me. I will always be there for them.”
Real said Bartlett basketball will always be grateful for Wynne Brown Jr., Jeff Walker, Sly Thompson, Tyler Carpenter, Jalen Cincore, Shemar Johnson, Jake Manley, Earl Whitley, Antavion Collum, Myron Fair Jr., Jason Coady and Takori Rooks.
“As far as the program, not knocking anything that happened before we got here, as far as Bartlett basketball these kids will be the face of what got it going,” Real concluded. “They bought into everything we did for them. I’ve been proud of them since day one.”
