Todd Beamer utilized team balance to defeat Auburn Riverside 72-55 on Saturday, February 13, in a SPSL Class 4A boys basketball tournament game at the ShoWare Center to earn the league's No. 7 seed to the Class 4A West Central/Southwest bi-district tournament.
Beamer (15-6) travels to regular season SPSL South nemesis Curtis on Thursday, February 18, in opening district action.
"Our spacing was good and we shared the ball well," said Titan head coach Brent Brilhante. "We moved the ball well and gave Kevin (Davis) his touches. The team needs to trust each other to pass the ball to people that can score. Our obvious No. 1 option is Kevin, but we want to have balance."
Auburn Riverside rode its early quickness to a 14-4 lead while the Titans received good looks at the basket, but simply were unable to make shots. Todd Beamer began heating up from outside and scored eight consecutive points to trail only 14-12 on the strength of a Terelle Loggins breakaway basket ahead of a Davis three-pointer and a three-point goal from Lorenzo Holcomb. Loggins buried a three-pointer at the end of the quarter to keep Beamer within 16-15 after one quarter.
Davis's presence on defense with blocked shots and rebounds surfaced as Todd Beamer built a 29-24 lead with 2:05 left until halftime.
Auburn Riverside closed within 29-28 on an Auburn Riverside bucket, but Mapa Nefi triggered and hit a corner three-point laser shot to send TB into the locker room with a 32-28 halftime lead.
The teams jockeyed back and forth until the Titans held a 36-34 margin in the third quarter. Mefi ignited a six point Titan charge with two pull up jumpers for a 42-34 lead with 3:28 remaining in the third quarter. Beamer dished off nice passes for scores as the Ravens fell away.
Beamer led 51-39 after three quarters and Auburn Riverside got no closer than eight points the rest of the way. Gradually extending their lead after the Ravens drew within 57-49 early in the fourth quarter, the Titans' team balance established a 71-52 dominance with just less than two minutes left in regulation.
"We've worked out our kinks now, which makes us more prepared for district," concluded the 6-foot-8 Davis, who scored 17 points and recovered 14 rebounds while blocking four shots and catching four steals.
Loggins notched a team high18 points while teammate Mefi had 15 points.
Ravens guard Ryan Rogers had 23 points and 12 rebounds.
