It was almost a foregone conclusion to all those who pay attention to MTAC basketball that the Boyd Broncos and Franklin Classical Knights would meet in the boys MTAC championship game Saturday evening.
The Knights finished the season at the top with the Broncos just behind them at the No. 2 spot.
Both teams averaged double-digit wins in their victories this season but in their two head-to-head matchups the Knights were able to sweep the Broncos with size, speed, depth and surgically sharp 3-point shooting from seemingly every member of their team.
Having just watched the Lady Broncos upset Lighthouse Christian and take the girls MTAC tournament championship, the Broncos looked to find the same pixie dust the ladies used to hopefully overcome their own nemesis and steal the MTAC boys championship. However the bag of dust must have been empty, as the Broncos were once again overwhelmed by the Knights shooting prowess and endless depth to the tune of a 84-54 loss.
Boyd’s road to the championship game started Thursday night with a blowout 87-58 win over the Western Kentucky Blazers from the MTAC’s northern division. This win advanced the Broncos to the semifinals Friday night against the northern division’s top team, the Aaron Academy Royals from Hendersonville.
The Royals led until midway through the third quarter when Boyd junior Jayden Reno would connect on a putback to give the Broncos their first lead, 27-26. At that point the lead would go back and forth until it was even at 58 with 14 seconds left and Boyd having possession.
The rock found its way to senior Joelah Solomon who got fouled going to the basket with 6 seconds left and a chance to go up by two. Solomon’s first attempt was off but he had one more chance to give Boyd the lead with his second attempt. This shot also went awry but senior Tyler Beaty was able to spin behind the Royal defender attempting to box him out and get the rebound.
Beaty immediately went up off the block and banked in the shot that would give the Broncos a 60-58 victory and advance them to Saturday’s championship game against the Knights of Franklin Classical School.
Tyler Beaty and Solomon were both named at MTAC All-Conference players as they both averaged double-doubles for the season in points and rebounds. Beaty and fellow senior Trey Cantrell were also selected as all-tournament members.
The Broncos still have a title game to win as they travel to Dayton this week to compete in the NACA national tournament in the division VI bracket. They were victorious in this tournament two years ago and won the 2014-15 Division VI National Championship and will now try and make it two national banners in a three-year span.