Scoochie Smith made the game-ending Elam Ending shot, a 3-pointer from the corner in front of the Red Scare bench.
Here’s a quick recap:
What it means: The No. 2 seed Red Scare improved to 10-5 in six TBT appearances. They won a game for the first time since a run to the semifinals in 2022 and bounced back from a first-round loss to India Rising in 2023.
No. 7 seed DaGuys STL, a team made up of players from the St. Louis area, lost in the first round for the third straight year.
Stars of the game: Wes Clark and Ryan Mikesell each scored 16 for the Red Scare.
Key stat: The Red Scare made 14 of 31 3-pointers (45.2%), while DaGuys STL made 8 of 34 (23.5%).
Turning point: The Red Scare ended the first half with a 19-0 run in the last 5 minutes, 34 seconds to take a 50-35 halftime lead and then scored the first four points of the second half.
Roster news: The Red Scare had 10 players on the roster but eight at the game. Trey Landers did not practice with the team this week and opted to not play in the tournament. Grant Basile did practice with the team all week but had a personal obligation on Saturday and will be at the next game.
Looking ahead: The Red Scare will play No. 3 seed Carmen’s Crew, the Ohio State alumni team, in the second round at 8 p.m. Monday. Carmen’s Crew, with Andre Wesson scoring 12 points, beat Purple Hearts 93-58 in the final first-round game.
In other second-round game Monday at UD Arena, No. 1 seed Heartfire will play No. 4 We Are D3 at 6 p.m.
Heartfire beat Rise & Grind 68-64. We Are D3 won a TBT game for the first time after five first-round defeats, beating Sweet Home Alabama 88-72.
Monday’s winners will play in the Dayton Region final at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
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