NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Corn Elder scored 24 points, and Nathan Watkins added 20 more to help Ensworth rally to defeat Briarcrest 61-52 Saturday. The Tigers won their second consecutive TSSAA DII-AA basketball crown.
Elder, now a two-time tournament MVP, sank 5 of 6 free throws in the final 1:01 and finished 15 of 21 at the foul line for the Tigers (24-6).
Austin Nichols, a 6-foot-8 junior named II-AA Mr. Basketball after the game, had 26 points, four dunks, eight rebounds and five blocks for the Saints (24-6).
Watkins hit five 3-pointers in nine attempts, while William Downey hit three treys and added 13 points. Downey's two free throws with 26 seconds remaining gave Ensworth, which also won the II-AA basketball crown in 2009, its largest lead.
Elder scored 10 third-quarter points as Ensworth outscored Briarcrest 22-12 to rally from a nine-point deficit.
Loyola (Md.) signee Sean Tuohy Jr. had seven assists for Briarcrest.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
