Though the Warrior Academy Braves and the Marion Military Institute Tigers have had some nail-bitters in the past, but when they came together Saturday night for the West Area II Class 1A Area Championship there were no fingernails to be found as MMI easily captures the crown with a 41-31 victory.

After witnessing the Braves 40-38 victory over Central Christian Academy on Friday night the MMI Tigers expected the Braves to be ready to fight for the title come Saturday night in the championship game.

But the Braves didn’t put up much of a fight at all. “We just didn’t come ready to play today,” Braves head coach Rob Hall said. “We lost our steam before the half and just fell flat. I think the 31 points will a test for that.”

The Braves took an early 8-2 three minutes into the first period and held it until the buzzer sounded. Neither team could really get things rolling early on. By the half it was a 13-11 game in favor of the Braves.

Thankfully the Tigers decided to pick up the pace in the third period and outscored the Braves 14-5 to take a 25-18 lead. After that it was a coast to the finish line.

“We played real physical,” MMI head coach Michelle Ivey said. “I think our rebounding was the key for us. We were able to keep them out of the middle all night.”

In the second half the Braves were outscored 30-18 and looked as if they could do nothing with the basketball. “I’m very disappointed with our effort tonight,” Jarvis said. “I thought it was a total lack of energy.”