If there's any tried and true method for motivating a teenager, it's through his stomach, or at least it was Thursday night for East Hamilton basketball coach Andy Webb.

Down nine points against a hot-shooting Red Bank team at halftime of the late boys' game in the Times Free Press Best of Preps Tournament at Chattanooga State, Webb got his players' attention with the promise of free food. After a resulting rally and 73-72 win, it's a debt Webb will happily pay.

"At halftime we're down nine and Red Bank was shooting the ball great," the first-year coach said. "We didn't have an answer, so I promised the kids Buffalo Wild Wings if we pulled this one out. I guess we're going to Buffalo Wild Wings and celebrate. They played hard for food tonight."

It didn't work right away, though. Five quick Lions points, including a 3-pointer from Lucas Brown, pushed the lead to 14 to start the second half, but led by Darwin Randolph, Marcus Long and Ian Shropshire, East Hamilton put together a 23-8 run to end the period up 58-57.

Red Bank went right back up as Brown, a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football recruit, scored 10 of his game-high 30 points for a 70-65 lead in the first 4:43 of the final quarter. The Lions did not score again, however, until the final second as they settled for several 3-point shots down the stretch.

The Hurricanes (6-7), on the other hand, drove the lane on every possession, with Jordan Harris and Long each scoring four points for a 72-70 lead. Randolph, fouled after making a steal with 12 seconds to play, hit one of two free throws for a three-point lead.

Brown, perhaps thinking the lead was two, drove the length of the court for an easy layup, but the clock hit zero as the ball went through.

East Hamilton will face Baylor in a semifinal game at 8:30 p.m. Friday. Red Bank (7-6) goes against Notre Dame at 2:30 p.m. in the consolation bracket.

Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.

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Grub club: Motivated East Hamilton rallies to edge Red Bank in Best of Preps thriller - Chattanooga Times Free Press