Christopher Bendolph and the Brew Tech Rams earned a spot in the Class 4A championship game with a win over Columbia on Wednesday. (Staff Photo)

Staff Report
(Feb. 25, 2010)

BIRMINGHAM - Brewbaker Tech is one win away from the school’s first-ever state championship.

The Rams (24-5) needed a big day from Univeristy of Virginia signee K.T. Harrell and they got it in a 65-54 victory over Columbia (Huntsville) in the boys Class 4A semifinals at the BJCC Arena on Wednesday.

Harrell saved his best for last, scoring 11 points in the final quarter. He finished with 27 points and had 10 rebounds to go with the total.

"I had to pick and choose my times to be aggressive,” Harrell said. “I didn’t want to force anything."

Harrell was 8-of-15 from the field and 10-of-13 at the foul line. He had been held in-check for most of the second half before catching fire in the final quarter.

“He had to be patient and let things open up for him,” Brew Tech coach Chauncey Shines said. “He couldn’t force it, although there were times when we got into forcing the ball inside and we had some turnovers.”

Giovanni Smith added 16 points and Chris Bendolph had 15 for Brewbaker. Bendolph also had nine rebounds Brew Tech held a 49-32 advantage on the boards.

“We just had to go out there and play as hard as we can,” Harrell said. “Play like our last game and we definitely did.”

Brew Tech is making its first state championship game appearance in the school’s short history. The Rams do not have a home gymnasium and played most of their home games at Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery.

Derek Kelly led Columbia with 16 points and Denzel Harrison had 11. Robert Flowers cleared a team-high eight rebounds.

Brew Tech will face Ramsay in the 4A championship game on Saturday at 11 a.m. A win would give the school its first title in any sport.

“It’s exciting but we don’t want to leave here without the blue trophy,” Bendolph said. “We said before (Wednesday’s) game that we had to stay within ourselves, not get to pumped up and go out and play. We have to do the same (Saturday).”