View from 315A

On Monday night, MPW and I attended the first two games of the third night of the Rocky Top Basketball League at Bearden High School. Note: The league has finally updated its web page.

The first game saw the First Tennessee team defeat Ray’s ESG 95-93. My notes:

• Cameron Tatum consistently outplayed Scotty Hopson, whom he will be competing with for playing time. Tatum scored 43 and remains the league’s leading scorer. In three games he has had and 37, 42, 43 points for a 40.5 average.
  
• Hopson finished with 20 points. He did not start as he arrived right at tipoff.
  
• Hopson runs at such an intentionally methodical pace that it has to consume more energy than running the court at all times.
  
• Brian Williams returned after missing the last game with a strain suffered while lifting weights.
  
• Bobby Maze showed great range on defense. He guarded Cameron Tatum on the perimeter and Zach Hyatte in the post. He is one of the few players in the league who conscientiously plays defense. He also scored 20 points and hit on three-pointers. Though his range is not the highlight of his game, Tennessee will lose little in this department with Maze replacing Ramar Smith (only 5 of 22) at the point guard position.
  
• At several junctures, Ray’s ESG had four Vols on the floor at one time: Hopson, Maze, Steven Pearl, and Williams.
  
• After being booed for not receiving a charge call on Brian Williams, Ben Bosse sealed the win for his team, scoring many points in crunch time. The former Tennessee walk-on and current King College Tornado finished with 21 points.
  
• Most importantly, Steven Pearl did not draw a charge the entire game. He did not even attempt on in the first half! His only flop came 14:52 into the second half. His highlight was yelling “Oh shit!” so loud 17:54 in game that the otherwise worthless p.a. announcer even had to comment on it. Oh, and he scored 13 points.
  

  The games were played inexplicably with a wave basketball. Why?

The next game saw the HT Group (featuring Tyler Smith) come from behind to defeat Toyota of Knoxville (Wayne Chism) 102-99 in a battle of the league’s previously undefeated teams. My notes:

• Wayne Chism arrived before the first game after leaving early in his last game. There was no incident at this game. He scored 27 points. In failed to score in two crucial possessions, including an embarrassing air ball while trying to take Smith off of the dribble.
  
• Smith wore Chism’s #4 warm up jersey as he wears #4 for his team in this league. He led all scorers with 29 points on 13-of-25 shooting.
  
• After hitting 11-of-12 three-point attempts in the previous game, Courtney Pigram was not as hot in this game. He still scored 21 points.
  
• College of Charleston’s Tony White Jr. Rose to the occasion hitting a three-point bucket and an amazing driving basket to keep his team close. He finsihed with eleven points.

MPW and I left before the last game as it featured the league's two worst teams and only two current Tennessee players (Philip Jurick and Josh Tabb).

The dimunitive p.a. announcing was still nauseating. In addition to giving shout outs to anyone he knew who entered the gym, the man attempted to set a record for how many “I see ya, young fellas” can be inserted into a game. His, "Yes, sirs" were equally annoying.

Rocky Top League summaries for June 23.

First Tennessee 95 (49, 46), Ray’s ESG 93 (41, 52)
First Tennessee (95): Justin Walker 2; Eyrk Watkins 3; John Higgins 12; Jordan Johnson 2; Cameron Tatum 43; Zach Hyatt 12; Ben Bosse 21.
Ray’s ESG (93): Alex Oliver 2; Alex Bowers 8; Logan Johnson 9; James Gallman 5; Steven Pearl 13; Bobby Maze 20; Scotty Hopson 20; Brian Williams 16.

HT Group 102 (48, 54), Toyota of Knoxville 99 (57, 42)
HT Group (102): Courtney Pigram 21; Tyler Smith 29; Daniel West 13; Cole Rose 7; J.T. Blair 2; Michael Jenkins 14; Kyle Huckins 4; Greg Hamlin 12.
Toyota of Knoxville (99): Wayne Chism 27; Dane Bradshaw 14; Tony White Jr. 11; Jerrod Stevens 5; Reshard Lee 15; Issiah Brown 12; Carlton Hill 2; Andy Tipton 13.

News-Sentinel 106 (53, 53), Richardson Construction 96 (40, 56)
News Sentinel (106): Jalan Steel 19; Damon Johnson 34; Raul Placeres 20; Cameron Sharp 21; Keith Bower 2; Jeremy Saffor 4; Philip Jurick 6.
Richardson Construction (96): Elmar Kuli-Zade 8; Skylar McBee 3; Terrance Oglesby 25; Josh Tabb 25; Rob Zalucki 7; Bobby Guyton 11; John Mueller 17.