View from 315A

I attended the final Monday night of the Rocky Top Basketball League at Bearden High School. I caught the second half of the second game and all of the night’s final contest.

In the second game, showboating nearly cost the HT Group their undefeated season. A Jalen Steele (rising Fulton High senior) 3-pointer with 8.1 seconds left tied the game at 118 and a Daniel West miss at the buzzer sent the game into overtime. HT Group (6-0) won the 3:00 overtime to secure a 128-123 win over the Knoxville News-Sentinel (2-4). My notes:

• As usual Tyler Smith and Courtney Pigram led the way for the HT Group. Smith played all 43 minutes, finishing with 33 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and three steals.
  
• Pigram hit his usual array of deep three-point baskets en route to 32 points.
  
• Daniel West added 19 points, eight assists and four steals.
  
• Overtime was all Damon Johnson for the News-Sentinel. He scored all of their points and the shot he did not take was swatted into the stands. Johnson finished with 30 points.
  
• The News-Sentinel chose to platoon their two big men, Philip Jurick and Jeremy Saffore, rather than every playing them simultaneously. Both play soft, laying up shots that could easily and more effectively be dunked.
  
• Jurick had nine points, 11 rebounds and five blocks, while Saffore added 14 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.
  
• It is fitting that Jurick is wearing a red shirt for the News-Sentinel team as that is likely what he will be wearing for the Vols in the fall. Jurick was manhandled by the much smaller Smith inside.
  
• Cameron Tatum openly rooted for the News-Sentinel team at courtside.

The game’s final night saw Ray’s ESG (4-2) defeat Richardson Construction (1-5), 127-112. This is the game I came to watch as I did not want to miss the opportunity to see Steven Pearl flop or Bobby Maze “put it on for Tennessee”. Unfortunately, I only got to see the latter as Pearl was a no-show for the second consecutive game. My notes:

• Ray’s led throughout, with a 69-54 half time advantage.
  
• Ray’s three attending UT players, Bobby Maze, Scotty Hopson, and Brian Williams scored the majority of their points, 100 of 127 (79%).
  
• Brian Williams fared well against veteran big man John Mueller, even calling for a clear out on occasion.
  
• Williams exhibited his improved versatility, running the point on several occasions and hitting two three-pointers (both in the first half). He scored 29 points.
  
• Bobby Maze was again dominant, playing virtually the entire game, which is good as he will likely do so in the season.
  
• Maze’s defense as always was impressive. In the few times he was matched against Josh Tabb, he shut him down. At one point, Tabb called for a clear out against Maze. His shot was promptly blocked.
  
• Maze dunked three times, all one handed. His dunks are not flashy but effective. He alos was effective from behind the three-pint ark. He also threw the ball off of Mueller to himself on an inbounds play. He finished with 37 points.
  
• While Tabb’s hair design has grown out, Scotty Hopson now has designs in his. How long before the tattoos follow?
  
• I cannot determine whether Hopson settles for jump shots or he is merely working on this aspect of his game. He is very effective driving using his athleticism to finish or creativity to pass. In this league, however, even on clear outs, he appears to be looking for his jump shot which is far less consistent.
  
• Hopson scored 34 points including four dunks in the second half, two of the posterization variety. He had a 360 jam with 9:09 left and he reversed dunked a Maze pass off the backboard with 6:50 left.
  
• These dunks would have been the game’s highlight but Michael Blue stole the show. He had two dunks, with 2:02 and 1:19 remaining on the clock respectively, that had those left on their feet. Blue was great throughout, finishing with a game-high 40 points.
  
• The second of Blue's dunks is on video on this blog.
  
• Lady Vol signee Glory Johnson from Webb School was in attendance. Her Webb teammate Faith Dupree committed to UT for the 2009-2010 season last week. How did they not win a state championship?

As always, I must comment on the atrociousness of the announcer. He is actually getting worse, a feet I would not have thought possible. He requested pizza, harangued his friend Mario McClunie, and actually took the name of Jesus in vain on several occasions from the mic. In addition, he has added singing and a horrible Bill Walton impression that makes his Barkley counterpart sound good. The crowd has gotten so adept at tuning him out that even his useful and authoritative reminder that fans situated under the basket must stand went entirely neglected.

The league closes on Wednesday night. The first game pits seeds 3 and 4 with the News-Sentinel squad playing Toyota of Knoxville. The championship game follows with Ray’s ESG playing the undefeated HT Group. Having seen all of Ray’s games and preferring their style of play and Bobby Maze, I am rotting for them. The previous match up between the two teams went into overtime.

The league’s MVP finalists have been cut to five: Tyler Smith and Courtney Pigram ( HT Group), Bobby Maze and Scotty Hopson (Ray's ESG), and Cameron Tatum (News-Sentinel). Not surprisingly, I believe Maze has earned the honor.

Rocky Top League Summaries for June 30:

First Tennessee 92 (42. 50), Toyota of Knoxville 91 (47, 44)
First Tennessee (92): Eryk Watson 10, John Higgins 24, Jordan Johnson 4, Chris Carney 3, Zach Hyatte 13, Boo Jackson 24, Ben Bosse 9.
Toyta of Knoxville (91): Dan Walter 3, Dane Bradshaw 23, Tony White Jr. 21, Jared Stevens 11, Reshard Lee 3, Karill Yakovlev 2, Issiah Brown 4, Carlton Hill 12, Andy Tipton 12.

HT Group 128 (54, 64, 10), News Sentinel 123 (42, 76, 5)
HT Group (128): Courtney Pigram 32, Tyler Smith 33, Daniel West 19, Ryan Walden 12, Chris Connor 7, J.T. Blair 4, Michael Jenkins 7, Kyle Huckins 2, Greg Hamlin 12.
News Sentinel (123): Jalan Steele 25, Damon Johnson 30, Raul Placeres 22, Cameron Sharp 8, Chauncy Thompson 9, Keith Bower 6, Jeremy Saffor 14, Philip Jurick 9.

Ray’s ESG 127 (69, 58), Richardson 112 (54, 58)
Ray’s ESG (127): Mario McClunie 2, Alex Oliver 5, Alex Bowers 10, Riley Hunley 2, James Gallman 8, Bobby Maze 37, Scotty Hopson 34, Brian Williams 29.
Richardson Construction (112): Adam Plavich 7, Skylar McBee 4, Andy Hill 2, Josh Tabb 24, Michael Blue 40, Rob Zalucki 14, Bobby Guyton 2, John Mueller 19.