By KEVIN WEAKS
Press Sports
The only drama for Westview’s boys on Monday night was the final score.
Crockett County made it close. The Chargers made sure it was a win.
Westview finished off a weekend of off-the-court disciplinary actions with an impressive on-the-court effort in knocking off the Cavaliers 88-83 in the consolation game of the District 13AA Tournament Monday night at Dyersburg.
The Chargers will now hit the road for the first round of the Region 7AA Tournament, traveling to Jackson on Saturday night to play either South Side or Liberty. The 14AA finals will be played tonight.
Westview head coach J.B. Suiter and Javier Gordon were back on the bench for the Chargers on Monday after both had been suspended for the team’s game against Ripley in the semifinals as the result of an incident between the two that occurred on Westview’s bench during the quarterfinal game at home.
“You don’t ever like to take a component out of your team, whether it be by injury, sickness or discipline issues,” Suiter said. “Any time you take a component out, at some time that’s going to weigh somewhere. Do I make a difference in winning a game? I don’t think so. Distractions are something these kids have overcome their whole lives. They played a great game tonight, and they’ll be able to channel that energy when we play on Saturday.”
The Charger players sure channeled some positive energy against Crockett County.
And, early on, the current flowed through Antonio Hogard.
The smooth perimeter player scored 20 of his game-best 35 points in the first quarter, knocking down four 3-pointers in an outside-oriented game plan that resulted in the Chargers hitting eight treys in the first half.
“Antonio was outstanding in the first half,” Suiter said. “I think we shot 25 3-pointers in the first half, and it didn’t seem like we forced any threes. We really controlled the pace and were able to get a little lead at the half.”
The faster pace was planned. The long-range accuracy was a bonus.
“We didn’t want to get into a halfcourt game with them,” Suiter said. “We wanted to push and make them run. We feel we have a little deeper bench to get after it and be able to do something like that. The threes just happened. We might not shoot 13 on Saturday. But, if they’re open, they have the green light.”
Westview’s Hogard was open early, and often.
He hit three treys and drove to the basket a couple of times to counter the Cavs’ strong inside game at the other and give the Chargers a 15-8 lead at 4:25.
Andrew Laman hit a triple for Crockett 31 seconds later, and the Cavaliers were within four points twice before Hogard hit yet another 3-pointer for a 21-13 advantage at 1:48.
Jordan Mosier converted a three-point play for the Cavaliers with 1:08 remaining in the opening frame, but Gordon closed the half by taking a steal the other way for a 24-16 lead at the break.
Despite 3-point baskets by Jordan Davis, Hogard and R.J. Scott, Crockett County hung around and was as close as two points, 35-33, with just over two minutes remaining in the half.
Westview closed with seven straight points, though, as two free throws by both Tyquis Johnson and Hogard sandwiched a triple by Jazell Baker for a 42-33 halftime lead.
Davis knocked down a pair of trifectas early in the third to push Westview’s lead to double figures. Baker then converted the old-fashioned three-point play and bottomed another triple for a 56-40 Charger lead.
The Chargers led 63-49 at the third horn, but Crockett kept battling back throughout the final frame, totaling 34 points in that eight-minute stretch.
Mosier connected on a trey from the top of the key to make it 70-65 at 5:17, and later Will Jones turned a steal by Elijah Shaw into a triple to again make it a five-point game, 80-75. Crockett County got as close as five points once more, but Westview answered again, this time getting four free throws in the final 27 seconds from Davis to seal the win.

Published in The WCP 2.19.13