Stephanie Sturgis - Press Sports Editor
Posted: Tuesday, March 3, 2009 2:25 pm
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Those opportunities came courtesy of the Fayette-Ware Wildcats' abysmal free-throw shooting, but the Westview boys did not capitalize and fell, 70-64, to end their season.
With the win, Fayette-Ware advances to a semifinal match-up against Covington at 7:30 on Thursday night at Dyer.
Clinging to a 68-62 lead, the Wildcats managed to knock down just 2-of-9 free-throw attempts in the final two minutes. Those errant charity shots included the front end of three one-and-one chances.
During those same two minutes, the Chargers (24-8) missed four 3-pointers and hit just 2-of-4 free-throw tries.
With 48 seconds remaining, Charger Will Thompson was fouled after grabbing a rebound. The freshman drilled both shots at the line to cut the gap to four, 68-64. After one of those FW free-throw misses, Westview's Davell Lloyd was fouled on the rebound. The steady senior uncharacteristically missed two charity shots taking some of the life out the Chargers.
Fatigue also played a role late as two of the five Chargers on the court — Jacob Lloyd and Dillon Gardner — battled the flu last week in addition to the athletic Wildcats.
In the first half, it appeared Westview would run away with the contest. The squads swapped momentum in the first quarter with both teams leading by four. On a pair of late Gardner 3-pointers and Jacob Lloyd's buzzer-beating jumper, Westview held a 19-15 lead after one quarter.
To begin the second quarter, the Chargers extended that lead with a 12-2 run for a 14-point edge, 31-17, with 3:20 left in the first half. Davell Lloyd had five of those points on a trey and a steal followed by a layup.
Fayette-Ware responded with an 11-0 run, that was fueled by forcing the Chargers into four turnovers. FW beat the buzzer on a Christian Ransom stickback to trail, 31-28, at halftime.
In the third, Jacob Lloyd connected from behind the arc three times. With three minutes left in the third, WHS bumped its lead back to nine, 44-35, on a Gardner stickback.
Fayette-Ware answered with a 10-0 run. While the Chargers were turning the ball over, Brandon Yates buried two treys and Jadail Lewis had a fastbreak layup and a follow shot.
Jacob Lloyd drilled his third 3-pointer in the quarter for a 47-45 WHS lead, but it was the last advantage of the night. The Wildcats scored the final nine of the third for a 54-47 lead heading into the fourth and maintained a cushion the rest of the way for the 70-64 win.
Seniors playing their final basketball game in a WHS uniform were Cameron Boyd, Reid Cates, Chris Gardner, Khorie Johnson and Davell Lloyd.
Region 7-AA Tournament
Quarterfinals
Feb. 27 at Martin
BOYS
Fayette-Ware (70) — Brandon Yates 21, Orlando Bass 16, Nick Barbee 14, Jadail Lewis 10, LaPrentis Adams 2, Christian Ransom 2, Wesley Moore 2, Benny Williams 2, Kendall Williams 1.
Westview (64) — Dillon Gardner 18, Jacob Lloyd 17, Davell Lloyd 12, Will Thompson 7, Cameron Boyd 6, Reid Cates 2, Garrett Vincent 2.
3-pointers: Fayette-Ware — Yates (3); Westview — D. Gardner (4), J. Lloyd (3), D. Lloyd (2).
Records: Westview 24-8.