Foutch puts Webb ahead with second-quarter run

Webb shot out of the gates in their Hall of Fame game season opener versus Middle Tennessee Christian on Tuesday night like a herd of wild mustangs.

Webb's Hunter Foutch soars past MTC defenders Andrew Kuhn (22) and Jordan Watson. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

As the adrenaline flowed, the homestanding Feet could hardly find the touch around the basket, quickly falling behind 9-2.

"We were so anxious, we kind of shot ourselves in the foot cause we couldn't finish early," Webb coach Jeff Mitchell said. "We just weren't patient."

"We're in fifth gear at times on offense. Sometimes you have to gear it back and play under control."

Once they found their groove, Webb went on a pair of runs and defeated their visitors from Murfreesboro 53-43 for the first time since 2000.

Hunter Foutch threw his team on his back and almost single-handedly turned the tide to get the Feet back in the game in the second quarter. He glided across the baseline for a reverse layup to highlight a 14-3 run. He also scored off offensive putbacks twice and once more off a steal as he tallied 11 of his team-leading 17 points.

"That second quarter (Foutch) basically took the game over with several offensive rebounds," Mitchell said. "He just went on a run and basically carried us for 3-4 minutes. It kind of got everybody else to settle down because we were having trouble scoring the ball."

The Feet took a 23-21 advantage into the locker room. The teams traded baskets for much of the third and the hosts led 34-30 entering the final eight minutes.

Webb netted four straight free throws to open the fourth before Tyler Watson's 3-pointer narrowed the MTC deficit to 38-33 with 4:25 to go.

Luke Baum countered with a hard-earned 3-point play the next trip down the floor.

Feet wing Jordan Burchett puts up a basket while closely guarded by Ben Hall (11) and Andrew Kuhn. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

"That just tells you how much stronger (Baum)'s gotten from his freshman year to now as a sophomore. He would have never been able to get that ball up," Mitchell said.

"That may have broke their spirit a little."

It's hard to argue Mitchell's point. That jump-started a 12-2 run that ended with a Logan Burchett 3-pointer, giving them a 50-35 upper hand with 1:10 remaining.

Foutch grabbed eight rebounds and totaled four steals. Baum backed his teammate's effort with 15 points and seven rebounds. Jordan Burchett contributed 10 boards.

If there's an area that needs improving before the Bell Buckle boys bus to Huntland on Friday night, it's at the free-throw line, where they made but 11-of-23.

"If we shoot better from the foul line then maybe they don't hang with us as long," Mitchell said.

Taylor Beckham paced the Cougars with 13 points. Watson had 11 and Andrew Kuhn 10.