Feet survive close call from FRA

The Webb boys and their fans held their collective breath as a pair of shots from Franklin Road Academy arched toward the basket in the closing seconds of Wednesday night's East/Middle Region quarterfinal.

After both attempts rimmed off, the crowd at the Barton Athletic Center erupted as the Feet celebrated a 46-44 win to stave off elimination.

"You're just holding your breath and hoping for a miss," Webb coach Jeff Mitchell said. "We changed defenses there at the end to hopefully not give up a 3."

It took a strong effort both defensively and on the boards to hold on. The Feet (19-6) got their final field goal from Cham Cham Quao with 3:20 remaining and made good on only 2-of-11 free throws down the stretch.

"When they missed, we were able to board it, and I thought that was the key in that fourth quarter," Mitchell said. "With it being a tight game...we didn't give them second or third shots, with the exception of that last one."

Webb takes a four-game winning streak into the region semifinals where it faces University School of Nashville at Donelson Christian Academy on Friday afternoon at 5:30.

"They just flat out embarrassed us a few weeks ago," said Mitchell, whose team fell 67-39 in the lone meeting this season. The Feet have dropped four straight against the Tigers, including last season's East/Middle championship.

In the other semifinal, DCA takes on top-seeded Webb-Knoxville.

Hunter Foutch's bucket broke a 12-all tie to inch the Feet in front as the first quarter came to a close.

They held the advantage throughout the second stanza and even pushed the margin to 11 with another Foutch basket. However, they wouldn't manage another point until the third period.

Connor Maitland tipped in a shot barely before the buzzer at the half to highlight a 10-0 scoring run for the Panthers (15-12).

Doug Page gave those who made the drive from Nashville down to Bell Buckle reason to cheer when he pushed FRA in front 38-37 late in the third.

A Foutch free throw even matters at 38 to set up and exciting final quarter.

After nearly four minutes without a basket, Foutch broke a 41-all tie with 3:54 to play and the Feet led the rest of the way.

"It was a very physical game both ways," Mitchell said. "We've just got to be able to convert free throws. I am proud of the kids, kept their heads up. It was one of those up-and-down games."

The Feet wound up 12-of-23 from the free-throw line. The visitors sank 3-of-8.

Foutch led all scorers with 15 points. Luke Baum contributed 12 and Miles Davis 11.

Maitland finished with 14 for the Panthers. Page had 11 and Ryan Gentle 10.

FRA drained seven 3-pointers, while Webb was shut out behind the arc.