USN speeds past Webb after long slowdown

NASHVILLE -- Through the first 25 minutes of Thursday's Division II-A state tournament semifinal, Webb coach Jeff Mitchell's plan to slow the game down worked nearly to perfection against University School of Nashville.

After losing by 41 in the East/Middle Region tournament semifinals nearly two weeks ago, Mitchell's scheme left his Bell Buckle team trailing just 16-12 with less than seven minutes remaining in regulation.

But, a 3-point play by Meiko Lyles and a trey in the corner by Robby Cobean sparked a 10-1 spurt that propelled USN to a 35-20 win, sending them to the school's first-ever state championship in boys basketball.

"I know it probably wasn't fun to watch for the fans, but we thought that was our best opportunity to maybe get a win," Mitchell said.

USN (21-6) faces St. George's, who eliminated Webb-Knoxville 59-53 earlier Thursday, in the championship at Allen Arena on the campus of Lipscomb University on Saturday afternoon at 1.

The Feet (20-9) went 3 minutes, 32 seconds between field goals during the Tiger run and allowed its foe to take control of the game at the foul line. Twelve of USN's 19 fourth-quarter points came at the charity stripe.

"I'm sure we did get some open looks, but it didn't seem like we got a whole lot," Mitchell said. "But, we've got to make a shot."

Lyles, a Mr. Basketball candidate who poured in 52 points in the two previous wins over Webb, knocked down 11-of-14 free throws and finished with 17 points. The senior guard admitted having to be patient was tough on he and his teammates.

"It was real frustrating," he said. "Our style of play is we're trying to get up and down the floor and put as much points on the board as we can. Both times we played them before this, we ran them out the gym like that. So, they wanted to slow the ball down and make us play at their pace. Our team, we did a good job adjusting to it and weathering through it."

The Tigers held a slim 8-6 advantage at the end of one and bumped that upper hand slightly to 12-8 entering halftime.

The Feet missed on a pair of foul shots with less than a second to go in the third quarter behind 16-10.

Senior Luke Baum got a shot to fall at the 7:15 mark of the fourth to bring the Feet to within four with the game teetering in the balance. However, things just wouldn't go their way down the stretch.

"If you make one basket, maybe they get a little tighter, maybe they turn it over, who knows?" Mitchell said. "It's so critical that you make a basket right there and cut it to two. Then, you never know."

Both teams struggled from 3-point land. USN was just 3-for-14, while the Feet missed all 12 attempts.

Senior Hunter Foutch topped Webb in scoring with seven points. He and Baum depart with Logan Burchett, Bil Carter, Damien Launay, Dylan Sweeney and Richard Zeng. They compiled a record of 66-40 their four three years combined.

"We've got a lot of good kids at that school, and we've been fortunate to some good players that all were in one group," Mitchell said.

"My guess would be for a four-year group, that they've won more games than anybody at that school."