Josh Lloyd only scored five points, but he was one of the primary reasons the Ooltewah Owls defeated the visiting East Ridge Pioneers Thursday night.
On a special evening when the Owls' new gym was officially named the Ed Foster Gymnasium, the hosts improved to 11-5 with the 73-48 victory.
Lloyd's presence was felt in other areas as he recorded seven steals while accumulating a dozen assists.
"Josh has been playing well all season, but he was outstanding tonight in getting us going on both ends of the floor," said Ooltewah coach Jesse Nayadley.
"We came out and played the way we're supposed to in the second quarter. Sometimes it just takes our guys a while to figure that out.
"I also want to mention what an honor it was to have the gym named after Mr. Foster. I only had the privilege to work with him for two years, but he was a great boss and a great man.
"Everyone I've ever talked to has had nothing but great things to say about him.
"He hired me to take over this basketball program and that means a lot to me because I know what the sport of basketball means to him. It is only fitting the new gym be forever known as the Ed Foster Gymnasium," Nayadley concluded.
The Owls love to play an up-tempo style of basketball, but things didn't start out that way.
Ooltewah did lead 13-12 after one quarter, but things got on track in the second stanza as the Owls extended their lead to 38-23 by intermission.
The difference was 58-33 when the fourth quarter began.
Wesley Richey scored 12 points to lead the Ooltewah attack while Mikhail Creech and Andre Moton both followed with 10 each.
Tyler Whitman and Antonio Jackson both finished with nine points while Jervon Johnson added eight.
Dominique King was tops for East Ridge wtih 12 points.
Arty Bonds and Brevante King both followed with nine and eight points, respectively.
(Email John Hunt at tnmoose2002@aol.com)