In a frenetic finish like that to Friday's District 5-AAA must-win game between Walker Valley and host Soddy-Daisy, the serenity of a calm foul shooter stands out as if a spotlight were placed on him.
Such was the glow given off by Trojans junior co-captain Tucker Landreth, who battled foul trouble to score 20 points – including a decisive 15 of 16 free throws – in the Trojans' first district win of the season, 56-46.
“Landreth did so much work in the off-season, and it has slowly began showing up in his game,” said Trojans coach Kevin Templeton. “His leadership rubs off, and it is energizing this team a little bit more each game.”
Energy was just one thing Soddy-Daisy was in dire need of finding Friday as a three-game losing streak and an 0-3 start in district play was threatening to make the Trojans irrelevant in the district before the first of the year.
But Coach Bob Williams' Mustangs weren't much more comfortable on the road in a slow-starting game – one that was jump-started by Jacob Floyd's buzzer-beating 3-point at period's end.
Holding the Mustangs to three field goals in the third period while hittig nine straight foul shots as a team, the Trojans took the biggest lead to that point, 36-27, into the final quarter. But the Mustangs, exploiting Landreth's fourth foul, blew past the stunned Trojans to take a 39-37 lead inside of the 4:00 mark.
But that 12-1 run was finally answered, as Hunter Snell's found layup in a crowded lane combined with more free throws to reverse fortune one last time. It didn't help Walker Valley that it hit only one field goal in the final 4:37 and that the Trojans scored the final nine points for a deceptive margin.
“I was a horrible free throw shooter in middle school, even as a freshman,” said Landreth, who is co-captain with another junior James York, who scored 12 Friday. “We work on them every day before practice and after. Practice.
“We knew what was at stake tonight, dragging a four-game losing streak,” Landreth added. “We played a good defensive game tonight; we didn't even make any adjustments when they went ahead..”
Tucker Godfrey led Walker Valley (7-5, 1-2) with 15 points, while Jackson Brownfield cleaned up several messes inside to claim 12 points and Caio Hysinger had a big fourth quarter to finish with 10. Soddy-Daisy is 4-5, 1-3.
Walker Valley press puts squeeze on Lady Trojans. A wise man once wrote that a python is just a snake – until begins to squeeze. The saying would be well applied to the Walker Valley Lady Mustangs Friday night: their full-court press is just a defense – until they began to squeeze.
A close game much of the first half, the visiting Lady Mustangs contrant application of pressure eventually led to 18 turnovers and another 13 deflected passes as they broke away from Soddy-Daisy for a 74-34 District 5-AAA victory Friday night. While only 5-7 overall, the win squares coach Jessica Stone's team in district play at 2-2, while Soddy-Daisy falls to 5-5, 0-4.
Holding onto a threadbare 26-21 lead at the half, the Lady Mustangs sent the home team reeling with a 12-2 start to the third period. Three-balls from Wendi Watson and Rebecca Beavers sparked the decisive attack. The final period was not without some drama, however, as Walker Valley D.J. Mowery entered the game for the first time since she suffered a kick to the stomach – an incident that ended the JV game early. Looking for some atonement, Mowery scored all of her 10 points in the fourth quarter to Jocelyn Griffith (11 points, 10 rebounds) and Victoria Jones (10 points) in double digits.
Shana Ward led Soddy-Daisy with 13 points, including three 3s.
Boys Scoring Summary:
Walker Valley 6 14 7 19 – 46
Soddy-Daisy 7 16 13 20 – 56
WALKER VALLEY (46) – Anthony, Tucker Godfrey 15, Harwood 9, Caio Hysinger 10, Melton, Cartwright, Korn, Morrow, Russell, Swafford, Jackson Brownfield 12, Hunt.
SODDY-DAISY (56) – Amos 5, Tucker Landreth 5, 20, Carter, Wright, Jefferies 4, James York 14, Floyd 5, Snell 5.
3-point shooting: WV 1 (Godfrey); SD 2 (Landreth, Snell). Records: WV 7-5, 1-2 in 5-AAA; SD 4-5, 1-3.
Girls Scoring Summary:
Walker Valley 16 10 20 28 – 74
Soddy-Daisy 12 9 7 7 – 35
WALKER VALLEY (74) – Victoria Jones 10, Percy 3, Pitner 5, Davis 8, Beavers 6, Macon 2, Jocelyn Griffith 11, Davis 5, Alomar 2, Watson 7, D.J. Mowery 10, Cox 2, Wilson 3.
SODDY-DAISY (35) – Harris 2, Orr 5, Smith 4, Hopkins 1, Shana Ward 13, Hancock, Phillips, Wade 5, Hale, Mitchell 5.
3-point shooting: WV 8 (Davis 2, Beavers 2, Pitner, Davis, Watson, Griffith); SD 4 (Ward 3, Smith). Records: WV 5-7, 2-2 in 5-AAA; SD 5-5, 0-4.