Knoxville Webb: Spartans improve against 2 Arkansas programs
Knoxville Webb’s head coach Ricky Norris put his team to two tests in the Allen Iverson’s Battle in the Bluff showcase event at Bartlett High School in Memphis, Tennessee. So, how did the Spartans fare? The young group went 1-1,…
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Continue ReadingKnoxville Webb’s head coach Ricky Norris put his team to two tests in the Allen Iverson’s Battle in the Bluff showcase event at Bartlett High School in Memphis, Tennessee.
So, how did the Spartans fare?
The young group went 1-1, losing a close one to Springdale out of Arkansas before defeating the other Arkansas program in the event, Jonesboro. Norris threw his team in the fire, trying to see where his team stands before the second half of the season gets here.
As a right now, there’s no questioning Knoxville Webb’s competitiveness and willingness to fight on each possession. There’s no questioning whether or not the Spartans are growing up, because they are.
In the 44-38 win over the Hurricane, Knoxville Webb was in need of some offense after only leading by 3 at the break. In the third quarter, sophomore guard Wilson Luton drained a 3 to put the Spartans up 29-20. A deep 3 from sophomore forward Alex Leeth made it 39-27 heading into the final eight minutes. Defensively, Knoxville Webb was swarming at every angle of the court, refusing to give up a lot of easy looks to Jonesboro.
This Spartans team leaned into effort and determination that ultimately propelled the group to a win that could be a building block for a possible deep postseason run.
”It’s kind of a staple for us offensively,” said Norris, whose team made 7 3-pointers against the Hurricane. “I thought we left a lot of points on the floor today. To be honest, we missed some cutters. We didn’t finish at the rim like we should. But I think we shot the ball pretty well and moved it pretty well for the most part. We got better this weekend, even if we would have dropped two games. We improved, and that’s why we came down here.”
Luton, Leeth, sophomore shooting guard Cameron Swearegen, and freshman forward Tahj Bowers should improve moving forward because of the two close games they were apart of. Their confidence will be higher. Their competitive nature individually, and as a unit, will only tighten as the 2023 season progresses.
Senior Drake Ingram and sophomore Owen Lentz are warriors and capable shot makers that are going to rise to the occasion when it’s time to do so. In the first eight minutes of Saturday’s win over Jonesboro, Knoxville Webb jumped out to a 10-1 lead, thanks to Lentz converting on three 3-pointers. Ingram made two big 3s as well, finishing the contest with 14 points. Junior guard Jaylen Pompey did a lot of the small things for this team. He’s a high energy guy on both ends of the floor. Pompey dives for loose balls. At the point guard spot, he has the trust of not only the coaching staff, but his teammates.
”He’s the soul of the team,” Norris said. “Tough as nails, never comes out of the game, never complains, never acts like he’s tired, doesn’t whines. “Like, he’s as tough as they come. I would coach for a long time if I could have him for a while. He’s a good one. I love Jaylen.”
Hungry as ever
Junior guard Taquez Butler knows what it takes to get to Murfreesboro, Tennessee and play for a TSSAA Division 1 Class 2A state title. His responsibility is bigger this season for the Douglass Red Devils as they’re hungry to get back to the final day of the season after falling short to Alcoa in last year’s state title game. Butler has the basketball in his hands more this season, playing more at the point guard position. He’s being asked to get the team in its offense. Butler is being asked to communicate more and play solid on-ball defense.
Butler is up for the challenge as his success will dictate how far Douglass goes in March.
”We think about it everyday. We talk about everyday,” said Butler, who led the Red Devils with 18 points in their 56-48 win over Springdale on Saturday in the Battle in the Bluff event. “We see how it feels to get there. We see how it feels to play. Now, we just have to win it all.”