Knoxville Webb: Cool, calm, and collected

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What's cool, calm, and collected in crucial moments? A champion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What did Knoxville Webb play like Friday evening against Leadership Prep at The Bartlett Classic? A champion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite losing a double-digit lead, last season's TSSAA Division II-AA state champ found a way down the stretch to defeat the Lions, 83-75, in overtime. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yes, the Spartans had some sloppy possessions and uncharacteristic turnovers that allowed Leadership Prep to rally in the fourth quarter, but Knoxville Webb stayed in frame. When the Lions tied the game 69-all in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter, the Spartans knew what had to be done.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Knoxville Webb's core of [player_tooltip player_id='1277259' first='Cam' last='Swearengen'], Alex Leeth, [player_tooltip player_id='2296673' first='Wilson' last='Luton'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1642603' first='Owen' last='Lentz'] knew they had to execute in the extra period to come away with the win. [player_tooltip player_id='2310160' first='Huston' last='Torres'] scored the first two points of overtime for the Spartans. Leeth extended the lead with a 3 from the left wing in front of Knoxville Webb's bench. Swearengen got fouled before making two free throws. Lentz hit the dagger from the right wing late in overtime to put the Spartans up 79-70.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each of Knoxville Webb's proven guys stepped up to the plate, dinged 3 singles to centerfield to load the bases before Lentz's grand slam sent all of them dancing home. The Spartans' way of winning is simple: Just get the job done.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>”It's a group with a ton of experience in a lot of games like this,” head coach Ricky Norris said. “I just thought tonight we had too many bad stretches that were uncharacteristic of how this group typically plays. I thought we got sped up too many times that should not happen. I thought they got to some 50-50 balls that should have been ours.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>”And they just kept hanging around and plugging away. I'm really proud because I didn't think we were good in the second half. For them to tie it the way they tied it, and for us to bounce back in overtime, I thought was good. That's at the top of my list of good things was how we responded in overtime after it didn't go well in the second half.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Luton deserves his flowers for the win. The 6-foot-4 wing helped Knoxville Webb build a 38-24 halftime lead. He scored 14 of his 16 points in the first half, with two deep 3s coming late in the second quarter. Luton got in rhythm early in the game. He moved well without the basketball and was ready to shoot it when it came his way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>”Wilson's a college player,” Norris said. “He‘s also a baseball player. We're trying to talk him into playing basketball in college because I think he's that good. It's hard to believe how far he's came in the four years, but now, he lives in the gym and that shot is just so repeatable.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>”And he's gotten more athletic. He can guard multiple positions. He's as consistent as they come, too. It's hard to rattle that boy.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lentz led the team in scoring with 18. Swearengen added 15. Torres provided 13.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Knoxville Webb had balance offensively. The Spartans had 7 different guys to score. The ball movement was great on Friday night - in the first half - as it has been before. Knoxville Webb is no stranger to stiff competition. This group has been battle tested going back to last season's state title run. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When the Spartans are up big, they're going full steam on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When Knoxville Webb is in a tight contest, the Spartans are at their best. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Champions are going to play like champions, no matter what the scoreboard says.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->