5 observations from Fayette Ware’s win over Overton

<p><span style="font-size: 1rem; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Fayette Ware got its biggest win of the season Saturday afternoon against an Overton team that’s one of the solid teams in Class AAA this season.</span></p> <p>The 69-63 victory over the Wolverines was the Wildcats’ third game of the season. It was a much-needed test for Fayette Ware, if it wants to be ready to challenge for a Class AA state title in March.</p> <p>It was a great matchup in this year’s Rickey Fayne Classic at Brighton High School. This game brought excitement from start to finish. There were lead changes and big made shots in the fourth quarter.</p> <p>Here are 5 observations from the Wildcats’ win over the Wolverines:</p> <ol> <li><strong>Taki Walker is the leader at point guard for Fayette Ware</strong>. During timeouts throughout the game, when the offense wasn’t clicking, Walker was the vocal leader in the huddle. Coach Demarius Chearis didn’t say anything as his starting point guard had the attention of his teammates. Walker finished the game with just nine points, but was named MVP of the game because of his leadership.</li> <li><strong>Fayette Ware relies heavily on its defense. </strong>The Wildcats rely on their defense to turn into offense. Fayette Ware forced Overton into a lot of turnovers. The Wildcats were just the more physical team in the matchup. That’s not saying that the Wolverines aren’t a physical team because they are under head coach Shelvie Rose. It just seemed like Fayette Ware wanted the win more. It just seemed like the Wildcats are on a mission to shock some teams in Class AA.</li> <li><strong>JaSteven Walker has a chance to be special. </strong>The 6-foot-9 big man already knows how to play with his back to the basket. He was very active on the defensive end, blocking a couple of shots at the rim. Walker finished with just six points and will need to improve on his free throw shooting. Walker made just 2 of 6 shots from the charity stripe, but his ceiling is high.</li> <li><strong>Phillip Horton is probably the team’s best scorer. </strong>Horton can score from different areas on the floor. He can kill his defender off the dribble. Horton can catch-and-shoot and slash to the basket. Usually, the senior wing has a hot night and finishes with close to 30 points. On Saturday night, Horton had just 11 points, but they were all very important. Tyler Fitzpatrick had 11 as well. Trey Henderson led the team with 12. Side note: Johnson University, Rhodes College and Ecclesia College are showing interest in the 6-6 wing.</li> <li><strong>Fayette Ware has solid depth in the backcourt. </strong>Taki Walker and Phillip Horton are very dependable. Then, there’s Harmonta Griggs, Trey Henderson and Tyler Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick is the most skilled out of all three. He’s a slasher by nature, but can shoot off the dribble. Fitzpatrick doesn’t like to force a lot of his shots. Well, he shouldn’t since there are other players around him that can contribute. This depth will help the Wildcats later in the season come postseason time.</li> </ol> <p><strong>Other notes</strong></p> <p>Overton showed fight after being down by as many as 11 points in the second quarter. The Wolverines kept knocking on the door in the third quarter, getting within two points three times. Overton took its first lead of the second half at 58-56 off back-to-back 3s from Elijah Sandridge and Chuckie Conner. Johnathan Burns put the team up 63-61 off a corner triple late in the fourth quarter, but turnovers killed Overton’s chances of getting the win. Marquon Dean (the other MVP of the game) led the team with 13 points. Sandridge provided 12.<strong><br /> </strong></p>