Staff Photo by Allison Kwesell
Tyner's head coach Gerald HarrisLIVINGSTON, Tenn. - The sight was all too familiar for Tyner basketball coach Gerald Harris, watching helplessly as his Rams were reduced to fouling Livingston Academy's players with the desperate hope of a sectional comeback.
But, much as the case two seasons prior, the results remained the same.
The Wildcats hit 13 of 19 free throws in the fourth quarter and were able to pull away from the scrappy visitors, advancing to the Class AA state tournament with a 71-60 victory Monday.
Five players scored in double figures for Livingston Academy (23-11), which created some distance in the third quarter by sharing the ball - much as the Rams did in the first half, when they had 10 assists on 12 made field goals.
"We knew they were athletic and had some good shooters," Livingston coach Jimmy Miller said. "What we were afraid of in the first half happened: They had some easy buckets and used their athleticism against us."
The Rams trailed for only 40 seconds in the first half and took a 24-17 advantage on a 3-pointer by Dee Suttles midway through the second quarter. Livingston went up 29-28, but Jabrie Leverett split a pair at the free-throw line to tie the game going into halftime.
A runner by Travis Jones 19 seconds into the third quarter gave the Rams a 31-29 advantage, but Mason Ramsey hit a 3-pointer and the Wildcats - buoyed by their home crowd - started to create space by getting second- and third-chance points. They led by five at the end of the third quarter and by as much as 10 in the fourth, but one last Tyner push cut the lead to 52-48 with 4:18 to play.
Jones was whistled for a charge with 3:33 to play for his fourth foul, and a minute later he committed his fifth on the same infraction.
Class AA Boys' Sectional
LIVINGSTON ACADEMY 71, TYNER 60Tyner 13 16 12 19 - 60Livingston 13 16 17 25 - 71Tyner (60) - Travis Jones 16, D. Suttles 9, Trey Suttles 16, Murphy 2, Cowan 6, E. Jones 2, Caffey 4, Spence, Leverett 1, Bowman, Bonds 2.Livingston Academy (71) - Jake Huitt 14, Kailen Melton 12, Mason Ramsey 15, Reeder 5, Logan Ramsey 14, Brock McCoin 12, Beaty.3-point goals: Tyner 3 (D. Suttles 2, T. Jones); Livingston 4 (M. Ramsey 2, Huitt, Melton). Records: Livingston 23-11; Tyner 17-11.
"This game reflects what our season has been - a lot of inconsistency," Harris said. "We didn't play smart; then they started clicking and playing good against our pressure.
"We started to leave shooters open; then they started creating inside when we got to their shooters."
Jones and Trey Suttles scored 16 points apiece to lead Tyner (17-11). Mason Ramsey scored 15 for Livingston, while Jake Huitt and Logan Ramsey had 14 apiece and Brock McCoin and Kailen Melton added 12 apiece.
"I thought we overachieved some this year," said Harris, noting that he replaced seven seniors off last season's club. "We ended up only one game away from where we were last year - the state tournament."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6311. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/gh3sports.