Webb girls stay close at Alcoa before losing, then win vs Hardin Valley
ALCOA — On the road Friday, Dec. 15, against Alcoa High School in the 5Star Preps Classic, Webb School of Knoxville’s girls basketball team jumped to a 4-0 lead.
The Lady Spartans then fell behind 8-4, and spent the rest of the game trying to catch up — but to no avail. The result was a 51-42 loss, which dropped their record to 6-4.
A 44-36 road win the next night against Hardin Valley Academy in the Classic improved that mark to 7-4.
About Alcoa, “I think they were a little bit more physical than we were,” Webb first-year head coach Greg Hernandez said. “They made it harder on us to execute and run offense. They made us uncomfortable.”
Alcoa led 14-8 after one. The Lady Tornadoes built the lead to 11, 25-14, with 1:11 left in the half, but Webb sophomore Meeyah Green hit a lay-up and a three-point basket in the final minute to cut the Spartans’ halftime deficit to 25-19.
Alcoa’s lead was eight, 41-33, after three, and appeared to have the game well in hand with a 45-34 lead with under four minutes left to play.
But Webb wasn’t done. Six straight points over 40 seconds made it 45-40 with 2:04 to play. However, Alcoa closed it out by scoring six of the final eight points.
The Lady Spartans missed numerous lay-up attempts and shots near the goal.
“We obviously struggled around the rim,” Hernandez said. “We had multiple chances but had just too many breakdowns.”
Alcoa had 17 free-throw attempts to Webb’s eight.
“I got frustrated with it (the way the game was called),” Hernandez said. “We can point the finger and make excuses but that’s not what we’re gonna do. We’re gonna focus on getting better.”
Green led the Lady Spartans with 13 points.
