Another rally, another tough loss: FHS boys
MARYVILLE — JP Burris certainly appreciates his team’s no-quit fighting spirit, which has helped Farragut boys basketball erase late-game deficits seemingly too steep to overcome in his first two seasons coaching the Ads.
But there’s the matter of finishing the deal — especially this season.
Although rallying from eight points down with three to play in regulation, and from five points behind in the first overtime to require double-OT at Maryville, “Obviously you can take something from it, but at this point it’s kind of like the moral victory thing is over with,” said Burris following an 80-73 two-overtime loss to the Red Rebels (3-1, 15-6) Saturday night, Jan. 27. “Moral victories don’t do us a lot of good anymore.
“We just have to keep working, keep doing what we’re doing, and we’re going to get over the hump,” he added. “And I have faith in that, that hopefully the ball is going to bounce our way.”
Burris’ boys had just lost yet another close District 4-4A contest, 57-54 to Knox West just 24 hours earlier at home.
Entering this week 7-14 overall, 1-3 in district, Farragut’s third 4-4A setback was in overtime at William Blount.
Against Maryville, junior wing Dominic VanAcker led in points wth 23. Senior wing Aiden VanAcker scored 17, with senior post Berkley Naro adding 11 and sophomore point guard Parker Lane scoring 10.
MHS wing Jonathan Woodlee hit some big shots late and ended with a game-high 26.
