For those who didn't already know, there are some good shooters on Baylor's boys' basketball team.
The Red Raiders showed that Saturday at McCallie by making nine 3-point shots before the fourth quarter, then going 12-for-16 from the free-throw line for all of its fourth-quarter points in a 54-50 Division II-AA East/Middle Region victory.
The last of the free throws was by Spencer King, who entered the fourth quarter having not scored. He had made six consecutive in the fourth before going to the line with 2.5 seconds remaining and Baylor (8-4, 2-2) leading by three.
Baylor's Patrick Urey (44) dribbles downcourt against McCallie's Adrian Thomas (5) Saturday night at the McCallie School.He missed the first, then McCallie called time out. King returned and made the second for what sealed it.
"Obviously there was a tremendous amount of pressure, but I've put in so many hours in the gym waiting for that moment," King said. "Everyone grows up dreaming about 3-2-1 and making the shot or making the free throw to win it. You can choose to listen to the noise, them trying to ice you or whatever, but with hard work and repetition you'll be fine."
After Baylor's Patrick Urey got the night's scoring started with two free throws, the Blue Tornado scored the next seven points. That would be their largest lead.
"It was a tremendous team effort, coming off last night losing a heartbreaker in overtime to MBA," Baylor coach Austin Clark said. "To get back up for your rival, I didn't have to worry about that. It's Baylor-McCallie."
The Red Raiders' largest lead was 42-36 in the third quarter. During that quarter, they made five field goals -- the first four from behind the arc and the other as part of a three-point play by Urey.
McCallie (18-4, 1-3) picked up its seventh team foul in the first minute of the fourth quarter, and the Red Raiders were in the double bonus by the 4:38 mark.
"We've got to do a better job without fouling," Tornado coach John Shulman said. "They were tougher than we were. What we have to understand is in a game like this, every little play counts."
The game featured eight ties. The 18th and final lead change was when Tyler Seaberg made a free throw with 1:47 to play to put Baylor up 51-50.
"They're very athletic and very strong inside," Clark said. "But I thought our kids played well. I couldn't be more proud of the way we played. We cut down on our turnovers. We were patient offensively, moving the ball side to side. We had a couple of turnovers, but for the most part we handled their pressure all night."
Urey scored eight of his game-high 16 points in the first quarter. Seaberg and Will Snead each scored 12 with all of Snead's coming on 3s.
"We tried to speed them up as much as we could," Shulman said. "I didn't mind the pace. I didn't mind that they were shooting it quick. They made shots. More power to them. They stepped up like men and made some big shots."
McCallie went 0-for-4 from the field in the final 35 seconds, including a missed layup on a play set up during a timeout with 48.3 seconds remaining and the Blue Tornado down one.
"We had our chances," Shulman said. "They made 20-footers and we missed 2-inchers. Sometimes it comes down to that."
McCallie was led by JaVaughn Craig's 11 points, which included three 3-point goals. Adrian Thomas added 10 points.
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him at twitter.com/KelleySmiddie.