Defense, intensity key to Tyner's 41-29 victory against Notre Dame at Best of Preps tournament [photos]

Tyner coach Katrich Williams instructs during a time out while playing Notre Dame during Wednesday's in first round game in the Times Free Press' Best of Preps basketball tournament at Chattanooga State.
Tyner coach Katrich Williams instructs during a time out while playing Notre Dame during Wednesday's in first round game in the Times Free Press' Best of Preps basketball tournament at Chattanooga State.

Tyner's girls faced a three-point deficit at the end of the first period, but they took the lead for good slightly more than midway through the first half Wednesday against Notre Dame.

Their four-point halftime lead slowly bloomed over the final two quarters, and the Lady Rams skipped out of Chattanooga State with a 41-29 victory in the second game of the Best of Preps basketball tournament.

Tyner (5-4) had just one player score in double figures, that being Keniah Watkins with 10 points, but that's something coach Katrich Williams has come to expect.

"We don't have that superstar, but we like to push the ball - fast break - and our offense feeds off our defense," she said.

That defense turned in its best performance of the season, holding Notre Dame (6-8) to single-digit scoring in each of the final three quarters.

"The girls did a very good job defensively. I haven't seen us play help-side defense the way we did today," Williams said. "And we know Notre Dame is sound fundamentally and has quick guards, and I thought our guards played them pretty well."

The Lady Rams might still be bonding, might even still be coming to grips with the loss of assistant coach Connie Buchanan, the 28-year-old who recently passed away following a bout with pancreatic cancer.

"It's been awfully hard on everybody," Williams said. "She was always there with us in both volleyball and basketball."

She said the team is channeling its thoughts of Buchanan.

"Our intensity was up for four quarters," Williams said, "and if they play hard like that for four quarters every time out, I will always be happy with them."

Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-86-4765. Follow him on Twitter @wardgossett.

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