Staff Photo by Angela Lewis/Chattanooga Times Free Press
Jan 6, 2011--Howard's Roddarius Martin and Hixson's D'Monota Smith at Howard School of Academics and Technology on Thursday evening.Hixson's Wildcats had Howard's Hustlin' Tigers right where they wanted them.
Hoping to leave the score tied as a worst-case scenario, visiting Hixson had the ball in the final minute of regulation in Thursday's District 6-AA boys' high school basketball game but got a little antsy with it. Even after a reprieve, the Wildcats couldn't convert.
Howard's 8-of-10 free-throw shooting in overtime lifted the Tigers to a 66-63 win.
The game marked the beginning of three pivotal consecutive home games for Howard (6-3, 5-0). It plays archrival Brainerd tonight at 8 and Red Bank (4-0 6-AA) on Saturday at 7:30.
"That's going to make us or break us," Howard coach Walter McGary said of the stretch.
Tickets for the Brainerd game go on sale at Howard today at noon. The girls' game is scheduled to start at 6:30.
With the score tied at 58, the Tigers' Anthony Smith missed two free throws with 52.9 seconds left and Hixson rebounded. About half that time had elapsed when a one-on-one move led to an off-balance shot that Hixson coach Alex Disbrow didn't want to see.
"The thing is, this will all be worth it -- all this pain will be worth it -- if we simply learn from it," Disbrow said. "The next time we're in a similar situation, if we see an attack lane to the basket, pass it up. Instead, do what we're asked to do."
The Wildcats got the ball back when Howard inbounded after a timeout at 19.3 seconds and the ball hit off a Howard player's foot and rolled out of bounds under Hixson's basket. This time the Wildcats worked for a shot in close, but it didn't fall, and neither did the ensuing tip.
Hixson's opportunity at double overtime went awry when Randy Boyd's 50-footer at the buzzer hit off the backboard and front rim.
Boyd is a senior, along with Kedrick Barnette, Daniel Pettway and Marcus Smith. They combined for 44 points and helped the Wildcats rally from a 49-35 deficit early in the fourth quarter.
"We've got four seniors that have some experience," Disbrow said. "Most of them have been starting since they were sophomores. They didn't wilt. They have tremendous heart and give tremendous effort. They're frustrated with the loss. This was their last chance to beat Howard at Howard."
Of his team's fourth-quarter meltdown, McGary said: "We stopped playing defense. That's my fault. I've got to get some more people ready to play."
He also expressed his disgust at players "running and going crazy," rather than slowing the ball and getting it inside to post players Barry Griffin and Brandon Walters. Griffin scored the Tigers' first six points and totaled 11 of his game-high 24 in the first quarter.
"It's not rocket science," McGary said. "He's been our most consistent player. Give him the ball."
Howard's Smith redeemed himselft by making two free throws with 3.3 seconds remaining in overtime and he totaled 11 points. Jarvis Ray's first points were a three-point play with a minute left in the first half and he finished with 10.
After going scoreless in the first quarter, D'Monta Smith paced Hixson (11-4, 2-4) with 17 points.