The Daily Times

The William Blount Governors picked up a second win in a row in District 4-AAA on Friday night, this time over visiting Catholic.

William Blount pulled away in the fourth quarter to defeat Catholic, 54-49. The Govs handed Farragut a loss in overtime on Tuesday at Farragut.

“Two good wins in a row. We’re peaking at the right time,” said Kevin Windle, William Blount’s first-year head coach. “Two quality wins. ... Any win in this district is good.”

The Governors (6-16, 4-8 District 4-AAA) opened the first quarter with an 8-0 run. The Irish scored three quick baskets with three minutes left in the quarter to tie the game. Catholic post player Chris Cox gave the Irish a second quarter lead at the free-throw line at 6:02 and the visitors held that advantage until halftime. With less than a minute in the half, Governor guard Cody Mathis drained two free throws to bring William Blount within a point.

Mathis went on to score a team-high 13 points and make critical free throws in the fourth quarter.

The Governors got good looks at the basket in first half, but they just weren’t making shots, Windle said. That changed in the second half when Govs post player Dylan Sizemore hit three shots in a row for seven points to put William Blount ahead, 41-38.

Good defense and rebounding gave William Blount the chance to control the clock as well, Windle indicated. Guard Austin Haworth built on the Govs’ lead with 3 of 4 shots from the foul line, then Matt Connatser a 3-pointer with 1:33 to go. Connatser’s shot put William Blount up seven points, but Catholic’s Ryan Henry hit a 3 to pull within two points of Govs with 46 seconds to go.

Henry scored 15 points for Catholic while his teammate, Cox, put up 18.

Friday’s win moves William Blount in sixth place in District 4-AAA. Catholic sits in fifth, Windle said. If the Govs win the last two games of the season against West and Lenoir City, then William Blount might move up.

Lady Governors 44, Lady Irish 38

William Blount trailed much of the first half but overcame visiting Catholic to win, 44-38.

The Lady Irish (7-13, 3-9) stifled the Lady Governors’ 3-point shooting, which contributed to their struggle to score.

“Their coach does an outstanding job of game planning and playing close,” Fowler said. “Nobody blows them out.”

Hannah Hopson scored seven of her team-high 10 points in the first quarter to help Catholic to a 12-7 lead. Five players scored for William Blount to tie the game at the half.

Sarah Wilson hit a 3-point shot with 36 seconds in the quarter to make it 19-19. Then she scored six more points in the third quarter to help the team take a seven-point lead.

Catholic players triple-teamed the Lady Governors’ lead scorer, Tatum Burstrom, at the perimeter all night. She took it to the rim and drew several fouls, making 6 of 7 shots in the fourth quarter from the free-throw line. Burstrom finished with nine. Wilson scored a game-high 15 points.

The Lady Governors improved to 11-11 overall and 6-6 in the district.

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