Tattnall Square girls top FPD in defensive struggle
Even in a game highlighted by stout defense on both ends of the floor, FPD's girls had a chance to send Tuesday night's game against Tattnall Square to overtime. But as Kate Patterson's layup bounced off the left side of the basket, the Trojans handed the Vikings (10-6 overall, 3-1 in GHSA Region 7A-A) their first sub-region loss of the year, 31-29 tightening the race in GHSA Subregion 7A-A even more.
Both teams were flustered offensively in the fourth quarter. The Vikings' only two points came on a single field goal. The Trojans (14-1, 2-1) scored all four of their points in the final eight minutes from the free-throw line.
THREE WHO MATTERED
Allie Gordon: Defensive play made points precious, putting more pressure on the Trojans when it came time to shoot free throws. Gordon, who led Tattnall with seven points, drained a free throw with 1:06 to play that gave the Trojans the lead at 28-27. That point loomed large in the final minute. With FPD still trailing, it was forced to intentionally foul Tattnall in order to get the ball back.
Patterson: She had the ball in her hands for good reason in the game's final seconds. She finished with 16 points, including the game's only field goal in the fourth quarter to go along with a layup just before halftime that tied the game at 27.
Abby Rouse: Using her advantage of being approximately 2 inches taller than anyone on the FPD roster, Tattnall not only benefited from the post player's six points, but had a size advantage that helped make things tougher for the Vikings to get as many second-chance points and they would have liked.
TURNING POINT
While Tattnall went the game's final 10 minutes without converting a single field goal, it made up for that shortcoming with converted free throws in the final quarter from Gordon, Brianna Beasley and Blair Back.
OBSERVATIONS
In position: Clutch moments have been nothing foreign for FPD. Last week the Vikings dominated the fourth quarter to beat Stratford. And that experience showed in the fourth quarter as FPD put itself in position to lead, only to have the shots not fall when it needed them.
In the zone: A key factor in FPD not allowing Tattnall to get on a big offensive run was its defense. The Vikings were content to sit back in a zone defense, forcing Tattnall to shoot from the outside. And with the Trojans having a hard time converting shots from the perimeter, the plan worked.
ALSO ON TUESDAY
The Vikings forged their way into the lead near the finish and put the game away to hold off the Trojans 51-47 in the boys game. Tattnall had a chance to tie it with less than five seconds to go, but Calvin Slaughter's 3-pointer from the top of the key missed. The Vikings slightly padded their lead by sinking 3-of-4 free throws within 15 seconds to lead 50-47 with 21 seconds to play. Slaughter led all scorers with 19 points and teammate Aubrien Kemp had 17. Armaun Smith's 15 paced the Vikings with Champ Dawson scoring 12.
THEY SAID IT
FPD girls head coach John Griffin on the defensive play: "The defensive effort on both sides was outstanding; it was pretty much two equal teams."
Griffin on the game's final shot: "It came down to whether not we made the last shot. We had a good opportunity. Kate did exactly what she was suppossed to do and take to to the hole and see if they would foul here. It's a shame either team had to lose, and it was our turn."
Tattnall Square girls head coach Todd Whetsel on the fourth quarter: "It was like a heavyweight fight there in the fourth quarter. I felt like we were getting good shots; they just weren't falling. We were pretty fortunate on the last play. It was pretty well defended, and she still came down with it and got a good shot."
Whetsel on the free-throw shooting: "We got to the line a little more in the second half. We did have some guards make free throws. We work on that every day, obviously, and it's great when it works out."
WHAT'S NEXT?
Tattnall hosts Twiggs County on Friday while FPD is at home against Wilkinson County.
This story was originally published January 12, 2016 at 10:02 PM with the headline "Tattnall Square girls top FPD in defensive struggle ."