Tattnall Square girls step up defense, split season series with Stratford
Two of the goals Tattnall Square girls basketball head coach Todd Whetsel had for his team in the Trojans' second meeting of the season with Stratford on Tuesday were to put more pressure on the basketball and improve the team's shooting percentage.
As things turned out, that shooting percentage got a lift at just the right time from the defensive pressure Tattnall applied.
Tattnall scored a couple of fourth-quarter baskets off of backcourt steals, pulling away for a 32-23 victory over Stratford in a battle of teams ranked in the top five of the GHSA Class A private school power ratings.
The third-ranked Trojans (18-1, 6-1 Region 7A-A) took sole possession of first place in the sub-region with three games remaining until the region tournament. Fifth-ranked Stratford fell to 17-3, 5-2 in sub-region play.
FOUR WHO MATTERED
Allie Gordon: She scored four of her team-high 10 points and had three fourth-quarter rebounds for Tattnall.
Jordan Allen: Her two fourth-quarter steals were instrumental in Tattnall's effort to put things away, as the Trojans outscored the Eagles 11-4 in the final eight minutes. She finished with eight points, six rebounds and four steals.
I'una Slaughter: Slaughter finished with just five points for Tattnall, but four of them came in the final quarter, including a shot that started the Trojans' game-clinching run.
Ashlee Francis: Francis led Stratford with 13 points but couldn't match the breakout performance she had in the Eagles' first meeting with the Trojans, which Stratford won.
TURNING POINT
Gordon's basket off a backcourt steal with 4:41 remaining put Tattnall up 27-21, its biggest lead since a pair of Stratford 3-pointers midway through the third quarter cut into the Trojans' nine-point halftime lead.
OBSERVATIONS
Defense overcomes cold shooting: Tattnall was plagued by cold shooting in its earlier loss to Stratford, and an 0-for-8 effort from the field in the third quarter cut the Trojans' 20-11 halftime lead down to two heading into the final eight minutes. But a strong defensive effort, including three fourth-quarter steals, led to a couple of transition baskets that turned things in Tattnall's favor. The Trojans wound up shooting 33 percent (13-of-39) for the game, hitting 6-of-11 in the first quarter.
Shots not falling: While Tattnall failed to score in the third quarter, Stratford had trouble getting shots to fall all night. The Eagles hit just 20 percent of their shots (10-of-50), with no player other than Francis scoring more than one basket.
Strong post play early: Tattnall's tall post player, Abby Rouse, played a key role in establishing the Trojans' first-half lead. She scored eight points, all in the first half, to go along with 12 rebounds and four blocks.
WORTH MENTIONING
Elite company: Joining Tattnall and Stratford in the top five in the GHSA Class A private school power ratings released Tuesday are No. 1 St. Francis, No. 2 Calvary Day and No. 4 Our Lady of Mercy.
ALSO TUESDAY NIGHT
The Stratford and Tattnall boys went to overtime, with Tattnall prevailing 69-67 when O'Showen Williams' putback attempt of his own missed free throw with less than three seconds remaining missed the mark. Calvin Slaughter led four Tattnall players in double figures with 26 points, while Williams put up 31 points to pace the Eagles (13-5, 5-3). Stratford played without Quintez Cephus, who was wearing a walking ankle boot on his right foot. The ankle injury isn't serious, according to Cephus, and there's a chance he could be back in action by region tournament time. Tattnall improved to 13-6, 3-4 in the sub-region.
THEY SAID IT
Gordon on Tattnall's fourth-quarter play: "We definitely had to get our energy up and just work hard and know that we had to push through, because they were coming back. It was a two-point game, so we had to step up and get them on defense and offense."
Whetsel on Tattnall's strong offensive start and ability to score points down the stretch: "The first time, we certainly didn't shoot it well, so we were hoping (Tuesday) at home that we would be a little more comfortable at home and some of those shots would fall, and they did."
Stratford head coach Ed Smith on Tattnall stepping up its pressure in the fourth quarter: "We made a run in the third and had a chance down the stretch, but Slaughter hit (a long two-pointer) on their fourth shot of that trip. When the game is on the line you've got to make hustle plays, and Tattnall made them."
WHAT'S NEXT?
Tattnall hosts FPD on Friday, while Stratford is at Twiggs County on Friday.
This story was originally published January 26, 2016 at 10:44 PM with the headline "Tattnall Square girls step up defense, split season series with Stratford ."