With several more matchups likely this season, the Whitehaven Tigers hosted the East Mustangs in front of a standing-room only crowd on Thursday. It was the first time the two squads had faced off since the Tennessee AAA basketball championship game last spring.
The Tigers wanted the result to be different in this game, but East had other thoughts, winning 64-55 on the strength of a second-half surge.
College recruiters were conspicuous, including Rod Lanier, assistance coach for the Tennessee Volunteers, Arkansas head coach Mike Anderson and the University of Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway. Drawing big-time attention was Mathew Murrell, who is scheduled to graduate in 2020 and already has received offers from Tennessee and Memphis.
With a torrid start accented by dunks and three-pointers, the Tigers had the home crowd jumping out of their seats en route to an early eight-point lead. The Mustangs made a late first-period run and only trailed by two (17-15) at the buzzer. Murrell had eight points in the quarter to lead the Tigers.
In the second quarter. the duo of Alvin Miles and Kavion McClain took over for the Tigers. Miles connected twice from three-point range, teaming with McClain for a combined 14 points that pushed the Tigers’ lead to 38-27 at halftime .
During the break, East first-year head coach Jevonte Holmes instructed his team to make sure the big-men tandem of James Wiseman (a Memphis Tiger in waiting) and Malcolm Dandridge touch the basketball on every possession. That adjustment paid off.
Wiseman, who finished with 14 rebounds, scored 23 of his 31 game-high points in the second half, including 14 points in the third quarter. Dandridge scored eight of his 17 total points after halftime. The Mustangs also tightened up their defense.
“Turnovers were the major difference,” Holmes said, contrasting the two halves. “We had 11 turnovers at halftime and we finished the game with 15. We have really got to take care of the basketball.”
Holmes said it’s hard to beat his team “when our big men get 48 points,” run the floor for transition baskets and offset attempts to double them in the post. But, he said, the guards have to take care of the basketball.
On the play of Murrell, Holmes said, “I have been knowing Matthew since he was young. His father is like my god-uncle. We get in the gym a lot and train. Mathew Murrell is tough. It is hard to hold a good player down. You have to limit his transition points and don’t let him get those dunks.”
Photo gallery (Terry Davis)
