Haywood boys cooler under pressure

BROWNSVILLE – The hype built since Saturday, and the stands were full 90 minutes early to see which recent powerhouse would represent West Tennessee in Murfreesboro next week: Haywood, unbeaten against Tennessee teams all year? Or South Side, the defending champion and neighbor from Jackson?

In a warming gymnasium, with some spectators four- and five-deep behind the basket and others fanning themselves from their seats, it figured the winning team in Tuesday’s sectional would be the one cooler under pressure.

And that team was host Haywood.

The Tomcats beat South Side 65-47, a margin more notable given the host’s six-point deficit at halftime. A shift in strategy, a commitment to defense and a star’s aggression helped make it happen.

First, the strategy.

“We came out of the zone because when we were in the zone, you know, it’s a lot of adrenaline rush and you can’t talk, can’t hear. The back side’s wide open,” Haywood senior Kyler Douglas said. “So we just manned up and took the back side away and that’s where they were getting all their points from.”

Second, the commitment. A week after shutting down 2014 and ’15 Mr. Basketball finalist LaGerald Vick of Memphis Douglass, the Tomcats held Chris McNeal to seven points. Terrikous Smith, who scored 20 in the first half for South Side, got three after halftime.

“Great players, and they’re all great players in their own right, will make shots,” Haywood coach Kendall Dancy said of Vick and McNeal. “But as long as we make you earn everything that you get, I’m fine with it.”

Third, the aggression. Dancy said Haywood senior Jordon Varnado has the best attitude of any Tomcat, and the forward can score at the rim and from outside and also block or alter shots.

He stuffed McNeal, stole the ball and flushed a one-hand dunk in the first half, but he asserted himself further after halftime to lead Haywood with 23 points.

“I had a discussion with Jordon at halftime and told him if we were going to advance it would be on his shoulders,” Dancy said. “He just gave me the nod and let me know that it was showtime.”

The senior McNeal has a bright future at Western Kentucky, but with Haywood fans howling to distract him he missed four straight free throws in the fourth quarter. South Side lay-ups and putbacks from multiple players didn’t fall.

With McNeal struggling from the field and Terrikous Smith less involved, the defending state champion Hawks were limited to five made field goals after halftime.

“I think they ran out of gas,” Douglas said. “They played most of their starters the whole game, so they just ran out of gas.”

Haywood never did, buoyed not only by Varnado and Douglas (13 points) but also Jalen Benton, Alandis Delk, Deterrion Boyd, James Davidson and others.

The balance and confidence Haywood showed Tuesday will matter if the Tomcats are to beat Carter in the Class AA quarterfinals Thursday, March 12.

“They never dropped their heads,” Dancy said. “They continued to encourage each other, and that’s all you can ask for – the best effort that they have.”

Craig Thomas, 425-9634