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Alcoa boys blow past Maryville, 89-68

MIKE BLACKERBY, KNS-sports@knoxnews
Alcoa's Jonathan Webb, left, looks to pass against Maryville's Easton Upchurch on Friday at Maryville High School.

MARYVILLE - Alcoa High School coach Joel Kirk said there was no big mystery for his team’s turnaround after a slow start against Maryville on Friday night.

Down 27-17 to the Rebels after one quarter, Kirk watched his Tornadoes catch fire on their way to an impressive 89-68 non-district victory.

“We got stops,” said Kirk. “We played defense and we bought in today. When we play good team defense we can be a tough team to beat.”

Class AA Alcoa (16-10) held Maryville (22-3), ranked No. 7 in Class AAA, to just seven points in the second quarter as the Tornadoes took a 36-34 lead at the half.

Alcoa's Dante Harris prepares to shoot a free throw during  Friday's game against Maryville.

The second half was all Alcoa as the Tornadoes outscored the Rebels, 53-34, to snap Maryville’s 18-game winning streak.

“It’s a great win for us,” said Kirk “We’ve played some tough teams. We needed one like this going into the district tournament.”

While Alcoa buckled down defensively, Maryville had no answers for the push-the-pace Tornadoes offense.

Alcoa shot 60 percent (32 of 53) from the floor and had five players score in double figures.

Nick Roberts, Larry Hodge and Mekhi Carter each netted 17 points for the Tornadoes. Dante Harris and Terran Cox both scored 16.

“We shoot the ball well,” said Kirk. “We have got confidence in our offense.”

Cox also grabbed eight rebounds as Alcoa won the battle of the boards, 34-24.

T. D. Blackmon topped the Rebels with 21 points and five rebounds.

Easton Upchurch added 13 points, Oakley Garrett nine and Joe Anderson eight.

Stat of the game: Maryville opened hot, converting 11 of 17 field goal attempts in the first quarter, including four 3-point shots.

The Rebels were just 12 of 46 over the final three quarters as they finished 23 of 63 (36 percent). Maryville made just two 3-pointers over the final three quarters.

Three-point barrage: The Tornadoes bombed in nine 3-point shots. Hodge, a senior wing, and Carter, a junior forward, had three triples apiece.