Webb manages Grace Christian's speed in fourth meeting

CHATTANOOGA — The Webb School boys basketball team took its time with its offense in trying to keep Grace Christian from playing its typically fast style Saturday.

In fact, with no shot clock, Webb kept the ball for much of the first quarter.

But once the Spartans did start going to the goal, it did not take them long to pull away and take command on the way to a 44-19 win in the Division II-A East region tournament final at Notre Dame High.

Webb coach Ricky Norris said the strategy had resulted from playing in a Christmas tournament against some teams with several tall and effective players like Grace's.

“We had a hard time scoring against them,” he said of those earlier teams. “But (tonight) we were able to slow and control the tempo.”           

Using a dual strategy of sometimes just standing with the ball and sometimes moving around frenetically, Webb (27-5) built a 9-4 lead at the end of the first quarter and a 21-9 halftime lead.

Continuing to play keep away as well in the second half until finding an open opportunity, the Spartans were able to pretty much put the game away with a 34-14 lead at the end of the third quarter.

By late in the fourth quarter, with the outcome long decided, both teams emptied their benches.

Tournament MVP Myles Rasnick led Webb with 15 points, while Charlie Wyrick had eight. Grace (23-7), which had beaten Webb in two of the three previous meetings in this season series that has had no close games, was led by Grant Ledford’s 11 points.

Despite the lopsided score and slow pace at times, the game did manage to have plenty of intensity, with each team receiving a technical foul at different times.

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After the game, Grace coach Brandon Clifford was quick to praise Webb, saying Christian Academy of Knoxville had tried a similar game plan against the Rams in the district tournament last week.

“What could go wrong did go wrong,” he said of Saturday’s game. “We’re not really built to come from behind. They were able to get up on us and play keep away.”

With the win, Webb will play on Saturday against the winner of Harding Academy and Christ Presbyterian Academy.

Webb's Rasnick, a senior, said this has been quite an enjoyable season, and he hopes it continues for several more games.

“It’s probably my favorite season so far, with everyone contributing the way that they do,” he said.

Norris added that this year’s team has been very coachable.

“They’re worried about what’s the next best thing for our team and not so much themselves,” he said.

Clifford was trying to stay positive about Grace as well after the game.

“We’ll just have to bounce back,” he said. “We’re a good basketball team. We just didn’t do what we needed to do tonight to win.”