The Closer

Williams powers Tornadoes into district finals

By Stefan Cooper
Editor
Blount Press Row

Size, exceptional athleticism, smooth stroke, Akai Williams has all the makings of a player destined for big things at the high school level.

What’s he like in the clutch, though?

Answer: butter.

The Alcoa Middle big man converted on a key and-1 late, capping a superb night from the line throughout, and the Tornadoes withstood a Pigeon Forge second-half charge en route to a 46-41 win in a District 5AA tournament semifinal Friday at Vernon Osborne Gymnasium.

Alcoa hosts Gatlinburg-Pittman in the district championship game tonight at 7.

Williams paced all scorers with a game-high 23 points, including a perfect 7-for-7 evening from the free-throw line. Wingman Ja’marius Dubose had nine for the Tornadoes, Keyan Dean six, James Koko four.

Zeke Pierce and Nolan Ritchey had two each for Alcoa.

(Editor: The way Pierce handles the ball at the point is elite. You’ll be hearing from this guy.)

Alcoa needed it all after Acelyn Woodrick went off for a big night for Pigeon Forge. The dynamic center finished just back of Williams for game-high honors with 20 for the Tigers. Keegan Harmon was next best for Pigeon Forge with eight, including a trey.

With Williams opening hot, Alcoa rolled to a 22-12 advantage through two quarters, only to see the Tigers come roaring back after intermission. Alcoa coach Derrell Dean was not pleased.

“It’s something we’ve struggled with all season,” he said, “getting a lead and getting complacent. That’s something we’ve been working on, something I’ve been preaching about all year. You don’t beat a good team if you don’t play all four quarters.

“We let up. They got back in the game, but we finished.”

Not being careful with the basketball had a lot to do with making the second half a lot closer than it should have been, Williams said.

“We weren’t throwing really good passes, a lot of turnovers,” he said.

“We just slowed down,” Dubose said. “Last game, (Woodrick) had like five offensive rebounds, maybe more. So the whole game (Friday) was stop (No.) 20, make sure he doesn’t get the offensive rebound.”

Turning it up a notch, Williams poured in 13 in the fourth to hold the advantage. A perfect 5-for-5 from the line in the period is sure a winning way to close.