Maze, Pigram put on shooting show

Tyler Smith and Scotty Hopson of Tennessee supplied a variety of crowd-pleasing jams Wednesday at the Pilot Rocky Top League, but UT's Bobby Maze and East Tennessee State's Courtney Pigram were the bread and butter players in the end.

Pigram hit two contested 3-point buzzer beaters - a 36-footer at the end of regulation and another in overtime - to lift the HT Group to a 131-128 win over Ray's ESG.

A packed gym at Bearden High School gave the teams a standing ovation, at halftime and after the game.

"I don't know who that kid is,'' said Maze, who had six assists and scored a game-high 47, including all eight of Ray's in OT, "but he can really shoot.''

Pigram, an Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year, was a projected second-round NBA pick, but elected to return to ETSU.

"I'm used to having the last shot,'' said Pigram, a former standout at Memphis White Station who signed with Louisville but ended up at ETSU after failing to qualify. "Maze - he's a good player and competitor. He was all over me on those shots.''

Maze was 17-of-29 shooting and 11-of-16 from the free throw line. Pigram had 45 points, 17-of-29 from the floor, and 11-of-12 beyond the 3-point arc including 3-of-3 in overtime.

The 6-foot-7 Smith, a rising junior, had 29 on 14-of-21 shooting and 12 rebounds for HT Group (2-0), while the 6-7 Hopson, an incoming freshman and McDonald's All-American, scored 33 on 13-of-29 shooting (6-of-7 at the free throw line) and 13 rebounds for Ray's (1-1).

"That was intense,'' said Hopson, who struggled early with Smith guarding him before getting loose. "Everybody was keying on me and Tyler's matchup, and we wanted to give the fans a show.''

Smith was impressed with Hopson.

"Scotty showed he can play,'' Smith said. "Everybody showed something tonight, and nobody wanted to lose.''

Incoming UT freshman point guard Daniel West had 15 points and 10 assists for HT Group, while teammate Michael Jenkins, from Walters State, had 23 points.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
Want to use this article? Click here for options!