Lofton's return (49 points) not enough for ChoiceSpine

Chris Lofton made a signature return to the Pilot Rocky Top League on Monday, scoring 49 points.

Alas, Lofton's ChoiceSpine team couldn't overcome the size and brawn of HT Group, falling 121-120.

Lofton hit a fade-away 3-pointer from the corner with 40 seconds left to give Spine (0-3) a 120-119 lead, but Wayne Chism tipped-in Jon Primm's miss with 3.1 seconds left for the game winner at Bearden High School.

"It's fun to be back in the Pilot Rocky Top League,'' said Lofton, who connected on 8 of 14 of his 3-point shots and hit 14 of 15 free throws. "I got some good looks and my teammates were looking for me.''

Not until the 12:15 mark of the first half - that's when Lofton scored his first points of the game.

But Lofton, who's playing in the NBA summer league for the Boston Celtics, was playing to win. Lofton and Renaldo Woolridge of HT Group had a violent collision at half-court on an inbounds pass in the final moments that resulted in Woolridge splitting his chin and leaving the game.

"I was just going for the loose ball,'' said Lofton, who checked on Woolridge when the collision occurred and again after the game.

Chism led HT Group (2-1) with 36 points while 6-foot-9 Boo Jackson had 26 points and Jon Primm added 26.

Chism and former Vol post C.J. Black had a heated battle that grew very physical at times.

"It was physical, but you've got to step back and think about it sometimes,'' said Chism, who hit the floor hard more than once and caught some elbows. "They took me out of the game, but I came back and played through it. I used to get mad, but I've learned.''

Cameron Tatum had 27 points for Choice Spine.

"I got hit in the jaw about five times,'' Tatum said. "There was no point going to the hole. But I guess this is getting us ready for the SEC.''

Ray's 123, First Tennessee 99: Ron Slay scored 23 points and Jon Higgins added 21 as Ray's (1-2) upset previously unbeaten First Tennessee (2-1).

Ray's opened the game with a 10-0 run.

Bobby Maze led First Tennessee with 40 points, and Emmanuel Negedu and UT-Chattanooga's Ricky Taylor added 13 apiece.

C.J. Watson had double-digit assists to go with his 14 points while Steven Pearl had 13 points and Kenny Hall 12.

News Sentinel 120, Richardson Construction 108: Scotty Hopson scored 43 points to keep the News Sentinel (3-0) undefeated despite Tyler Smith's (35 points) best efforts for Richardson Construction (1-2).

News Sentinel unloaded a 3-point barrage with Hopson, JaJuan Smith, Skylar McBee, Alex Oliver and Zach Hyatt.

JaJuan Smith finished with 28 points, Brian Williams had 13 and McBee 11.

The Sentinel trailed 86-81 with 9:34 after a Tyler Smith dunk.

A Michael Blue bucked triggered a 15-0 run that put News Sentinel in control.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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