Slay's drink tab for fans safe after making free throw

Former University of Tennessee fan favorite Ron Slay promised drinks for everyone in the house if he missed his next free throw.

Slay made the shot, and Ray's ESG (2-2) prevailed over ChoiceSpine (0-4) in a 136-129 scorefest in Pilot Rocky Top League action Monday night at Bearden High School.

"I knew I could afford to do it, but I really didn't want to have to,'' said Slay, who plays professionally in Italy. "This was a real big win for us. We got a little sluggish at times, but we had a good five on the floor and everyone knew their roles.''

Everyone's secondary role on Ray's, it seemed, was to try to guard Chris Lofton.

Lofton, the SEC's all-time leading 3-pointer shooter, scored 54 points on 18-of-32 shooting - 8-of-18 beyond the 3-point arc.

"Nobody likes to lose - do you like to lose?'' Lofton said. "I want to finish up next week in the league, I just need to find out for sure when I have to leave for Boston.''

Lofton, who is averaging more than 50 points per game in the Rocky Top League, is playing in the NBA summer league in Boston.

Slay and Ryan Westbrooks led a balanced Ray's team with 21 points, and Steven Pearl scored 20 on 8-of-12 shooting. UT freshman Kenny Hall had 17 and Georgetown transfer Omar Wattad added 16. C.J. Watson of the Golden State Warriors also had 14 for Ray's.

Cameron Tatum (34) and Jordan Dixon (11) were the only other double-figure scorers for ChoiceSpine.

Richardson Construction 122, First Tennessee 119: Tyler Smith (33 points) put the jet lag behind him and took flight, leading Richardson Construction (2-2) to the win over First Tennessee (2-2).

"Monday night I had just come in on a flight, and I was a little weary,'' Smith said. "Tonight, I was back in my routine. I've been getting my shots, but before tonight I had not been taking them. I hadn't been showing what I've been working on.''

Smith was 12-of-26 from the floor, including 5-of-12 beyond the arc.

HT Group 111, News Sentinel 99: Wayne Chism, Boo Jackson and John Primm scored 25 apiece for HT Group (3-1) to derail the previously unbeaten News Sentinel (3-1).

JaJuan Smith led the Sentinel with 32, Scotty Hopson had 26 and Brian Williams had 22. Hopson left the game for a few minutes with a jammed foot, but later returned to action.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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