CLINTON, Tenn. | Is Grady Keeton ready for high school varsity basketball?
You didn't need to see the box score to know the answer was probably yes; Oneida coach Jacob King had his freshman in the starting lineup for the Indians' season-opening game against David Crockett here Saturday afternoon — and it's an Oneida team that features quite a bit of depth and is expected to compete for a state tournament berth.
But if there was any doubt, Keeton silenced it, scoring 17 points in the Indians' game against Crockett.
Keeton is the younger brother of junior Mason Keeton, who scored 19 points in the season-opener.
Unfortunately, the overall result wasn't as bright, as David Crockett escaped with a 75-59 win, pulling away in the fourth quarter.
The Indians led by as much as nine points in the third quarter, before Crockett's comeback began. After building a 38-31 halftime lead, Oneida went up 40-31 early in the third. From that point, however, David Crockett out-scored the Indians 44-19.
Oneida still led by two points as the fourth quarter began, but Crockett outscored the Indians 23-7 in the final period, and Oneida did not score from the field for the final five minutes of the game.
For the game, Oneida shot 53% from the field, including 44% from 3-point range, and was 87% from the line.
But Crockett was just as good — 53% from the field and 90% from the line.
Gavin Keeton had a team-high six rebounds for Oneida. Mason Keeton had nine assists to accompany his team-high 19 points.
ONEIDA (59): M. Keeton 19, G. Keeton 17, G. Keeton 5, Bell 4, Gilbert 4, Rector 3, Spradlin 3, Brawner 2.
CROCKETT (75): Beason 25, Cash 14, Pearce 11, Arnold 10, Jones 9, Shingledecker 6.
Fulton 74, Oneida 34
CLINTON, Tenn. | Is Knox Fulton ready to make a run at yet another state tournament appearance?
If Saturday was any indication, the answer is clearly yes. The Class 3A Falcons jumped to a 27-8 lead in the first quarter here against Oneida, rode that start to a 45-16 halftime lead, and eventually won 74-34 against the Indians.
All five Fulton starters scored in double figures, and the Falcons' defense was just as good as their offense. Oneida did not have a player in double figures.
Mason Keeton led Oneida with eight points, and Gavin Keeton had a team-high nine rebounds.
ONEIDA (34): M. Keeton 8, G. Keeton 6, Bell 4, Huling 4, Morgan 3, E. Rector 3, West 2, C. Rector 2, Spradlin 2.
FULTON (74): Lewis 13, D. Kimber 12, Wrancher 11, Lee 11, T. Kimber 10, Baptiste 6, Turner 3, Smith 2, Ballenger 2, Moulden 2, Lindsay 2.
