As I said last night, I was able to make to the spectacle that is the Rocky Top Summer Basketball League, the second night. First, it wasn’t even that unbearably hot last night, but the low 80s in Knoxville this week are the reason for that, and yes it will probably get worst.

And yes, they play more defense than I thought, the only real lack of defense comes with transition defense. There’s no shot clock and nobody’s really running an organized offense (maybe a designed play here or there), but nobody’s afraid of shooting, and much like Tennessee’s style of play, the games are fast going back up-and-down. It’s fun to watch.

As for the games last night, Toyota of Knoxville trailed most of the game against KNS, but just went bonnkers from three. I promise they hit about 20 of them, including about six out of seven during their mid second half run to the lead. Former Vol Rashard Lee led that attack with 28, and ETSU big man Isaiah Brown scored 21 and had quite a few dunks underneath. Charleston’s Tony White Jr., who looks like he’s a freshman in high school, was impressive as well, with his outside shooting, quickness and passing ability. For KNS, Fulton HS star Jalen Steele showed himself well with 22.

White was a part of the funniest moment of the night. Late second half, his team leading, White is in a transition one-on-one with the slimmed-down former Vol Ron Slay (who had 30). White motions for Slay to “bring it” and Slay lines up an alley-oop to himself off the backboard. But instead of going up and over White, Slay tackles him. It’s called a block too, hilariously. Slay was also messing with Wayne Chism earlier in the game, especially after Slay pinned him in the first half. I was reminded of why I (and many other Vol fans) loved Slay so much.

The second game was nothing major. Richardson held off First Tennessee 122-118. ACC All-Freshman Terrance Oglesby, who’s from Tennessee, was impressive, scoring 35 points and showing his incredible range, as well as his not being shy about launching (he missed about four straight threes after his team rebounded his misses). Josh Tabb had 28 as well, and Michael Blue and Grainger HS star Skylar McBee showed his shooting ability, scoring 16. Cam Tatum had 42, and Eastern Michigan’s Boo Jackson, a long, lanky athletic big, had 30, but that was it.

Another funny moment came before this game. It’s a high school gym, so the baskets hang from the ceiling. A ball got stuck on top of the backboard, so this rather large fellow is using another ball to get it down, except he gets that one stuck too. So Tatum takes a ball at the free throw line, chunks it at the goal, gets one ball down. Tries again, that ball gets stuck. It’s turning into good comedy at this point. So someone tosses a short broom onto the court, and former Marquette center John Mueller, who’s about 6-11 gets the first one down. He gets the second one down – and of course it falls through the net.

Also, Michael Blue from Hiwassee College, that I’ve never heard of, was impressive. They guy isn’t tall, but is pretty stout and can leap out of the building. He was throwing down dunk contest style dunks in warmups that had crowd in amazement. And I found this little highlight reel (sort of) on YouTube of this guy.

The final game of the night was the best. The Daniel West-Tyler Smith team took on the Bobby Maze-Scotty Hopson team, that was without Brian Williams. Tyler had about four alley-oop finishes in the first half, including one that I thought he wasn’t gonna get to, but he finished with his left hand. Hopson struggled with his shot in the first, and even missed a dunk. Below are some highlights I got…

He turned it up in the second though, including a drive he finished with a two-handed dunk and he got fouled. He finished with 33, and he and Tyler were on each other most of the game. Coastal Carolina’s Logan Johnson also was pretty good, scoring 23 on a variety of drives and threes.

Look, we know Maze and West are competing for the starting PG position for Tennessee. They know it too, and they had some friendly competition going on last night when they were guarding each other. One time Maze backed down West and hit a turnaround KG-like fadeaway shot. West was impressive as well, particularly with his handle, quickness, and ability to distribute. He’s got some muscle to build, as does Hopson, but I think he will be a good player. You could tell the experience difference between the two PGs (Maze started off at Oklahoma before JUCO).

But former Memphis White Station standout (Earnest Shelton, Dane Bradshaw, JP Prince are some others) Courtney Pigram was ridiculous. He hit some LONG threes throughout the game, but put on a show the last moments of the game. Tied at 117, Maze, who scored 47 himself on just about every shot you could think of, drove into the lane, hit a tough shot and got fouled with 6.4 seconds left. He hit the free throw, and there was a timeout. Then this happened…

done

That was Pigram. They played a 3-minute OT, and Pigram was feeling it. He came out and drilled two more long threes. Maze hit another three, then, his team down 128-125, another three with about 30 seconds left. Tyler took the ball and held for one shot…

WOW. Standing ovation. Pigram, from ETSU and the Atlantic Sun Player of the Year, finished with 45 points and has my total respect now. These two teams were the best in the league, so they should see each other again.

And I’m going to be seeing them even more, because I ain’t missing another night of the Rocky Top League.