Turner leads Colonials past Wolverines
Albert Gallatin’s Nate Turner hit key back-to-back shots with time winding down Tuesday night, as the Colonials edged past Woodland Hills, 46-43, in the Ringgold Tournament. “I told them after the game that was the gutsiest effort I’ve ever seen,” said Albert Gallatin coach Dan Andria.
With Albert Gallatin ahead 37-34 to start the final quarter, Woodland Hills’ Gerald Richardson made a foul shot to cut the deficit to two.
The Colonials’ Zach Voithofer quickly responded with a basket to restore AG’s three-point lead, and the two evenly matched teams then traded baskets in this fashion.
A short time later, Albert Gallatin’s Jawaan Alston added a foul shot to keep AG’s lead at three points, but the Wolverines’ Terry Smith scored and cut the gap to one. Smith then immediately stole the ball as the Colonials brought it inbounds, and added another basket, giving Woodland Hills a one-point advantage.
Turner’s then scored twice in the final seconds to give Albert Gallatin the three-point win.
“We played nearly the whole second half with only five guys,” Andria noted “Right now we’re really thin. But they all stepped up. We beat a good team.”
T.J. Hall led the Colonials with 15 points, Turner had 13 and Voithofer followed with 11.
Andria had nothing but praise for his players.
“Nate is only at 75-80 percent with his knee, but he was in there the whole time and made some big plays for us,” Andria said. “T.J. really kept us in the first half, and Zach was out there battling the whole time. Erik Leech is another one; he handled the ball really well, especially since he was just pressed into the lineup.”
Trailing 6-0, Albert Gallatin called an early time out and quickly tied the score on baskets by Voithofer, Alston and Hall. Woodland Hills (3-8) then took a four-point lead and eventually led by eight before Hall’s three-pointer left Albert Gallatin trailing 14-11 after one quarter.
Hall had the hot hand in the second quarter, scoring all eight of the Colonials’ points, but Albert Gallatin’s deficit grew to six points as the Wolverines’ Nate Carter scored six in the quarter.
Trailing by three points after a Voithofer free throw, Albert Gallatin took the lead when Leech (2) and Turner (4) combined for the game’s next six points.
Blaine Jefferson kept the Wolverines in the game, tying it at 31, but Alston and Voithofer each scored as AG retook the lead. Carter brought Woodland Hills within one with his three-point shot late in the quarter, but Voithofer sunk two foul shots to keep the Colonials ahead, 37-34.