ARNOLD • For the record, the University City boys basketball team won the Fox Warriors Tournament title Friday night, beating O'Fallon Christian 75-61.
But this was not a typical 14-point victory.
“That's a real good basketball team,'' Lions coach David Gammon said of the Eagles, who battled back several times before University City pulled away late. “That No. 21 (Evan Marcks) can really shoot it, and they just would not quit.
“But our guys didn't quit either.''
The Lions (11-5) outlasted the Eagles, thanks mainly to their depth and balance. Four of the eight University City players who scored Friday finished in double figures. Senior Travon Williams led the way with a game-high 19 points, while teammates Alex Henry (13), Jeff McGhee (12) and Merrit Brannon (11) also had solid games.
“We're a pretty deep team right now,'' Gammon said. “And honestly, I don't know who's going to step up from night to night.''
On Friday, that was Williams, who scored 15 points in the fourth quarter.
“Early in the game, I just wasn't as aggressive as I needed to be,'' the senior guard said. “My coach told me to step up and that's what I tried to do.''
Williams, a 22.7 points per game scorer, followed up on a basket by McGhee with seven consecutive points late in the fourth quarter as the Lions' went on a 9-0 run to break open a 57-53 game.
The Lions, who beat Fox and Ladue in pool play to reach the title game, threatened at several points to pull away from Christian (11-4).
But the Eagles never stopped battling.
Up 19-8 after a quarter, University City stretched its lead to 21-8 when Henry converted a baseline drive to open the second period. After the Eagles cut the margin to four, the Lions finished the half strong, taking a 35-28 lead to the break.
On a pair of Henry free throws with 5:53 to play in third quarter, the Lions were up 42-30. Christian came on strong, thanks to three consecutive 3-pointers from Marcks to cut the University City lead to 46-43 with a quarter to play.
A pair of free throws from the Eagles' Adam Glenville to start the final quarter cut the University City lead to 46-45.
But that is where the Christian comeback ended.
"It's been a while since we've won a championship,'' Gammon said, mentioning three runner-up finishes for the Lions last year. “Tonight, when things got close, our guys really stepped it up, physically and mentally. Hopefully that's something we can build on through the rest of the season.''
The Eagles, who reached the title game through a tiebreaker after going 1-1 in pool play along with Gateway Tech and Fort Zumwalt South, were led Friday by Glenville (17 points) and Deantrell Prince (14 points, eight steals, four assists).
In other Friday action at Fox:
LADUE 50, GATEWAY TECH 48 • The Rams hit all 20 of their free throws, including a 12-for-12 fourth quarter, to hold off the Jaguars in the third-place game.
Ladue (14-5) was led by sophomore Cornell Johnston, who knocked down eight foul shots while finishing with 18 points and seven assists. Junior Austin DaGue chipped in with 11 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks.
Gateway Tech fell to 10-8.
FORT ZUMWALT SOUTH 73, FOX 37 • The Bulldogs (10-10) took command through the middle of the fifth-place game, outscoring the Warriors 17-8 in the second quarter and 29-12 in the third.
Freshman Preston Whitfield paced South with 18 points and five steals. George Cater (13 points, five assists) and Stephen Bilkey (12 points) also had solid games for the Bulldogs.
Fox is 5-14.
