Holden Mobley, now head coach at Goodpasture, isn’t shy about singing the praises of Friendship Christian’s second-year coach, Michael Teeter. Mobley, who previously led as an assistant at Ensworth, describes Teeter as one of the Midstate's top high school basketball minds.
After facing Friendship Christian three times this season, including a 65-60 loss in the District 4 championship, Mobley has seen firsthand the unique style Teeter brings to the court. "They can shoot it at every position," Mobley noted, highlighting the versatility and depth of Teeter’s squad.
Chris Lawson, coach of Middle Tennessee Christian, echoed Mobley's sentiments following a 27-point defeat in the Division II-A Middle Region quarterfinals. Lawson was struck by how seamlessly Friendship Christian's players work together.
"The ball doesn’t stick, and they make good reads," he observed, pointing out their ability to execute backdoor cuts and strategic handoffs with precision. This fluidity is the result of years spent honing their craft together.
Teeter’s "matchup based offense" has been a game-changer, guiding Friendship Christian to the region semifinals for the first time since 2012 and securing a spot in the Division II-A state tournament. The Commanders rely on a senior-heavy lineup, each capable of taking on the role of primary ball-handler or scoring threat.
“We usually start with D (Boone) initiating, but our seniors are all in the mix,” Teeter explained. With players like Xavier Humphrey stepping up against opposing bigs, the team thrives on exploiting matchups.
Despite their lack of size-Humphrey is the tallest starter at 6-foot-2-Teeter’s creativity shines through. He employs motion-based principles to open up shooting opportunities, utilizing backdoor cuts, dribble handoffs, and pindown screens to create high-percentage shots. This approach has propelled the Commanders to a 22-win season.
“We’re not the biggest, so scoring at the rim can be tough,” Teeter admitted. “But we’ve found ways to compete offensively despite being undersized.”
In the DII-A Middle Region quarterfinal against MTCS, Friendship Christian took control from the start. District 4 tournament MVP Miles Fitzpatrick set the tone with back-to-back threes, courtesy of assists from Boone and screens by Humphrey. Perez Parker added another triple, helping the Commanders to a 19-9 lead in the first quarter, which they extended to a 14-point advantage by halftime.
Fitzpatrick and Parker each had 10 points by the break. “Being in this game the last three years helped us start strong,” Teeter said. “We emphasized getting on the gas early against a young team.”
Friendship Christian maintained their momentum, cruising to a 70-43 victory. Parker led all scorers with 32 points, including 14 in the final quarter, outpacing MTCS’s Elijah Carter, who scored 24 for the Cougars.
Looking ahead, Friendship Christian faced off against defending Division II-A runner-up BGA in the semifinals at PCA. The winner would advance to the Middle Region championship, with a home game in the state tournament on the line.
Final Score: Friendship Christian 70, MTCS 43
F - 19, 12, 16, 23 - 70
M - 9, 8, 10, 16 - 43