Lady Panthers prevail. Win Middle School District Championship.

Boys fall short as tournament runners-up.

The District 4 basketball tournament came to a close Thursday night at Lenoir City Middle School, with both the Lady Panthers and Panthers in championship games. The Lady Panthers faced the Midway Green Waves, and kept their winning ways moving forward with a 60-23 victory.  The boys lost a close game, 47-44 to the Rockwood Tigers.

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Photo by Ambler Brown © 2012
 Maegan Hudson goes up for a shot in the Lady Panthers game Thursday against Midway.

Photo by Ambler Brown © 2012
 With both coaches watching the sideline, Lenoir City's Clay Campbell walks a tightrope to stay inbounds.

 “We played our game,” Lady Panthers head basketball coach Rachel Gray said. “Everyone worked together.”  Lenoir City had an easy time with Midway and a number of fans commented it was their best performance of the season. “This is the best I’ve seen them at passing the ball,” Lenoir City Middle School assistant principal Greg Boling said. Good passes lead to fewer turnovers and meaningful possessions.

“I know we had at least 13 assists,” Gray said about the team’s success passing the ball. The Lady Panthers have only one loss on the season, boasting a 17-1 overall record.

Maegan Hudson led all scorers with 20 points and was named tournament most valuable player during post game ceremonies. Amberlee Zeller dropped in 14, including one 3-point basket. Jalia Arnwine was the third Lady Panther to score in double figures with 13. She also hit one basket from long-range. Ashlyn Zeller netted eight points and Jemeriah Dortch closed out the Panthers points with six.

Lenoir City took a panther-like leap with a 24-8 first quarter lead. They were up 40-14 at intermission. Midway had no response, spotting the Lady Panthers a 56-20 edge after three quarters. Down the final stretch, Lenoir City’s under-classmen hit the floor and got in some valuable playing time.

With the district championship, the Lady Panthers earned a bye in the regional tournament that starts Saturday. They will hit the hardwood at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Pigeon Forge Middle School.

In the boys contest, the first period was pivotal to the final outcome as the Panthers fell behind early 15-10. They matched Rockwood point for point through the second and third quarters and put two more than Rockwood through the net in the fourth, but it was still not enough to break on top.

“We pretty much controlled the game the way we wanted,” Lenoir City boys head basketball coach Travis Gaskins said. “We were short from the foul line. Free throws killed us. Hitting only 4-of-13 won’t get the job done on free throws.” The Panthers percent of free throws made was only 30.7 percent compared to Rockwood hitting 17-of-28 for 60.7 percent.

Three Panthers scored in double figures, with Joe Pace on top at 15 points. Jacob Tufts canned 14 and Clay Campbell hit for 11. Hayden Bingham and Jathan Arnwine each scored two. Hitting from long-range were Pace with one, Tufts for two and Campbell with one 3-pointer. Pace tied Rockwood’s Colyer Hicks for game-high scoring honors.

The Panthers will play in the first round of the regional tournament at Pigeon Forge Middle School on Saturday at 2:15 p.m.