Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Lenoir City Middle School Panthers defeat Braves in tournament action





Photo by Ambler Brown © 2012
 Lenoir City's Clay Campbell goes up with a layup. 

Photo by Ambler Brown © 2012
 Jesse Smallen puts a shot up for the Braves of Ft. Loudoun Middle School.


The Panthers of Lenoir City Middle School are hosting the District 4 Middle School basketball tournament this week. Games opened Saturday morning, when the Panthers took on cross-county rival Ft. Loudoun Middle School and won 45-29.  

Ft. Loudoun never quit but was playing from behind the whole way. After one, the score was 12-6 Lenoir City. At the half, the score was 20-12. The Panther machine refueled at the break and put the hammer down in the third, scoring 14 to Ft. Loudoun’s 7. Lenoir City never let up on the Braves and cruised to victory down the stretch. 

Lenoir City’s Joe Pace set the overall scoring pace with 14 points. Jacob Tufts also scored in double figures with 12, including a pair of 3-point shots. Hayden Bingham matched Tufts with two from long range and added a field goal for eight points on the night. Austin Norman netted four points, while Clay Campbell and Jathan Arnwine matched one another with three. Jared Arnwine was good for one from the free-throw line.

The Braves top-gun was Cody Townson with nine points, including a 3-point basket from outside. Jesse Smallen scored six while the trio of Justin Hairston, Jesse Kerr and Juan Bedolla each racked in four. Dakota Bailey closed out the scoring for the Braves with two. 

With the win, the Panthers earned a move up the bracket to face Oliver Springs Monday night. Lenoir City won that game 32-27 and will play in the tournament championship game Thursday at 8:15 p.m. The Panthers are now 15-6 overall and 6-4 in district play.

The No. 1 seed Lady Panthers received a bye in the opening round and will play Tuesday night at LCMS with tip-off scheduled for 7:15 p.m.