Tuesday night Loudon traveled to Alcoa for a pair of
District 4-AA battles. The Lady Redskins came up just short, falling 49-45 to
the Lady Tornadoes, but their 8-2 district record was still enough to earn the 2012
regular season crown.
The boys’ game was not as close with a 20-point margin at
the end. Alcoa, 9-1 in district play, prevailed 64-44 over the visitors and won
the district over 8-2 Christian Academy of Knoxville.
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| Photo by Sammie Dunlap © 2012. Jara Gasper drives around an Alcoa defender. |
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| Photo by Sammie Dunlap © 2012. Jordan Belvin works for position, driving the lane. Belvin scored 12 points for the Redskins. |
The Lady Redskins were slow out of the gate with only four
first period points to Alcoa’s 17. Loudon’s game-high point leader Jara Gasper did
not score until the second quarter. At
the break the margin was 27-15. Half-time adjustments benefited the Lady
Redskins as they doubled the Lady Tornadoes production, posting 18 to Alcoa’s nine
third period points. The nearly even fourth quarter, with Alcoa up 13-12 for
the period, carried them through for the victory.
Foul shots proved to be a pivotal difference as Loudon hit
the higher percentage, dropping eight-of-10. Unfortunately for the Lady
Redskins, Alcoa made eight more trips to the charity stripe, hitting 13-of-18.
During the fourth quarter alone, the Lady Tornadoes stepped to the line 11
times as Loudon tried to flip fouls into added possessions. The strategy
worked, as Loudon hit all six of their fourth quarter foul shots but it was too
little, too late. The early game deficit was too large a mountain to climb.
Gasper netted 20, including one basket from long-range, and
a perfect three-for-three at the foul line. Jodi Dailey dropped in eight, also
hitting one from beyond the arc. Bre Snow scored six, hitting two field goals
and both of her free throw attempts. Savannah Berry put five points on the
score sheet, including one 3-point basket. Chelsey Moore hit four from the
paint and Zoe Grimes was good on two free throws.
The Alcoa boys showed why they took the district,
overpowering the Redskins from the starting whistle. After one it was 13-8,
which seemed respectable at the time. They unleashed the real Tornadoes in the
second quarter, dropping in 22 points to the Redskins 14 for a half-time score
of 35-22. The third quarter was more of the same, with a flurry of threes
pushing the margin to 56-33. The fourth quarter was academic as Alcoa coasted
to victory.
Andrew Hendrix netted 13 for the Redskins, while Jordan
Belvin dropped in four 3-pointers for 12. Of Hendrix’s points, three baskets
were long-range, for a combined seven 3-pointers for Loudon. Jaden Bailey
scored seven while Jake Blankenship banged in six points from inside the paint.
The trio of Ty Hairston, Jon Dorsett and Justin Shell each found the cylinder
for two points.
Loudon will close their regular season at home against
cross-county rival Lenoir City on Friday. The girls tip-off is scheduled for 6
p.m. and the boys will start at 7:30 p.m.
Senior night festivities are planned to recognize Savannah
Berry, Jodi Dailey, Jara Gasper, Chesley Moore and Julie Waddell for the Lady
Redskins. Jake Blankenship and Justin Shell are Redskin seniors who will be
honored for their contributions on the hardwood.
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