Loudon takes early exit with loss to Scott County

Scott County had Loudon’s number Friday. The two teams met in the AA-District 4 tournament at Loudon High School but there was no advantage for the Redskins being on their home court. The Highlanders took control early and dominated throughout, cruising to a 52-44 victory. It could have been either team's victory to claim as the two teams had split home wins in their regular season contests. 

At the first quarter horn the score was a respectable 11-7 in favor of the visitors, but Scott County turned up the heat in the second. At the break the margin had jumped to 10, with the lights on the scoreboard reading 24-14, Highlanders. The Redskins narrowed the gap back to seven after three, but never could get close enough to mount a serious charge. 

Photo by Sammie Dunlap © 2012.
Andrew Hendrix drives around a Scott County defender.

Photo by Sammie Dunlap © 2012.
Jake Blankenship goes up with a shot.

Jaden Bailey and Jordan Belvin matched one another as leaders on the score sheet with an even dozen. Andrew Hendrix dropped in eight points and the trio of Bryston Hardy, Ty Hairston and Jake Blankenship each scored four. With the loss, Loudon is out of the tournament.

Loudon loves a sweet pair of wins over Wildcats

Monday closed out Loudon's regular season at home with Sweetwater proving to be a good tune-up heading into the start of district tournament week at Loudon. The Lady Redskins downed the Lady Wildcats 67-50 and the boys pounded the Wildcats 60-43.

The girls contest allowed Coach Bryant Collins to clear his bench, with 10 of the Lady Redskins inking the score sheet before the night was over. Senior post player Chelsey Moore shared the top scoring total at 19 with Sweetwater’s Raven Jefford. Loudon’s Zoe Grimes added 11, followed by Jara Gasper with nine and Savannah Berry hitting eight. Freshman Aspen Jordan was good with five points, while Julie Waddell and Bre Snow each dropped four through the hoop. Jodi Dailey drained a long-range bucket for three. Bekah Campbell and Haylee Henry each scored early field goals for two points apiece. Joining Dailey with baskets from beyond the arc were Berry with one and Moore with two.

Loudon started slow and allowed the Lady Wildcats an early lead. After one period, the visitors were up 13-12. The Lady Redskins turned up the intensity on defense in the second period, holding Sweetwater to only three points. They also dialed up more offense to the tune of five players scoring a combined 13 to jump on top 25-16 at the half. 

Photo by Sammie Dunlap © 2012.
Savannah Berry takes it to the hoop through a pair of Lady Wildcats.

By the time the third quarter clock wound down, the Lady Redskins’ Moore and Grimes were wound up, each hitting three field goals in the 19-point period for a 44-28 thrashing. Loudon gave no quarter down the stretch. In the fourth, 23 points by seven different Lady Redskins put the game out of reach, even though Jefford hit three 3-point baskets in a valiant 22 point comeback bid by Sweetwater.

A marked difference in free throw shooting could have spelled doom for Loudon had the score been closer. The Lady Redskins only hit seven-of-16 for 43.7 percent from the charity stripe. Sweetwater connected on 15-of-21 for 71.4 percent of their foul shots.

The Lady Redskins won the regular season title and earned a bye in the District 4-AA tournament at Loudon this week. They will hit the hardwood Saturday at 7 p.m. against the winner of Thursday’s CAK/Kingston game. The district championship is scheduled for Feb. 21 at 6 p.m.

Coming off a thrilling come-from-behind double overtime win over cross-county rival Lenoir City last week, the Redskins continued both their comeback and winning ways at the expense of Sweetwater.

Sweetwater started strong, going up 14-6 on their hosts in the first period. The second quarter saw a complete reversal as Loudon scored 19 to the Wildcats eight for a 25-22 Redskin advantage. Loudon’s defense got even stingier in the third. The Redskins held the visitors to only five, while thrilling the home crowd with 3-point shots by Jordan Belvin (two) and Andrew Hendrix (one), to ink 19 more points in the period. The 44-27 score at the third quarter buzzer had the fans roaring their approval. Both teams put 16 through the hoop in the fourth, keeping the final score margin right where Loudon wanted it with a 17-point advantage.

Photo by Sammie Dunlap © 2012.
Andrew Hendrix puts up a shot in Loudon's 60-43 win over Sweetwater.

Hendrix led the Redskins with 15 points, while Ty Hairston was close behind at 13. Belvin and Jaden Bailey each ripped the net for nine. Jon Dorsett was good with six and Jake Blankenship banged in four. Clay Jenkins and Justin Shell each added a pair on fourth quarter field goals. Bailey hit a long-range basket in addition to Belvin and Hendrix’s third quarter heroics from outside.

The Redskins play Scott County Friday at 8 p.m. in district tournament play at Loudon High School.

Loudon sweeps second round of bridge series, handing Lenoir City a pair of losses.

Boys battle through two OTs – Redskins upset Panthers 77-75.

With winter weather moving in outside, the cross-county action was heated inside Loudon High School Friday as the Panthers of Lenoir City came calling. The Lady Redskins showed why they are AA-District 4 champions as they handed the Lady Panthers a 59-46 loss. Their Dec. 2 contest had been closer with Loudon winning 45-44.

The boys’ game in December was as expected, with Lenoir City on top 59-48. Friday, it was everything but the expected as the 9-16 (2-8) Redskins dealt the visiting Panthers 15-11 (8-6) a surprising double-overtime 77-75 defeat. 

Photo by Sammie Dunlap © 2012.
Loudon's Jordan Belvin goes up with a shot as Lenoir City's Jordan Hall defends.  
The Redskins won 77-75 in double overtime.

In the ladies’ contest, Loudon jumped out to an early 15-4 lead in the first period. Lenoir City mounted a bit more offense in the second, but Loudon was consistent and posted a 29-13 first half advantage. The two teams played closer in the third as the Lady Panthers’ scoring leader Tyler Powers dropped in a pair of threes and Kelsey Marriott added another. Unfortunately for the visitors, the late surge was too little, too late. After three the score was 42-24 Loudon. A strong 22-point fourth quarter by Lenoir City made the contest respectable, but Loudon’s consistent scoring produced their best quarter of offense with 17, allowing them to coast in with the win.

Loudon’s Savannah Berry and Jara Gasper combined for 13-of-15 from the free-throw line down the stretch, making it impossible for the Lady Panthers to edge closer.

Gasper notched a game-high 21 points for Loudon. Post player Chelsey Moore banged in 18, including one from long-range. Berry netted nine, also hitting one from outside. Zoe Grimes scored seven and Bre Snow inked the score sheet for two. Haylee Henry and Aspen Jordan each were good with a free throw for one point.

Photo by Sammie Dunlap © 2012.
Kara Steil launches a three for 
the Lady Panthers.

Photo by Sammie Dunlap © 2012.
Loudon's Chelsey Moore drives 
around Lady Panther Kristi Brackett.

Powers was top-gun for the Lady Panthers with 14. Kristi Brackett scored six from the paint. Cailin Hurley and Katie Smartt each dropped in four, while the trio of Kelsey Marriott, Ally Latham and Kara Steil each scored three. The quartet of Dawn Radford, Teela Thomas, Angel Varner and Haley Morris each had two points ink the score sheet. Lindsey Jones was good with one free throw.

The boys contest delivered plenty of heat to counter the falling temperatures outside. Lenoir City screamed to a 20-10 first quarter lead. Loudon ramped up on offense and defense in the second, pulling back within six for a 34-28 score at the half. Loudon took a 47-46 lead to close out the third period. The game went to overtime after regulation with the score tied at 58 and was still knotted at 67 when the third potential game ending horn sounded.  Another extra period was needed to settle it and the home team fans were jubilant with the 77-75 victory after the second overtime.

Loudon’s Jordan Belvin had the game-high hot hand with 25 points, including five 3-point baskets. His inside the paint teammate Jaden Bailey was good for 24, including one from long-range. Andrew Hendrix scored 14, with two buckets from beyond the arc. Ty Hairston netted eight. Bryston Hardy scored five, also hitting a three. Christ Chennault sealed both the scoring for the Redskins and the game, with a key free throw in the final seconds.

For the Panthers, Camion Patrick racked 22 points and Lucas Hamilton banged in 17. Loudon held Lenoir City’s usual sharpshooter Jordan Hall to seven points. Alex Hatfield and Tyler Jones were each good with six points. Bill Ault and Nathan Lester had five each. Terrance Hall scored four while Steven Halcomb hit a 3-pointer. Joining Halcomb with long-range baskets were Patrick with three, Lester with one and Jordan Hall with one.

Loudon will host the AA-District 4 tournament next week. The Lady Redskins 21-4 (8-2) won the regular season AA-District 4 crown and look forward to advancing higher this year. They lost to Pigeon Forge in the regional semi-final on a last second buzzer beater to end their 2011 season. “We want the trophy this time,” senior Chelsey Moore said. “I think we can do it. We should go to state. We’re deeper this year.”

Lenoir City will travel to Bearden High School in Knoxville for the AAA-District 4 tournament. Tournament brackets and schedules will be posted when announced.

Loudon loses two battles but Lady Redskins win the war. Take 4-AA District crown.

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. 

Photo by Sammie Dunlap © 2012.
Jara Gasper drives around an Alcoa defender.

  

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.