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.

Middle School Lady Panthers continue to dominate. Advance to semi-final in sectional tournament.

The score sheets were even in one category and Newport had the edge in another. Any student of statistics will say you can read anything you want to from the numbers. The bottom line that counted though was all Lady Panthers with a 39-18 win over Newport Grammar Wednesday evening. The TMSAA girl’s AA sectional tournament is underway this week at Pigeon Forge Middle School.

The win earned Lenoir City a berth in the semi-final contest Friday at 7 p.m.  A win will put them in the championship game at 3 p.m. Saturday. “I hope nobody,” said Lenoir City Middle School girls coach Rachel Gray about what teams were also in the bracket that might beat her Lady Panthers team.

Lenoir City’s lone defeat was Jan. 16 to Harriman by a score of 20-23. Their strength is based on several players who contribute on a consistent and even basis. “It’s not just one. If you want to eliminate one, we’ve got three more, four more that could take them on,” Gray said about the balance on her team.

 

                        Photo by Ambler Brown © 2012 
Jaila Arnwine goes up with the ball to score.

 Newport surpassed the Lady Panthers with eight players inking the score sheet. Unfortunately, their top scorer only had three points. Lenoir City scored off baskets by five players, with two in double figures. Maegan Hudson netted 14 while Amberlee Zeller ripped the nylon with 13. They each hit a basket from long range. Jaila Arnwine dropped in six points on a trio of field goals in the paint. Ashlyn Zeller dropped in a field goal and a pair of free throws for four points. Jermeria Dortch hit for two points.

Where were the two teams even on the score sheets? Both were 50 percent from the foul line. Lenoir City hit seven-of-14 from the charity stripe and the Lady Warriors hit three-of-six. Amberlee Zeller was perfect from the line, with four-of-four going down the pipe.

The first period was a 10-4 domination by Lenoir City. The second quarter escalated to annihilation, as the Lady Panthers had their strongest offensive quarter with 13 points and held the Lady Warriors to zero. The score at the break was 23-4.

Gray put subs in mid-way through the third period. At the end of three the score was 33-10.

Every Lady Panther on the roster hit the floor down the stretch. Even though none of the second team Lady Panthers scored, they received valuable playing time.

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Photo by Ambler Brown © 2012 
Emmah Click works for position under the basket.

Photo by Ambler Brown © 2012 
Maegan Hudson goes hard to the rim to score through three Newport defenders.

Caught between Rockwood and a hard place, Greenback falls hard

The Lady Cherokees started out strong Tuesday night, but lost their rhythm in the third period, while Rockwood adjusted and took over the game down the stretch, winning at home 53-47.  It was a physical game throughout. Greenback girls head coach Ed McCollum finally had enough and spoke his mind to the officials, resulting in a double technical foul call and was forced to leave the gym. 

The boys contest seemed to be called more evenly, in spite of the winning play being a foul called against the Cherokees. It was a good call, resulting in a 53-52 victory for the Tigers. 

Photo by Ambler Brown © 2012 
 Kassidi Knight drives the baseline.

The Lady ‘Kees jumped out front 15-13 in the first quarter and put up even better numbers in the second, going to intermission leading 33-24. Halftime adjustments by Rockwood were effective as Greenback only scored four points after the break. Rockwood tied the game 37-37 at 1:15 on the third quarter clock, took the lead on foul shots, and ended the quarter with a 39-37 advantage. The final period was close with Greenback scoring 10 against Rockwood’s nine, but the damage had been done.

The Lady Cherokees did not go quietly. With 3:15 to go and Rockwood up 46-45, Kassidi Knight dropped in two free throws to reclaim the lead. A turnover by the Lady Tigers put the ball back in Greenback’s hands. Close coverage by the Rockwood defense put the ball back in the Lady Tigers hands. The wheels came off as a combination of Mallory Winters’ fourth foul was called away from the shooter and contact by Rockwood with no fouls called sent coach McCollum into orbit and the official ‘teed him up’. Focus was lost and Rockwood took advantage down the stretch.

Knight was team high scorer for the Lady Cherokees with 15. Winters also hit in double figures with 10. Katelyn Sparks dropped in eight, while Courtneay Sheedy netted six. Bailey Sellers and Autumn Tipton each scored four. Winters and Sheedy found the net from outside with a pair of 3-pointers each.

Photo by Ambler Brown © 2012
Mallory Winters, No. 23, was called for her fourth foul on this play.

The Lady Cherokees hit seven-of-12 from the free-throw line, for 58.3 percent. Rockwood went to the line 25 times and netted 17 for 68 percent.

The boys’ game was close at first, with an 18-17 home team advantage after one. Greenback worked their magic in the second and jumped in front 34-26. It was the only quarter that five Cherokees inked the score sheet.

Photo by Ambler Brown © 2012
 Kassidi Knight tries to put up a shot. No foul was called on the play.

Like the girls contest, Rockwood adjustments during the break had an impact down the stretch. Greenback’s offensive production dropped dramatically in the second half while the Tigers stayed close. After three, Greenback was still up 44-38. With 2:35 to go, the Tigers had shaved the margin to 49-48.

 After an exchange of field goals, and a trio of foul shots by both squads, three additional points were added to the score for each team. With 1.8 seconds on the clock and Greenback up 52-51, Rockwood received a gift in the form of an over the back foul after a missed Greenback free throw. The Tigers’ Cleveland Davidson made both shots to give the home team their second victory of the night.

Josh Pace led the Cherokees with 15 points and Tyler Bryant dropped in 14. Trevor Franklin was also in double figures with 10. Austin Bryant netted six and Eric Anderson nailed a 3-pointer. Hogan Goodson and Landon Disney each connected with a field goal. Success from the free-throw line was missing as the Cherokees hit a paltry three-of-nine for 33.3 percent. Rockwood hit eight-of-11 for 72.7 percent.

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Photo by Ambler Brown © 2012
 Josh Pace drives in for a layup. Pace led the Cherokees with 15 points.

Photo by Ambler Brown © 2012
 Trevor Franklin drives in for a shot. He made no trips to the foul line during the game.

Photo by Ambler Brown © 2012
 Trevor Franklin hit the floor after this play.

Lenoir City Middle School Panthers advance in tournament. Play 5 p.m. Tuesday

The Panthers won their Saturday contest 44-41 over Bluff City in the TMSAA sectional tournament.

The win earned a Tuesday, Feb. 7 game against Pigeon Forge Middle School at 5 p.m. Pigeon Forge is hosting the tournament.

Panthers win. Lady Panthers fall in loss to William Blount

Lenoir City’s Panthers traveled to William Blount Friday night and defeated former Panthers coach Kevin Windle’s Governors on their home court 74-66. The game was much closer than their first meeting. The Panthers won at home 68-45 on Jan. 6. 

Photo by Ambler Brown © 2012
 Haley Morris drives into the lane to put up a shot in the Lady Panthers game at Wm. Blount. Friday.

                                                                                                                                       

Photo by Ambler Brown © 2012
 Cailin Hurley clears out from the baseline after snagging a rebound.

Photo by Ambler Brown © 2012
 Camion Patrick goes in for a layup in the Panthers 74-66 win at Wm. Blount Friday.

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The Lady Panthers, 10-14 (5-9), were in it for a while, but dropped their game 51-34. The score after the first period was a respectable 17-14 but the Lady Govs defense stiffened, holding Lenoir City to single digit quarters the rest of the night. At the break the home team’s advantage had grown to 31-13.

The score sheet looked more like a recent economic indicator with scores dropping more each period. The Lady Govs doubled Lenoir City’s 7-point third period offense and cut it to only three points in the fourth.

Tyler Powers scored 10 to lead the Lady Panthers. Katie Smartt hit for eight. Chassady Gray and Kara Steil each dropped five through the hoop, while the trio of Kelsey Marriott, Lindsey Jones and Ally Latham each scored two. Long-range baskets were made by Gray and Smartt, with one each and Powers netted two. The Lady Panthers hit eight of 14 from the charity stripe for 57 percent.

“This did not help us in the district standings,” Lady Panthers coach Kelly Herron said about the loss. “I did not want to be a seventh seed in the tournament.”

The Panthers were hot out of the gate with 21-first quarter points to 13 for the Govs. The gap closed tighter in the second period with a 44-32 half-time score. Both defenses tightened in the second half, as Lenoir City only put 15 points in during both final periods.

With a couple of threes and made free throws, William Blount rallied to within one for a 59-58 score at 5:15 to go in the game but the Panthers kept finding a way to pull away down the stretch. Terrance Hall was six-for-six from the charity stripe for the Panthers, all in the fourth period. Collectively Lenoir City hit 78.3 percent from the free-throw line.

Three Panthers scored in double figures, led by Tyler Jones with 14. Jordan Hall netted 13 and Alex Hatfield dropped in 12. Terrance Hall and Camion Patrick each found the nylon for eight points and Lucas Hamilton ripped it with seven. Bill Ault scored five, Nathan Lester four and Steven Halcomb dropped in three, for a total of nine players inking the score sheet. Jordan Hall and Tyler Jones each hit a pair from beyond the arc.

Lenoir City 14-10 (8-6) plays Kingston Monday for their final home game of the season. It will be senior night for the Panthers and Lady Panthers as players from both teams will receive special recognition for their efforts on the hardwood.

Lady Panthers making their final appearance are Kristi Brackett, Abbie Cheatham, Chassady Gray, Kelsey Marriott, Tyler Powers, Dawn Radford, Taylor Robinson and team manager Kayla Honore.  Panthers seniors are Bill Ault, Alex Hatfield, Tyler Jones and Nathan Lester.

Lenoir City will travel to Loudon Friday for a 6 p.m. tipoff. The District 4-AAA tournament will take place Feb. 15-22 at Bearden High School in Knoxville.

Six Middle School basketball players receive all-tournament honors. Hudson named MVP.

The Middle School District 4 basketball tournament ended Thursday night with the Lenoir City Lady Panthers and Rockwood Tigers as champions.

Loudon County players named to the all-tournament team were Lady Panthers Amberlee Zeller, Ashlyn Zeller and Maegan Hudson. Hudson was recognized as tournament most valuable player. The trio was also named all-district for their season of play.

Panthers recognized during post-game ceremonies were Joe Pace and Jacob Tufts named to both the all-tournament team and recognized as all-district players. 

Ft. Loudoun Middle School player Jesse Smallen was also named to the all-tournament team.

Photo by Ambler Brown © 2012
 Ft. Loudoun Middle School player Jesse Smallen was named to the all-tournament team.

Photo by Ambler Brown © 2012
 Joe Pace and Jacob Tufts received recognition as all-tournament players and were both named to the all-district team.

Photo by Ambler Brown © 2012
 From left to right, Ashlyn Zeller, Amberlee Zeller and Maegan Hudson were named to both the all-tournament team and earned all-district honors Thursday night. Hudson was named tournament most valuable player.

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.