Seymour Regional

Seymour defeats Northview Academy to earn first region and district title since 2004

BY BRIAN HAMILTON KNOXVILLE – After the district championship game a week ago, Seymour head coach Greg Hernandez was asked if he would like to face Northview Academy a fourth time, a team that played the Lady Eagles tough in all three contests. His answer: “Hell no.” After the two teams went on their separate ways into regional play, it became evident that the two teams were on a collision course yet again. The two teams met at Halls Gymnasium on Wednesday night and the first quarter looked as if it was going to be similar to the other three. …

Kayle Yates

Gatlinburg-Pittman takes down Happy Valley 70-47 in regional semis

BY BRIAN HAMILTON GATLINBURG – Leah Stinnett has been having a district tournament for the ages with the first triple-double in school history against Chuckey-Doak on Friday night. The sophomore guard followed that up by leading Gatlinburg-Pittman in scoring — with 20 points — and helping propel the Lady Highlanders to the district finals with a 70-47 win over Happy Valley. Gatlinburg-Pittman got off to a great start in the fourth quarter and lead after the Lady Warriors pulled to within six early in the second quarter, GP went on a 10-0 run and never looked back. “I thought that …

Ainsley Pfieffer

Alcoa advances to second consecutive regional final with 73-56 win over South Greene

BY BRIAN HAMILTON GATLINBURG – Alcoa came out hot on Monday night and never took their foot off the gas, as the Lady Tornadoes led by double digits after the first quarter and never let the lead shrink to single-digits again, winning 73-56. The win advances Alcoa to the region championship with an opportunity to face Gatlinburg-Pittman — who defeated Happy Valley later Monday night — for the fourth time this season. Both matchups in Gatlinburg, the Lady Tornadoes have lost, and Wednesday night’s game will be at the same location. “We wanted to give ourselves another shot to get …

Jordan White

Lady Cougars defeat Clinton 71-57 to advance to region semifinal

BY BRIAN HAMILTON KODAK – On Friday night, Northview Academy had the task of slowing down Tennessee Miss Basketball finalist Sarah Burton and according to Lady Cougars coach Brooke Shelley, it may have been one of the best games they played all year, as Northview never trailed and came away with a 71-57 win. “I think it was the best team effort and team win that we’ve ever had, maybe in this program,” Shelley said. “The girls came out and executed the game plan tonight and they stuck to the game plan. Clinton hit some huge shots and we never …

Seymour Girls

Lady Eagles defeat Northview Academy 47-39 for first district title since 2008

BY BRIAN HAMILTON SEYMOUR – It was a game of runs, as each team came out and traded punches in the third quarter, as Northview Academy responded to a 7-0 Seymour run with a 10-0 run of their own. The Lady Eagles dealt the final blow, however, as Seymour held the Lady Eagles scoreless for most of the fourth quarter en route to a 47-39 win and their first district championship since 2008. Seymour head coach Greg Hernandez was a sophomore center for Maryville College the last time the Lady Eagles won a district championship. Seymour defeated Gibbs 49-45 for …

Sevier County

Bearettes jump on Jefferson County early to repeat as District 2 champs

BY BRIAN HAMILTON DANDRIDGE – Sevier County took an early 19-2 lead over Jefferson County and never looked back, as the Bearettes defeated the Lady Patriots 57-34 in the Class 4A District 2 title game Saturday night. The championship was Sevier County’s second straight, one year after replacing all five starters to graduation. “We talked about it today during our pregame; when we start fast, we tend to win,” Sevier County coach Jonathan Schultz said after the game. “On Monday night, when we played here, we didn’t play a great game and I just thought we got outworked, so we …

Clevenger

Cocke County unable to overcome big third quarter by Greeneville in district semis

BY BRIAN HAMILTON GREENEVILLE – Cocke County got off to a hot start, but could not overcome a third quarter, which saw them fall into a 14-point deficit going into the fourth. The Lady Red cut the deficit to two with just over a minute remaining, but it was too little, too late, as Greeneville came away with a 60-56 win and a trip to the Class 3A District 2 title game. “We just quit picking up the ball and they were able to make a bunch of shots and take advantage of what we were doing wrong,” Cocke County …

Heritage-Farragut

Strickland, Rogers have big night to propel Farragut over Heritage in district semis

BY BRIAN HAMILTON MARYVILLE – Heritage kept the Farragut scorers at bay for most of the game, but once Avery Strickland and Keeleigh Rogers got things going in the second half, the Lady Admirals pulled away for a 59-52 win and a third shot at Bearden in the district championship. “We played them in the regular season, tooth and nail, and they beat us by four both games because we didn’t hit a few shots to win the game,” Heritage coach Rick Howard said. “I thought tonight we just missed some crucial layups and a couple threes that you’ve gotta …

William Blount

Bearden routs Lady Govs 68-28 in District 4 semifinal

BY BRIAN HAMILTON MARYVILLE – William Blount hung with Bearden for the first two minutes in Friday’s Class 4A District 4 semifinal, but the Lady Bulldogs enforced their will in the first quarter, turning a 5-5 tie into a 21-5 lead and the rest was history, as Bearden advanced to the district championship game on Monday night. “It’s just of those things where I felt like we had some clean looks and had some good looks and they don’t go down and they’re off to the races,” William Blount coach Jason Kallenberg said. “I told the kids at halftime — …

Seymour-Carter

Lady Eagles hold Carter to single digits in district semifinal

BY BRIAN HAMILTON SEYMOUR – The Lady Eagles jumped out to a 23-0 lead before surrendering a basket to Carter in the teams’ district semifinal matchup on Thursday night. Seymour went on to win 56-8 and advanced to the District 3 championship on Monday night. Thursday night was a milestone, as it was the lowest total Seymour held an opponent to since at least 2000. The next lowest totals came in an 82-10 win over Berean Christian on November 20, 2006, and a 67-11 win over Carter on January 29, 2004. When Emma Collins banked in a three pointer with …