BY BRIAN HAMILTON
SEVIERVILLE – Sevier County was coming off a controversial loss to Lipscomb Academy in the semifinals of the Winterfest Shootout and could have hung their heads going into the third-place game of a holiday tournament. With the game at home and the stands packed with local supporters, the Smoky Bears came out strong and dominated White County 64-30 to place third in the tournament.
Nate Griffin opened the scoring with a three to put White County in front 3-0, but Sevier County countered with a three of their own to tie the game at 3-3. Reed Ownby scored a layup to give the Smoky Bears a 5-3 lead with just under six minutes remaining in the opening quarter. The senior then scored on a rebound and putback to extend the lead to 7-3 with 5:06 left in the quarter.
Daniel Tarwater (5) goes up for a shot against White County defenders. Photo by Brian Hamilton
Lucas Dickerson hit a three to pull the Warriors to within 7-6 with just under three minutes left in the first quarter, but Braden Huffaker responded with a layup to make the score 9-6. A three by Tripp Pinion with 1:15 left tied the score at 9-9 and that would be the score after one quarter.
Sevier County took a 12-9 lead to open the second quarter on a Brody Schraufnagel three. Jayden Barton would hit a layup to give the Smoky Bears a 14-9 lead with 5:38 left in the quarter. Pinion would trim the Bears’ lead to 14-11, but Ownby made a basket on the other end to make the score 16-11 with five minutes left in the half.
A triple by Dickerson would cut the Sevier County deficit to 16-14, but the Smoky Bears would go on a 12-2 run from there to lead 28-16 with just over one minute remaining until halftime.
Pinion would hit a contested layup with 35 seconds left to pull White County to within 28-18, but a driving layup by Barton would extend the lead back to 30-18. The Warriors hit a shot at the buzzer to make the halftime score 30-20.
Sevier County opened the third quarter on a 7-2 run to take a 37-22 lead. A three by Ownby would give the Smoky Bears a 40-24 advantage midway through the period. A basket by Ownby and a triple by Barton would put Sevier County in front 45-26 with 2:33 left in the third, as the Smoky Bears began to pull away late.
A three by Daniel Tarwater would put Sevier County ahead 50-28 with 1:24 remaining in the third quarter, as the Smoky Bears took a 51-28 lead into the final stanza.
Tarwater hit a layup to open the fourth quarter, making the score 53-28. Sevier County would end the game on a 10-2 run after Cooper Calfee hit a three-pointer with 30 seconds left for a 64-30, which would be the final tally. The Smoky Bears outscored White County 34-10 in the second half for the third place finish in the tournament.
Reed Ownby finished with a game high 23 points, while Jayden Barton scored 16. Daniel Tarwater and Cooper Calfee added nine points apiece.
Tripp Pinion led White County with 17 points.
Sevier County (12-3) will be back in action on Tuesday, January 7 at home against Hardin Valley.