BY BRIAN HAMILTON
MORRISTOWN – While much of the country was getting ready to tune in to Saturday night’s NBA Slam Dunk Contest, Walters State hosted a slam dunk contest of its own on Carlyle-Kragle Court. For many in the audience, it felt like watching a real life version of NBA Jam on SNES, as the Senators aggressively attacked the rim again and again, en route to a 106-56 win over Dyersburg State.
The Senators shot over 62-percent from the floor and committed only eight turnovers in what was a near flawless performance.
Walters State’s Jayden Nesbitt (15) attempts to block a shot from Dyersburg State’s Bryce Scurlark (5). Photo by Brian Hamilton
“We’ve got a really good team, and obviously we’ve lost only once this year,” Walters State head coach Jerry Nichols said after the game. “These guys work extremely hard. I’m hoping we can finish strong. That’s the next step, to finish strong, every game, but they’re playing their tails off. They’re giving me everything they’ve got and that’s all I can ask for, both on and off the court.”
Da’Mori Lytch put Walters State on the board, as he was fouled on a drive and sank a pair of free throws to give the Senators a 2-0 lead. Dyersburg State’s Elijah Causly knotted the game up at 2-2 with a pair from the line on the next possession.
The first basket of the game for Walters State came on a two-handed jam by Jayden Nesbitt, followed by a windmill dunk by Lytch, giving the Senators a 6-2 advantage.
Isaiah Claybrooks hit a jumper for Dyersburg to cut the deficit to 6-4 with just under 18 minutes left in the half, but Walters State’s Tyrese Stovall threw down the Senators’ third dunk of the night on the next possession to make the score 8-4.
The Senators would then embark on an 11-0 run, as Jaquavious Wallace grabbed a rebound and stuck it in for a 17-4 lead with 14:28 left in the half. Claybrooks hit a three to end the drought and cut the Eagles’ deficit to 17-7 with 13:38 to go.
Trae Rideau hit a three-pointer to make the score 22-7, followed by a Taquez Butler three to stretch the lead to 25-9. Dyersburg later went on a 6-4 run to pull to within 32-20 when Deston Christian made a layup with just under eight minutes left. Walters State would outscore the Eagles 18-5 from that point forward in the first half, sending the Senators to the intermission leading 48-25.
Walters State head coach Jerry Nichols looks on during his team’s 106-56 win over Dyersburg State on Saturday. Photo by Brian Hamilton
Walters State opened the second half on a 7-0 run after a pair of baskets by Butler and Lytch, giving the Senators a 55-25 lead. Dyersburg would end the run when Causly drained a three to cut the Eagles’ deficit to 55-28 with 17:41 remaining.
The Senator lead reached 30 with 14 minutes to left when Butler nailed a three-pointer to make the score 64-34. The lead would continue to grow quickly, hitting the 40-point mark with over 10 minutes remaining, as Stovall flushed a dunk to extend the lead to 77-37.
A layup by Caiden Bauldwin gave Walters State a 50-point lead, at 93-43 with 6:25 remaining, and the Senators would hit the century mark when Jamar Livingston hit a three with over three minutes left.
Walters State would go on to win 106-56 and remain on a collision course to play Columbia State (22-4, 15-1 TCCAA) for the regular season crown on Saturday, February 21.
“We’ve got to take it one game at a time,” Nichols said. “Obviously, that next game is Pellissippi on the road. Columbia, right now, is tied with us for first (place), so we’re excited, but the main goal is to always be 1-0. That’s the main goal — to go 1-0 every game.”
Dyersburg State’s Elijah Causley led all scorers with 19, while Deston Christian finished with 12, and Bryce Scurlark added 10.
Walters State had five players in double figures, led by 16 from Da’Mori Lytch. Carter Webb finished with 15, and Taquez Butler had 14. Jayden Nesbitt and Tyrese Stovall also added 10 points apiece.
Butler led the Senators in rebounding, with six, while Brian Carter finished with a team-high six assists.
“We’ve got a good group,” Nichols said. “I’m excited about this group. This group can really, really go far, I think, but we’ve got to continue to learn each other. I know it’s late in the season, but as it gets later in the season, you have to learn new things about yourself and you sometimes have to reinvent yourself a little bit, as well. We’re excited about this journey and we’re hoping to finish strong.”
The Senators (23-1, 15-1 TCCAA) will travel to Pellissippi State (7-17, 5-10 TCCAA) on Wednesday night.
Dyersburg State (6-18, 2-13 TCCAA) will host Premium Prep Academy on Monday in a non-conference game.