Tennessee High 69, Cherokee 67
Tennessee began the 9-game slate with a 69-67 win versus Region 1-3A counterpart Cherokee.
Cherokee started hot with a 24-point first quarter and held a 39-26 lead at the half on the heels of Kenady Deal’s 27-point half. Tennessee came storming back and outscored Cherokee 20-10 in the third and set up an exciting fourth quarter. The Lady Vikings managed to complete the comeback and erase a 16-point deficit to win 69-67.
Kenady Deal led Cherokee with a game-high 30 points on a super efficient 9-for-10 day with a 6-for-7 clip from beyond the arc. Deal was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Addie Wilhoit led the victors with 26 points going 6-for-15 from the field and a perfect 10-for-10 at the line.
Tennessee will play the winner of Monday morning’s Chuckey-Doak and North Greene matchup on Wednesday at 9:30 AM. Cherokee will play the loser on Tuesday at 9:00 AM.
Grace Christian 63, Spring Valley, WV 48
Grace Christian dominated from start to finish and won their second game in-a-row 63-48 over Spring Valley.
Grace Christian built a 19-point lead at the half and never let off the gas. Spring Valley mildly cut into the deficit, but not enough to make it a competitive contest.
Abby Roberts was Grace Christian’s top scorer with 24 points on 7-for-12 from the field and an impressive 5-for-8 from three. Roberts also collected a team-high 7 rebounds. Sophie Hutchinson led Spring Valley with 15 points.
Grace Christian will play Albertville on Monday at 7:30 PM in the winner’s bracket. Spring Valley will play Morristown West on Monday at 3:00 PM.
Bearden 80, Coalfield 60
Bearden flexed their muscles and delivered a 80-60 beating to Coalfield.
Coalfield fell behind 4-0 before hitting three-straight threes and went ahead 9-4 before ending the quarter behind 23-18. Bearden dominated the second quarter and outscored Coalfield 25-10 to lead 48-28 at the intermission. The Lady Bulldogs kept dominating on their way to an 80-60 victory.
Missouri commit Natalya Hodge led all scorers with a game-high 33 points with 4 rebounds and 4 assists on 13-for-21 shooting. Mattie Beard led Coalfield with 18.
Bearden will advance to play Greeneville on Monday at 4:30 PM. Coalfield will play North Hardin at 12:00 PM on Monday.
Upperman 61, Gaffney, SC 34
Upperman handled Gaffney and spoiled their undefeated season with a 61-34 victory.
The Lady Bees started on a roll and ended on a roll. Upperman led 18-6 after one and finished on a 12-0 run. Gaffney played competitively in the second and third only losing by two points in those periods, but Upperman won the quarters that mattered more.
Taylor Dolente and Sadie South scored 14 points each to lead the Bees. Dolente also recorded 5 rebounds and 8 assists on 6-for-10 shooting. Shiriah Harris led Gaffney with 14.
Upperman advances to play Farmington on Monday at 6:00 PM. Gaffney falls to the loser’s bracket to play Alcoa at 10:30 AM.
Daniel Boone 85, JL Mann, SC 63
Daniel Boone showed why they are ranked as one of the top 3A teams in Tennessee with an 85-63 win defeating JL Mann in a fast-paced matchup.
The Lady Blazers jumped out to a quick 23-7 lead right away in the first quarter and never let off the gas. Boone’s endurance and talent was on display with a tournament leading 85 points.
Andrea Flores led Daniel Boone with a double-double featuring 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists. Flores shot 9-for-15 from the field and 4-for-8 from long range. Aaliyah Story hauled in a tournament-high 17 rebounds and scored 21 points to join Flores in double-double territory. Jade Hailstock led all scorers with a game-high 29 points for JL Mann. Imari Richardson had a team-high 10 rebounds.
Boone moves on to play Knox Webb on Monday at 9:00 PM in the quarterfinals. JL Mann will play Cocke County at 1:30 PM on Monday.
Albertville, AL 71, Morristown West 61
Morristown West made a few efforts to will themselves from behind, but Albertville was too strong and defeated West 71-61.
Albertville started red hot and gained a 17-4 lead only minutes in with Mississippi State commit Lani Smallwood scoring 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Smallwood would go cold and move in the opposite direction missing 5 of her next 6 shots. Morristown West managed to tie it before falling into a small 32-30 deficit at the half. Albertville’s strong third quarter led to them outscoring the Lady Trojans 27-14 and gave them the lead they’d ride to the finish line.
Lani Smallwood scored a game-high and tournament leading 34 points. Smallwood was 13-for-24 and 5-for-10 from three. Mylie Butler flirted with a triple-double and was one assist short and finished with a 13-point, 13-rebound, and 9-assist double-double. Jhaniya Mitchell led Morristown West with a 28-point, 10-rebound double-double.
Albertville advances to play Grace Christian on Monday at 7:30 PM. Morristown West will play Spring Valley on Monday at 3:00 PM.
Farmington 72, Alcoa 61
Farmington didn’t decimate Alcoa like they have every other opponent this year, but they did walk away with a 72-61 win with one of the highest scoring performances in tournament history.
Easton McCollough scored 37 points and tied for the 10th-highest scoring game in Classic history. The second quarter was the difference as Farmington outscored Alcoa 27-15 and the Lady Tornadoes couldn’t catch up.
Sophomore Easton McCollough led all scorers with her 37 points and flirted with a triple-double finishing with 9 assists and 7 rebounds. McCollough shot 14-for-24 from the field and 5-for-10 from three. Brylee Flat led Alcoa with 17 points. Gwen Carroll scored 15 and corralled 12 rebounds for a double-double.
Farmington moves on to clash with Upperman on Monday at 6:00 PM. Alcoa will play Gaffney on Monday at 10:30 AM.
Knox Webb 55, Cocke County 49
Webb survived the early storm in the first half and took control in the second half and beat Cocke County 55-49.
Cocke County surprised many and held a 25-22 lead at the break, but Webb outscored Lady Red by 10 in the third and maintained the lead in the fourth to come out on top.
Meeyah Green and Kyndall Mays both scored 15 points each to lead Webb. Ava Wheeler scored 15 to lead Cocke County.
Webb advanced to the quarterfinals and earned a date with Daniel Boone on Monday at 9:00 PM in the nightcap. Cocke County will play JL Mann on Monday at 1:30 PM.
Greeneville 72, North Hardin, KY 44
Greeneville ended the first full day of action with a 72-44 win hosting North Hardin.
It took a while for Greeneville to get going, but the Lady Devils took firm control in the third quarter and turned an 8-point halftime into a 19-point lead going into the fourth. The Lady Devils handled business in the fourth and walked off their home floor with a win.
Jordan Swatzell led Greeneville with a game-high 22 points shooting 8-of-13 from the field and 6-of-10 from beyond the arc. Julia Woolsey scored 19 and had 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Brylee Tullock scored 19 points and had 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Asia Charles scored 12 to lead North Hardin.
Greeneville advances to play Bearden and sets up a rematch from game one of the season on Monday at 4:30 PM. North Hardin will play Coalfield on Monday at 12:00 PM.
