A red-hot start to the second half distanced Chuckey-Doak from Pigeon Forge and gave them the run they needed to claim a 56-37 win in Friday night’s Region 1-2A Tournament opener.
The Lady Knights hosted a Region 1-2A quarterfinal game for the second time in three years under Head Coach Kyle Donahue. Two years removed from their win over Union County, they got the job done once again in Lower Afton. The score seemed like it was a lopsided, runaway win, but that was not the case. After falling behind 21-14 in the second quarter they finished the half on a 7-2 run and put together a strong 17-0 run to take control and never look back.
“We went into the locker room at halftime and I challenged them. We came out flat. I don’t know if you could feel it, but it felt like there wasn’t a lot of energy from us. Going into halftime it was an important time. We were either going to respond or it was going to be a dog fight the rest of the game,” Coach Donahue expressed.
The second half consisted of big buckets from seniors Tavyn Southerland and Layla Fox. They led their team in scoring with 14 and 13 points and had 23 of those in the second half.
“You want your senior leaders to be the ones in the game with the ball. It’s vital for us that we trust them,” Coach Donahue stated. “It’s well deserved that they played well in what could be their last game at home in the regional quarterfinals.”
The win sends Chuckey-Doak back to the Region 1-2A semis where they will meet up with Gatlinburg-Pittman for the third-straight season. Their record improved to 17-13 with the win.
Pigeon Forge opened up with a three-pointer from Kiley Norwood. Tralyn Southerland put them ahead with a perfect 4-for-4 clip from the free-throw line early. She was two points shy of a double-double recording 8 points and 11 rebounds total. Tavyn Southerland finally got Chuckey-Doak’s first field goal to fall with a transition layup at the 4:30 mark. Layla Fox hit a 10-foot floater to go up 8-2. The Lady Tigers slowly creeped their way back into it with a free-throw line mid-range from Norwood, a layup from Makaylee Stalcup, and a pair of free throws from Stalcup.
Chuckey-Doak led 10-9 after the first quarter.
A 6-0 run by Pigeon Forge opened up the second quarter. Saniah Atchison responded back with four-straight points, but another 6-0 run quickly followed.
The Lady Knights trailed 21-14 before finishing the quarter on a 7-2 run to minimize their deficit at the half. Isabelle Karriker got the run started with a layup. Kennedy Brown sank a free-throw line floater then banked in a layup underneath. Atchison made a foul shot before Norwood ended the half with a layup.
Chuckey-Doak cut their deficit to 23-21 at the break.
The third quarter featured three momentum swings, but none bigger than the third and final. The Lady Knights started the quarter with a 7-2 run before yet another 6-0 run by Pigeon Forge. They fell behind 31-28 before stringing together a scorching 17-0 run to take full control of the contest.
Kennedy Brown’s running bank shot began the run. Tavyn Southerland ripped down a rebound and went coast-to-coast for a layup. Saniah Atchison’ huge and-one play excited the crowd and was a big momentum shifter. She coincidentally had the same exact stat line as Tralyn and finished two shy of a double-double with 8 points and 11 rebounds. Tavyn Southerland delivered a layup with a foul next. Layla Fox scored a layup assisted by Southerland and Brown cherry picked in the back court to earn a wide-open layup.
The Lady Knights created a 41-31 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Tavyn Southerland continued and finished the run with four-straight points. Now leading 45-31, the Lady Knights kept applying pressure on defense and only allowed one field goal in the entire fourth quarter. Pigeon Forge killed the run with a free throw each from Makaylee Stalcup and Mia Woodrick. Layla Fox scored Chuckey-Doak’s next five points to continue the second half beating.
“We’re at our best when we play great defense. We’re not the best shooters in the world, we’re not the best ball handlers in the world, but we are gritty, defensive-minded girls. That’s how I like to play and that’s an extension. I don’t know if you watch, but over on the sidelines I’m playing defense half the time,” Donahue said.
Chuckey-Doak’s four seniors Tavyn Southerland, Layla Fox, Kennedy Brown, and Saniah Atchison exited the floor with 29.6 left to an ovation from the crowd and received one last home-court send off.
“To be able to pull them out at the end of the game and shower them with some love was awesome for them,” Donahue expressed.
The Lady Knights defended their home floor and ended Pigeon Forge’s season with a 56-37 final.
Tavyn Southerland scored a team-high 14 points and Layla Fox provided 13. Kiley Norwood had a game-high 15 for Pigeon Forge. Makaylee Stalcup followed right behind with 14.
Chuckey-Doak continues their season with a win-or-go-home semifinal contest with Gatlinburg-Pittman on Monday night. That game will be played at Unicoi County High School. The winner advances to the Region 1-2A Championship and a spot in sectionals.
