The West Greene Middle School Lady Buffs began preparing for the basketball season after the school’s volleyball team competed in the State Championship match for the second consecutive year. Last year, the Lady Buffs won the Area 1-AA championship. This year’s team has once again set high goals. With only eight practices
before participating in a pre-season tournament at Maury Middle School, the Lady Buffs had to switch focus quickly from volleyball to basketball. Their first opponent would be tournament host, and defending Mid-9 Champions (consisting of all Hamblen and Jefferson County schools), Maury Middle School.
In their first game, the Lady Buffs got off to a slow start falling behind 7-2, before gaining the lead on a shot at the 1st quarter buzzer, 13-12. The Lady Buffs had their best quarter of the game in the second, outscoring Maury 10-4, taking a seven point lead into halftime. WGMS would then outscore Maury 22-20 in the second half and win by a score of 45-38. Karmin Gaines led the team in scoring and steals, Anslee Shelton had a double-double, and Mackenzie Burns led the team with four assists and zero turnovers.
In game two of the tournament, the Lady Buffs played Newport Grammar. WGMS struggled through a rough night of shooting, but their defense was strong enough to carry them to a 36-15 victory. Carleigh Williams led the team in scoring and also added four steals, and three assists with zero turnovers. Shelton was second on the team in scoring and added four rebounds. Burns again had a strong performance with three assists and only one turnover, and Jaylyn Cutshall led the team in steals. In the third game of the tournament, the WGMS Lady Buffs used their strong defense and improved shooting to jump out to a 24-2 score at the end of the 1st quarter. The Lady Buffs would go on to win 54-5 and improve their record to 3-0 on the season. Gaines had a hot shooting night, leading the team in scoring to go along with eight steals. Erica Davis was second on the team in scoring and added two assists and two steals. Shelton was third in scoring, Williams chipped in with three steals, three assists and no turnovers, and Kahlie Edwards had a perfect shooting night to go along with two rebounds, three assists, and four steals.
In the championship game of the Tommy Bettis Tournament, WGMS would play Area 2-AAA Northview Middle Academy. The Lady Buffs led 13-8 after the first quarter and then slightly extended their lead during a defensive second quarter to 18-12 at halftime. WGMS found more consistent offensive rhythm in the second half, outscoring Northview 28-16 for an 18-point victory 46-28. The Lady Buffs were led in scoring by Gaines, but received great balance behind her with Davis (8), Williams (7), Shelton and Burns each with 6. Williams led the team in rebounding, Burns led in assists, and Gaines led in steals. The championship win improved the Lady Buffs to 4-0 on the season as they prepared to begin their
Area 1-AA schedule.
Regular Season Begins
In the first regular season game, the Lady Buffs played at Unicoi County. The Lady Buffs jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, winning 61-2. WGMS once again had great scoring balance with Gaines (15), Williams (12), Burns (9), Shelton and Edwards (6), and Michelle Rogers with 5. Rogers led the team in rebounds and the Lady Buffs had 22 steals led by Gaines, Burns, Williams, and Addy Thompson.
For the second Area 1-AA game of the season, WGMS traveled to Elizabethton to take on Happy Valley. The Lady Buffs got up early and led 19-6 at the end of the first quarter. They would extend their lead to 30-13 at the half. Then, in the first half, the WGMS Lady Buffs outscored Happy Valley 32-10 for a 62-23 victory. Burns got hot and led the team in scoring with 19, followed by Williams (15), and Gaines (13). Shelton led the team in rebounding, followed closely behind by Williams, Edwards, and Davis. Gaines led in assists and the team, once again, had 22 steals led by Gaines.
Now, with a 6-0 record on the year, the Lady Buffs played their first home game against visiting Sullivan
East. The WGMS Lady Buffs were outsized at every position, struggled shooting the entire night, but
defensively they were strong. The Lady Buffs led Sullivan East by two, 20-18 at the half. A
strong third quarter, outscoring East 12-5, extended the lead to nine points entering
the final quarter. WGMS was outscored for only the second time all season in a
quarter by a 7-6 margin, but the Lady Buffs remained undefeated with a 38-30 victory.
Gaines and Shelton would both score double digits with 15 and 14 respectively. Williams led the team in
rebounding, followed by Shelton. The Lady Buffs were once again strong defensively, with 15 steals led
by Gaines, followed by Williams and Edwards.
Two nights later, WGMS was back in action, hosting the Chuckey-Doak Lady Black Knights. The Lady
Buffs jumped out early, leading 19-0 at the end of one and 39-2 at halftime. WGMS Lady Buffs would
go on to win the game 55-6, moving their overall record to 8-0 and 4-0 in Area 1-AA play. Gaines led in
scoring with 20, followed by Shelton (9), Burns and Edwards (8), and Williams (6). Shelton and
Edwards would lead the team in assists. The Lady Buffs also had 27 steals led by Gaines, followed by
Williams and Edwards. Jaylyn Cutshall, having missed four early-season games provided great hustle
and all-around play off the bench.
Lady Buff JV Team Also Enjoying Success
The WGMS Lady Buff JV team is also enjoying early success, beginning their season with a 4-0
record. Addy Thompson is leading the team in scoring, assists, and steals. Michelle Rogers and Emily
Diltz have been consistent in leading the team in rebounding, and Abigail Johnson has chipped in with a
solid all-around game, playing multiple positions.
The WGMS Varsity Lady Buffs team:
8th graders: Jaylyn Cutshall, Erica Davis, Kahlie Edwards, and Nevaeh Rowe;
7th graders: Mackenzie Burns, Karmin Gaines, Abigail Johnson, Michelle Rogers, Addy Thompson, and Carleigh Williams;
6th grader: Anslee Shelton.
JV Lady Buffs: Ava Henry, Ella Norris, Emily Diltz, Abigail Johnson, Leah Peters, Michelle Rogers,
Addy Thompson, Averi Peters, and Kaidence Whitmer.
