The Greeneville boys basketball team relied on tough defense to finish the regular season with a big win on Tuesday night.
The Greene Devils shut down one of the top teams in the area and picked up a 56-51 win over Dobyns-Bennett.
“I thought we really competed, on the defensive end especially,” Woolsey said. “The biggest difference was that we stayed in front of the ball all night. Taren (Claridy) stayed in front of the ball all night. Zy (Neal) did a great job of staying in front of the ball. If you make people take tough shots and you rebound you can do really good things.”
Greeneville’s tough defense started in the first quarter where it only allowed the Indians to score six points.
On offense Yordan Mills knocked down a turnaround in the paint with 5:42 left in the period for a 6-4 lead. Mills followed that up with a three-pointer from the right wing.
Just before the horn Braylen Kidwell pulled up for a jumper that gave Greeneville a 15-6 lead.
The Indians’ defense picked up in the second quarter and with 5:48 on the clock they turned a steal into triple by T.J. Maxwell that closed the gap to 15-13.
A steal by Jaylen Thomas then set up Garrison Jones for a transition layup that tied things at 19-19. With 2:45 left in the first half Levi Webb put back an offensive rebound and Dobyns-Bennett went in front 21-19.
The half finished with Mills driving the baseline and dishing to Kidwell in the paint for a short jumper that put Greeneville back on top 23-21.
On the first possession of the second half D-B’s Elijah Thomas tied the game, but then the Greene Devils put together a difference-making run.
Mills got things going with a driving layup and Zy Neal followed with an elbow jumper.
Mills and Taren Claridy both took a steal the distance and midway through the third quarter the Devils held a 33-23 lead.
Mills shook a defender with a cross over before landing a three-pointer from the right wing, and Neal found the bank open from down town to push Greeneville’s advantage to 39-27.
An intentional foul allowed Neal to sink two free throws and put Greeneville in front 43-29. The Devils went to the fourth quarter leading 45-33.
“We continued to defend, and move the ball in the third quarter. We played tough, we took good shots and we didn’t turn the ball over. If you take good shots and don’t turn it over good things will happen,” Woolsey said.
With 3:13 left to play Claridy got loose for a transition layup that put Greeneville on top 51-41, but then the Indians quickly made things uncomfortable.
Levi Webb started an 8-0 run with a jumper from the lane, and with 48 seconds left to play Kayden Cutlip slashed to the rim to close the gap to 51-49.
Greeneville was able to bleed enough clock late and go 5-of-6 at the free-throw line to hold on for the 56-51 win.
Mills led Greeneville on Tuesday with 20 points, Neal scored 13 and Claridy added 11.
Thomas scored 12 points for D-B while Maxwell had 11 and Webb 10.
Next up for Greeneville is the District 2-3A Tournament where it will take on Cherokee on Friday at Grainger High School.
