BLUFF CITY – The Greeneville girls pulled away in the second half to beat Watagua, NC 66-40 on Saturday afternoon, wrapping up a perfect 3-0 week in the Food City Thanksgiving Classic at Sullivan East.
“I felt like we came in and thought we could win just by showing up. But you always have to go hard and play solid defense, and I felt like it took us a long time to decide to do that,” Greeneville coach Annette Watts said. “I had to chew and gnaw on them some to get them going. We have a lot to learn still. We have a lot of new pieces out there, but we’re getting better and better. After this week I think these girls are feeling a little better about themselves and trusting my system a little bit more. But I hope they take away that they have to play hard every night.”
With its 3-0 record in the tournament Greeneville earned a share of the championship.
Less than two minutes into the third quarter Watagua’s Presli Wood knocked down a three-pointer to make it a one-point game at 28-27, but then things started clicking for the Lady Greene Devils.
That started with Maria Lyde putting back a miss and then taking a feed from Julia Woolsey for a layup. Before Watagua could get off a shot Woolsey stole possession and took off the other way. She was fouled on her breakaway attempt and put Greeneville in front 34-27 at the midway point of the third quarter.
Woolsey did a little bit of everything on Saturday, scoring 17 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, dishing six assists and swiping five steals. The points and rebound numbers were career highs for the sophomore.
“Wasn’t she fun to watch today,” Watts said. “If I can a find the right group that loves to play as much as Julia Woolsey we’ll be okay. She brings versatility, she brings hard work every day. She goes as hard as she can go and loves every minute of it.”
Lyde scored Greeneville’s next six points and the Lady Devils took a 42-29 lead into the fourth quarter. After almost giving the lead away the Lady Devils finished the third quarter on a 14-2 run.
On the first possession of the fourth quarter Lyde rolled in a short jumper from the paint and she then followed that up with a layup through contact that turned into three points.
Lyde led Greeneville on Saturday with 26 points, and 21 came in the second half. She also added 10 rebounds and four steals while being named to the All-Tournament team.
“That was great in the second half, but when we got in the locker she said that she could have done that the whole game,” Watts said. “That is one thing we are working on, is her not waiting on someone else. She has played behind people the past two years. Now we need her to go get the ball and go get open because she is such a great athlete.”
With 4:30 left to play Greeneville’s lead reached 55-35 when Allison Hayes sent a pass ahead to Woolsey for a breakaway layup. Before the Lady Pioneers could get the ball back across the midcourt stripe Brylee Tullock swiped possession and took it the other way for a layup.
In the closing stretch Lyde, Woolsey and Tullock all scored two more while Emma Shelton put in three points on the way to a 66-40 win.
While the Lady Devils’ offense looked precise and polished in the second half, points were hard to find early on Saturday.
In the first quarter Watagua briefly took a 4-3 lead after Izzy Torgerson sank a triple and Izzy Mohr hit a free throw.
Woolsey gave the lead back to Greeneville when Tullock sent a pass ahead in transition and she sank a short jumper.
Tullock scored four points and Greeneville finished the first quarter with a 9-6 lead.
Watagua scored the first five points of the second quarter to go in front 11-9, but then Hayes found Tullock open with a skip pass and the senior nailed a three-pointer.
Greeneville took the lead for good at 14-13 when Paizlie Christian tapped one off the glass.
The team traded triples with Hayes and Woolsey connecting for Greeneville and Mia Mitchell and Torgerson hitting for Watagua.
With 33 second left in the half Woolsey turned a steal into two points for the Lady Devils as they took a 26-19 lead into the break.
Tullock finished the day with 13 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals for Greeneville.
Mitchell led Watagua with 11 points.
Greeneville will be back in action on Tuesday at Science Hill.
Greeneville beat Watagua 66-40 and went 3-0 in their trio of games at this year’s Food City Thanksgiving Classic at the Dyer Dome. The Lady Devils won the 12th annual Championship with Saturday afternoon’s win. Hear what Coach Annette Watts had to say afterwards. pic.twitter.com/g8HJRqsIa0
— GreeneSportsZone (@GSportsZone) November 29, 2025
