The Greenville Greene Devils stepped outside conference play to take on an old foe in Cocke County, a rivalry that goes back for many years, and came away with an 81-56 win.
Greeneville coach Brad Woolsey said, “A lot of history there with Cocke Country, it goes back to the old IMAC, it’s always good to walk away with a win”.
Trey Thompson came it to the game needing 21 points to reach 2,000 for his career, and it came in the first half. With the Devils up 38-24 with one minute remaining in the second quarter he drove the lane for a layup that was good and he was fouled on the play. The free throw brought the junior to the 2,000-point mark and made him one of just three Greeneville boys basketball players to reach that mark, joining Jakobi Gillespie and Reid Satterfield.
Thompson said “I heard someone say one more point. It’s a free throw, you should hit it. I was a little jittery and I ended up hitting it. It’s a good relief, like a boulder off my shoulders.” Thompson said. “It’s awesome, but it’s not possible without my teammates, it’s nothing without them.”
Thompson got the game started with a triple from the elbow and with the score tied at 8-8 he put the Devils up with a corner three. Thompson then had a one handed slam in transition before he found Cole Franklin cutting toward the goal for a layup as the quarter was winding down for a 17-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter Zaydyn Anderson worked his way to the goal for a layup and Cole Smith put the Devils up 10 with a triple from the key at 22-12. Thompson then drove the lane for a bucket-and-one as did Anderson, and after a put-back by Thompson the Devils were 35-22. Thompson hit one of two from the line then came the historic moment. Thompson had the devils up 41-24 at the one-minute mark in the first half.
The Devils took a 15-point lead into the half at 43-28.
Thompson continued to put on a show in the third quarter, scoring 15 points with another drive to the basket through contact for a three point play the hard way, a triple form the key and a pair of dunks that excited the home crowd.
With the Devils up 66-42 as the fourth quarter started Thompson’s night was complete, but his team finished strong winning 81-56.
On senior night Woolsey rotated his three seniors, Isaac McGill, Dom Tweed and Jherivus Moore, out one at a time.
Thompson finished the game with 37 points while Anderson scored 13. In all, nine Devils dented the scoring column.
GIRLS
COCKE COUNTY 55, SOUTH GREENE 52
The Greeneville girls hung tough with Cocke County for all 32 minutes, but ultimately the No.8 ranked team in Class 3A finished on top 55-52.
The Lady Greene Devils had things going their way early leading the Lady red of Cocke County 11-7 after Abby Adkins scored down low and followed that with a drive to the basket for another layup. This time she was fouled, and her free toss was good to put her team up 11-7 with minutes remaining in the first quarter. A triple from NBA range by Blakelyn Clevenger sparked the Lady Red and three from the elbow by Karmine Carmichael started a 7-0 run that put Lady Red up 14-11 after one quarter.
In the second quarter the Lady Devils picked up the pace a bit and tied the score at 18-18 on a layup from Adkins. They took a four-point lead on short jumper by Kyla Jobe. But the ladies from Newport came right back an took a 24-22 lead when Carmichael scored on the give-and-go and Loretta Kickliter hit a pair at the line.
Jobe rattled home a triple from the key and Maria Lyde was good in transition with a layup to give Greeneville a 27-24 lead at the half.
Julia Woolsey put the Lady Devils up seven at 34-27 early in the third period on a three-pointer from the elbow. The Lady Red answered with another 7-0 run to tie things up at 34-34. It was back and fourth for the remainder of the third quarter with the Lady Red clinging to a slim one-point lead at 45-44.
The Lady Devils would keep the score within three points or less throughout the final frame but their shots just wouldn’t fall. Jobe cut the lead to one point at 53-52 on a short jumper with 42 seconds to play. But her shot to take the lead was rejected by Carmichael.
The Lady Devils did have one last chance with seven seconds to play, trailing 55-52 the Lady Red defense would not allow them to get a shot off for the tie and the game ended with the Lady Red on top.
Greeneville coach Annette Watts said, “I thought we had the game plan to beat them, if we would have been able to make some shots. I attribute that to their defense, we gave up nine threes and it’s hard to beat a team giving up nine threes. They were a little more stout and we’re thinner, but I thought we fought and fought and I can’t find anything wrong with what we tried to do.”
Jobe led the Lady Devils with 20 points and Lyde added 13. Clevenger led Cocke County with 16 points, Ava Wheeler had 11 and Carmichael chipped it with 10.
