2022 Claiborne County Junior Varsity Basketball Tournament Championship Night

The Claiborne County Junior Varsity Basketball Tournament resumed for the final day of action, December 8, at Claiborne High School. Special thanks to Matt Compton, State Farm for recognizing the players of the game.

The first game of the evening was a matchup of Forge Ridge and Springdale in the girls consolation bracket with the winner taking third place in the tournament. Springdale came out hitting a few early shots and carried a 5-0 lead after the first quarter. Forge Ridge got a couple of good looks during the second quarter, hitting one, but just couldn’t get into a groove. Springdale held onto a 13-2 lead at the end of the first half. Springdale led 19-5 after the third quarter and rolled onto a 19-10 victory over Forge Ridge. Springdale was led in scoring by Adilyn Kelly with a game high nine points. Also scoring for the Owls was Kinsley Hayes with five points, Olivia Rose with three points and Bella Cadle with two points. Forge Ridge was led in scoring by Clara Oller with four points. Also registering scores for the Dragons was Jaelyn Powers with three points, Makinley Wilson with two points and Emma Brock rounded out the scoring with one point. The Matt Compton State Farm Players of the Game were Adilyn Kelly for Springdale and Clara Oller. Congratulations Adilyn and Clara!

The second matchup was a consolation game for the boys between Midway and Powell Valley. Midway dropped in the first basket but Powell Valley answered with a pair of free throws. Midway then reeled off eight straight points before Powell Valley answered with another free throw. Midway was able to get one more shot to fall before the first quarter came to a close. Midway led Powell Valley 12-3 at the end of the period. Scoring was hard to come by during the second quarter but Midway pressed out to a 16-4 lead as the teams ended the first half. Midways’ defense remained strong during the third quarter, and they led Powell Valley 28-6 when the period ended. Both teams went heavy to the bench for the remainder of the game and Midway secured to 34-9 victory over Powell Valley. Midway was led in scoring by Bryson Meyers with a game high 12 points. Also scoring for Midway was Brady Rosenbalm and Landon Callahan with eight each. Rylan Ray, Cayden Bailey and Jarrett Maples rounded out the scoring with two each. Powell Valley was led by Korbin Goins with five points, Colton Lloyd with three and Cason Bolinger with one point. The Matt Compton State Farm Players of the Game were Bryson Meyers for Midway and Korbin Goins for Powell Valley. Congratulations Bryson and Korbin!

The first matchup in the championship bracket was between the girls of SMMS and HY Livesay. Both teams got looks at the basket often during the first quarter, but it was Livesay who got more of theirs to fall and they led SMMS 12-6 when the quarter came to a close. Livesay kept dropping shots and had a 35-8 led as the first half came to a close. SMMS was able to drop a couple of baskets to start the second half, but Livesay held onto a 39-13 lead when the third quarter came to a close. HY Livesay was able to secure the 42-17 to win the championship over SMMS. Leading Livesay in scoring was both Allie Owens and Amillya Smith with 15 points each. Also scoring for Livesay was Ava Fuson with five points, Baylee Spradlin had four points, Lexi Dison had two points and Tinley Stamper had one point. SMMS was led by Lorali Lakins with six points, Leah Sandefur with five points, Ella Poore with four points and Aubrey Lane with two points. The Matt Compton State Farm Players of the Game were Allie Owens and Amillya Smith for Livesay and Lorali Lakins for SMMS. Congratulations all!

The final matchup of the night was the championship game between the boys of SMMS and HY Livesay. Scoring started quick as Livesay got two quick baskets to lead 4-0. SMMS was able to fight back and tied the game at 6. SMMS then reeled off seven straight before Livesay finally answered with a basket of their own. The score was 13-8 in favor of SMMS at the end of the first quarter. The teams swapped baskets early in the second quarter before Livesay went on four point run to creep within two points at 20-18 with 3:23 left in the first half. Livesay tied the game at 20 and then the home crowd really got into things causing SMMS to lose focus. Livesay was able to keep the lead over SMMS as the first half came to a close with a score 24-20. Livesay pushed their lead up to 28-20 but with 2:45 left in the third quarter SMMS had tied the game back at 28. Livesay was able to get a basket inside to go back on top 30-28. Livesay held onto a 32-30 lead at the end of the third quarter. SMMS took a 33-32 lead over Livesay with 4:36 left in the fourth quarter. SMMS hit another shot late to go up 35-32. Livesay answered to make it 35-34. With 4.6 seconds left Livesay drew up the perfect play on the inbound play to go up 36-35 and a late look from SMMS didn’t fall. HY Livesay was able to secure the victory. Leading Livesay in scoring was Emmitt Butler with 12 points. Kaanan Adams and Bryson Gibson each dropped in six. Collin Killion, Hudson Cadle and Nate Bain rounded out the scoring with four each. Ty Page dropped a game high 15 points for SMMS. Brayden Grim added eight. Colton Brewer, Trauvon Taylor and Trevaur Taylor each added four. The Matt Compton State Farm Players of the Game were Emmitt Butler for Livesay and Ty Page for SMMS. Congratulations Emmitt and Ty!

Shawn Smith talked about his HY team after the game, “So proud of my team for fighting through a game of emotions and finding a way to pull out a championship victory against a very good basketball team. In my years of coaching, that was one of the best basketball games I’ve been involved in. There were so many momentum swinging plays, something you don’t see at the 5/6 level often, especially in a game with a championship on the line. Both schools represented our county well and should be proud. I can’t say enough about my group. They found a way to win and refused to lose. Each kid made a significant play determining the outcome of the game. Our student section behind the bench pushed us across the finish line. We were down three late in a timeout and we covered every situation possible in that break. Our kids executed late game situations that made the difference.”