Night three of the 2022 Claiborne County Middle School Varsity Basketball Tournament was once again held at Cumberland Gap High School with two games scheduled for the evening.
The first game was a matchup of the girls between SMMS who had the two seed and third seeded Forge Ridge with the winner moving onto the championship game against HY Livesay. SMMS got the opening tip and also dropped in the first two baskets but Forge Ridge tied thing up at four midway though the first quarter. Forge Ridge got the lead on a basket inside but SMMS was able to answer with a three pointer of their own. SMMS led Forge Ridge 7-6 after the first quarter.
SMMS started the second quarter with another run of four but Forge Ridge again found an answer. Forge Ridge then stepped to the line and hit one of two free throws but SMMS got another shot to fall. SMMS was on top 13-9 with 3:15 left in the first half. Each team got several good looks the rest of the quarter but each only got one of those to fall and the score at the half was 15-11 in favor of SMMS.
SMMS opened the third quarter up with a full court press that Forge Ridge seemed able to easily break but their shots weren’t finding their way home. Which led to SMMS outscoring Forge Ridge 16-4 in the third quarter and they held a 31-14 lead going into the final quarter. SMMS withstood a final run from Forge Ridge but went on to win the game by a score of 41-21.
SMMS was led in scoring by Emma Ferguson with a game high 21 points. Also scoring for SMMS was Jalynn Brooks with 10, Tayleigh Stansberry with six and the scoring was rounded out by Hailey Marth and Lailah Nunn with two each. Forge Ridge was led by Emma Bussell with 12 points. Also scoring for Forge Ridge was Maybree Collingsworth with four, Brinley Pendleton with three and Briley Cotinger with two.
Emma Ferguson of SMMS and Emma Bussell of Forge Ridge were named the Matt Compton State Farm Players of the Game. Congratulations Emma and Emma!
The second and final matchup of the night was between the boys and pitted Forge Ridge with the two seed against Powell Valley with the three seed with the winner moving into the championship matchup with HY Livesay. Forge Ridge opened things quickly with a suffocating presence on defense that led to a 11-0 led before Powell Valley called a timeout to regroup with 1:57 left in the opening period. Forge Ridge held an 11-0 lead over Powell Valley as the first quarter came to a close.
Powell Valley came out settled down in the second quarter and finally got a few tough shots inside the paint to fall but couldn’t find an answer to the size that Forge Ridge had inside when it came to offensive rebounds. Forge Ridge held a 21-9 lead over Powell Valley as the first half ended.
Both teams brought out a full court press to start the second half and neither team found much luck with breaking the press very often. It was Forge Ridge that got more shots to fall as they outscored Powell Valley 10-7 during the third period and were leading 31-16 as we entered the final quarter.
Powell Valley finally had figured out a plan that worked to break the press from Forge Ridge and were able to make a quick run and with 2:28 left in the game they trailed Forge Ridge by nine at 35-26. Powell Valley then knocked down one of two free throws and got within eight but Forge Ridge answered with a deep three point shot. Forge Ridge got another fast break score and led 40-27 with 58 seconds remaining in the game. Each team got one final shot to fall before time ran out but it was Forge Ridge who was able to come out with the 42-30 victory over Powell Valley.
Forge Ridge was led in scoring by Gavin Barton with 16 points and Gavin Surber with 15 points. Also scoring for the Dragons was Gabriel Daniels with nine points and Cameron Burchett with two. Powell Valley was led by both Luke Lloyd and Colby Weaver with nine points each. Braden Lane added seven and Korbin Goins rounded out the scoring with five points.
Gavin Barton and Gavin Surber of Forge Ridge and Luke Lloyd and Colby Weaver of Powell Valley were named the Matt Compton State Farm Players of the Game. Congratulations Gavin, Gavin, Luke and Colby!
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