Several local middle school teams were in action, January 23, during the consolation and championship matchups of the 2023 Section 2, Area 6A District Tournament held at Hancock County High School in Sneedville, TN.
The first consolation matchup of the evening was between the girls of Forge Ridge and Soldier’s Memorial Middle School. The teams felt each other out during the first quarter and S.M.M.S. held onto a slight lead of 4-2 over Forge Ridge at the end of the first quarter. Forge Ridge battled back and led 8-4 at the end of the first half. The third quarter once again was slow going for both teams, but S.M.M.S. had got back within two and trailed Forge Ridge 10-8 at the end of the third quarter. The Lady Blue Devils finally found a grove during the fourth quarter and went on to top Forge Ridge by a score of 26-14. S.M.M.S. was led in scoring by Emma Ferguson with 10. Tayleigh Stansberry added nine, Hailey Martin added three and Jaylynn Brooks and Lacy Davis rounded out the scoring with two each. Forge Ridge was led in scoring by Emma Bussell with five. Also scoring was Maybree Collingsworth with four, Macy England with three and Briley Colinger with two. Forge Ridge had one All-Tournament selection, Emma Bussell. Emma Ferguson and Tayleigh Stansberry were the two Lady Blue Devils All-Tournament selections.
All-Tournament
SMMS third
Forge Ridge Fourth
The first boys’ action of the evening was a consolation matchup between Springdale and Washburn. Both teams came out slow, but it was Washburn who held a 4-2 lead over Springdale after the first quarter came to a close. Springdale fought back and held the lead 12-11 at the end of the first half. Washburn found their grove and held a 20-15 at the end of the third quarter and pressed on out to a 23-15 lead mid-way through the fourth quarter before Springdale came storming back to tie the game at 25. Springdale closed out the game and took a 30-27 victory over Washburn. The Owls were led in scoring by Owen Medlin with 10 points. Owen Stone added nine, Chace Robinette and Will Compton each added four and Blake Gilbert rounded out the scoring with three. Washburn was led in scoring by Dillion Mullins with 16 points. Dillian Mullins was selected All-Tournament along with Chase Robinette and Owen Medlin.
Boys All-Tournament
Springdale Third Place
The first championship matchup of the evening was between the girls as H.Y. Livesay took on Hancock County. The home team came out firing early and often and were able to hold a 7-2 lead over Livesay as the first quarter came to a close. Hancock County added to that lead and held a 17-4 advantage at the end of the first half. Hancock maintained a 21-8 lead over Livesay at the end of the third quarter and took the victory by a score of 34-17 to secure the championship. H.Y. Livesay was led in scoring by Kelly Hatfield with seven points. Amillya Smith added five, Allie Owens added three and Izzy Helton rounded out the scoring with two. Hancock County was led by Zoe Pyne with 16. Tagan Cooper scored six, Addy Hill along with Baleigh Greene had three, Starlyn Gibson and Addy Greene completed the total with two points each. All-Tournament selections went to Kelly Hatfield, Amillya Smith and Abby Peters for the Lady Eagles. Hancock had Addy Hill, Starlyn Gibson, Bailey Greene, Tagan Cooper and the MVP went to Zoe Pyne.
Girls Champions
HY girls runner up
The final matchup of the evening was the boy’s championship game that once again pitted H.Y. Livesay against Hancock County. The home team started strong as Hancock County led 7-0 before Livesay finally made their first shot on an offensive rebound put back by Keaton Clawson with 40 seconds left in the first quarter. Hancock held a 9-2 advantage over Livesay as the first quarter came to a close. The Eagles opened the second quarter with a good look from outside by Neil Bunch and after a made basket by Hancock Brady Harris answered with a shot of his own inside to make the score 11-7 but still in favor of Hancock County with 3:48 left in the first half. Jacob Tinnel knocked down the next five points for Livesay, but Hancock was able to match them, and still held onto a 16-12 lead with 1:25 left in the half. Kole Carter stepped to the line and hit two free throws to make the score 16-14 but still in favor of Hancock with 1:00 left in the half. Both teams traded misses during the final minute and Hancock held a 16-14 advantage over Livesay as the teams headed to the locker rooms to end the first half. Hancock got the first shot of the second half but Harris answer with a look inside. Carter again stepped to the line and dropped two free throws to tie the game at 18 with 4:38 left in the third. Hancock dropped in another shot, but Harris again had the answer to tie the game at 20. Harris got another shot to fall inside to give Livesay their first lead, but Hancock answered with a deep three pointer. Bunch got a layup but again Hancock answered. Harris hit one of two free throws and the game was once again tied, this time at 25 with 1:40 left in the third quarter. Hancock answered with a tough shot inside and drew the foul but couldn’t connect on the free throw and then were able to get another fast break basket to lead Livesay 29-25 with 55 seconds left in the third quarter. Hancock held onto the 29-25 lead as the third quarter came to a close. Hancock opened the fourth quarter with a strong defensive presence that led to a 6-2 run and forced the Eagles to call a timeout with 4:06 left in the game. The teams traded baskets late, but Livesay was never able to get closer than within six points. Hancock ultimately took the victory over Livesay by a score of 45-38 to secure the championship. Livesay was led in scoring by Brady Harris with 13 points. Also scoring for Livesay was Kole Carter with 10, Neil Bunch had eight, Jacob Tinnel had five and Keaton Clawson scored two. Hancock was led in scoring by Isaiah Christian-Fodor with 27 points. Raiden Petticord had 12, Nason Delph and Henry Holt rounded out the scoring with three points each. All-Tournament selections went to Cole Carter, Brady Harris and Neil Bunch. Hancock selections went to Jacob Belcher, Griffen Wallen, Eli Jones, Nathan Delph and the MVP was Isaiah Christian-Fodor.
Boys Champions
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