ROGERSVILLE - The Greeneville boys were clicking on all cylinders on Saturday afternoon against the Cherokee Chiefs in the semifinals of the District 2-3A Tournament and cruised into the chamionship game after a 71-21 win.
The Greene Devils came out of the gate hot and led 29-3 after the first quarter, mainly due to Jayquan Price scoring nine points in the first quarter alone.
Greeneville coach Brad Woolsey later said, “Jayquan did a great job getting down on the break and finishing, he may be the fastest guy we've got. He’s so quick end to end and he did a great job making plays”.
In the second quarter freshman Trey Thompson stepped behind the arc and knocked down a couple of three pointers to set the tone. Nick Thomas was back in action after recovering from an injury and picked up a couple quick baskets on put-backs under the goal to help the Greene Devils to lead at the half 48-13.
The starters opened the second half, but coach Woolsey replaced them one at a time and the Devils went on to play everyone that made the trip to Rogersville. Greeneville put 10 into the scoring column while winning 71-21.
Four Greene Devils reached double figures with Price and Thompson both scoring 13 points. Adjatay Dabbs scored 11 points and J.D. Woolsey had 10 points.
The win puts the Devils into the championship game of the district on Tuesday night at Cherokee High School against Cocke County at 7:30 p.m. Cocke County beat Grainger 70-67 in the other semifnal.
Coach Woolsey said, "It’s a win and we’ll take it, everybody got in, they played hard but didn’t have go to their limits. I felt like when they were in they had a lot of energy and that’s what you want to see."
Greeneville
Price 13, Thompson 13, Dabbs 11, Woolsey 10,Goad 2, Franklin 4, Anderson 3, Thomas 4, McGill 3, McMahan 8
Cherokee
Elliot 6, Henley 4, Jeffers 4, Hayes 3, McLain 2, Jones 2
GIRLS
Greeneville 74, Claiborne 30
The Greeneville girls had little trouble moving past Claiborne and into the District 2-3A Championship Game on Saturday, winning 74 – 30 in the tournament's semifinals.
The Lady Bulldogs managed to keep it close through most of the first quarter, even forcing Lady Devil Head Anette Watts into a timeout after Hannah Fugute’s corner three to cut the score to 16-12 at the 3:05 mark of the first quarter.
After the timeout Miss Basketball Finalist Lauren Baliey posted up a short jumper in the lane, then moments later sank two free tosses and an elbow triple by Tambryn Ellenburg gave the Lady Devils the first quarter edge at 26-15.
Bailey picked up two points on a put back and then an assist to Dalania Martin and the Lady Devils were quickly up 15 points at 30-15. Bailey then again found Martin for an easy layup.
The Lady Devils only managed 10 points in the second quarter but held the Lady Bulldogs to only seven points. Martin had six of the 10 including a shot from the top of the key with a foot on the line as the quarter came to a close and the Lady Devils led 36-22 at the break.
The third quarter belonged to Bailey, scoring 20 of her 28 game-high points. She hit three triples and an and-one showing why she is a Miss Basketball Finalist. Bailey’s play in the third quarter stretched the lead out to 63-26, and the game was finished off by both benches. Lady Devils went on to win 74-30.
The starters may have only played three quarters but Coach Watts coached for four, later saying, “Those young ones are going to be our starters next year “.
Martin scored a career high 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for a double double . Bailey finished the night with 28 points, six rebounds, six steals, and six assists.
Greeneville will be back in action on Monday at 7:30 p.m. against Grainger at Cherokee High School in the District 2-3A Championship Game.
Greeneville
Bailey 27, Martin 18, Carter 9, Ellenburg 6, Marsh 2, Jobe 4, Shaw 6, Adkins 1
Claiborne
Jones 8, Fults 8, Pressnell 7, Brooks 2, Myatt 1, Ferguson 1, Fugute 3
