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KEITH READY/ The Cannon Courier
The York Institute Dragons have only lost three times on their home floor the entire 2015-2016 season. All three losses were to AAA ball teams, two of which are highly ranked teams in the state. Tuesday night February 2nd, they weren't expecting the result they got when the Cannon County Lions came to Jamestown and handed them their fourth loss 61-48.
The Lions were due a District 8-AA win, they suffered through 0-10 at that point. They were also due a win period as they hadn't won a game since December 28th and had loss 9 straight coming into the game. The Lions opened up the game aggressively, Briar Jakes scored the first five points of the contest driving for a layup after the opening tip, and hitting a deep three pointer on the next possession to set the tone.
Cannon County ended the quarter still in control 17-11. The Lions built the lead in the second quarter as Trey Fann came off the bench to score 5 points, Jakes continued his scoring assault on the York defenders with 4 more ending the first half with 11 total points while Cannon built a ten point lead 37-27 at halftime. York's big man senior Colton Blevins a 6-8
post player signed to play at Tennessee Tech started to take over in the third quarter. Blevins led York to a comeback scoring 9 of his teams high 20 points to close the gap to 2 at one point. Cannon was able to survive the run and built a seven point lead to end the third back in a comfortable margin 49-42. The Lions continued in the fourth to protect the lead, Anton Knox's defense limited Blevins to only two points in the final period both of which came at the free throw line. Knox finished with a double double of 11 points and 10 rebounds as Cannon locked up the huge win by going 8-13 from the charity stripe in the final minutes of the game.
"We won this game based on the willingness to execute the game plan" Head Coach Matt Rigsby said. "We told them in the locker room before the game offensively we can get XYZ against York, but you have to execute what we want to do. I am extremely proud of our guys for getting the job done."
In addition to Knox's 11 points two other Lions finished in double figures for the Lions. Briar Jakes scored 17, Austin Martin had 15.
Box Score
Cannon County 61
York 48
Cannon County 61: Jakes-17, Martin-15, Knox-11, Duggin-6, Parrish-5, Fann-5, Miles-2
York 48: Blevins-22, Moody-13, Baldwin-4, York-4, Peavyhouse-3, Johnson-2, Patton-1
Team stats
Cannon County: FG: 22-50, 3PT:6-16 FT: 12-19
York: FG: 18-43, 3PT: 3-13, FT:11-13
With the weather forecast full of severe storm warnings, the game time for the Cannon County York series Tuesday night was moved up an hour. The Dragonettes used that hour to mount a big lead over the Lionettes in a 55-47 win.
"We moved the game to 5:00 and we didn't start playing until the normal time of 6," head coach Jonathan Odom commented. "They are very hard to beat on their home floor regardless of what time we start and we tried to change the routine of a long road trip up a little bit by stopping half way to Jamestown and letting the girls get something to eat. The two hour drive might have hurt us a little as well."
York built a 12 point lead at half and maintained that lead at the end of the third quarter. Cannon then responded with a run as Autumn King scored 8 of her 13 points in the final quarter and Maleah Scott added 7 but the Lionettes fell short by the 8 point margin.
"Our post play is what kept us in the game and even the post players coming off the bench providing quality minutes help us but the big lead York got out to start the game we couldn't overcome."
Scott lead all scorers with 21 points.
Box Score
York 55
Cannon 47
York 55: H. Smith-22, L. Smith-9, Ipock-8, Sewell-8, Copeland-4, Sandman-2, King-2
Cannon 47: Scott-21, King-13, Knox-11, Gaither-2
Team Stats
York: FG: 19-43, 3PT: 2-10 FT: 15-20
Cannon: FG: 15-44, 3PT: 1-10 FT: 12-18
The Cannon County Lionettes in the first quarter went back and forth with the highly ranked Upperman Lady Bees forcing lead changes 7 times. But a two point Lionette lead can turn into a nine point Upperman advantage within the blink of an eye just like it did Friday night when the Lady Bees closed out the first quarter 19-10.
Upperman's smothering aggressive full court defense provides the team with transition baskets and Upperman took full advantage opening up a 15 point lead by halftime. The Lady Bees who hold a 25-2 overall record and 12-0 in District play continued to build the lead to 23 points in the third quarter before winning by 30, 67-37. With the win Upperman clinched the regular season's top spot and will be the number one seed in the upcoming District 8-AA basketball tournament.
The Lionettes however were able to use the game to get a few players some minutes as Kelli Davis continues to recover from her hand injury. Post Player Haylee Mooneyham did not suit up for the game as she hurt her ankle which kept her out. Autumn King did not play in the second half as she was hurt. Olivia Walkup was the leading scorer for Cannon with 10 points
Box Score:
Upperman 67
Cannon County 37
Upperman 67: Greenwood-20, Medley-14, Levy-9, Farris-9, Maynord-8, Hurst-6, Eldridge-4, Dyer-2
Cannon County 37: Walkup-10, King-8, Scott-8, Knox-3, Haley-3, Lawson-3, Walker-2
Team Stats:
Upperman: FG: 27-62 3Pt: 9-27, FT: 10-20
Cannon County: FG: 15-28 3PT:2-2 FT: 5-6
In the previous meeting this season between the Upperman Bees and the Cannon County Lions in Baxter, the Bees escaped with a 2 point win on a last second shot. Baxter's big post man Josh Endicott. a 6-8 junior, was limited to 14 points.
Coach Matt Rigsby expected a different story before the game when he stated "Upperman took us too lightly the last time, we expect them to be well prepared for this game."
Upperman was just that. The Bees got out to a seven point lead to start the game and Endicott took it from there. The post player got several easy layups and went 10-14 in the game including two thunderous slam dunks as Upperman used the momentum and won 78-53.
Cannon answered the first quarter run as Briar Jakes hit two three point buckets in a row. Upperman out rebounded the Lions and only Cannon several one shot opportunities in the game as the Bees built a 23 point halftime lead. Cannon would get the lead under 20 several times in the second half but Upperman would answer each small run the Lions made. Austin Martin and Briar Jakes were the only Lions in double figures while Upperman would place four of the starting five in double figure scoring.
Box Score:
Upperman 78
Cannon County 53
Upperman 78: Endicott-22, Guffey-19, McWilliams-15, Shrum-12, Ely-6, Cushing-4
Cannon County 53: Jakes-12, Martin-10, Duggin-8, Fann-7,Miles-6, Parrish-3, Bryson-3
Team Stats:
Upperman: FG: 31-56 3PT: 4-17 FT: 11-18
Cannon County FG: 17-40 3PT: 8-13 FT:10-18
