East Side Girls, Woodland Boys Rule

TONY STINNETT, Courier Co-Editor


East Side Girls, Woodland Boys Rule

ALL-TOURNAMENT GIRLS: The 2012 Girls All-Tournament team includes, kneeling, from left, Katie Hoskins, Emily Sissom, Sydney Elrod, Samantha Gaither and Haylee Mooneyham. Standing, from left, Kelli Davis, Autumn King, Alayna Reed, Jessica Elmy, Kelsie Smith and Maleah Scott.

East Side’s girls and Woodland’s boys put the finishing touches on dominating seasons by capturing the championship of their respective tournaments during the Cannon County Grammar School Basketball Tournament at CCHS Saturday (Jan. 28).

Both teams finished the season undefeated, including title wins in the Border Wars, Cancer and Cannon County Tournaments, and leaving little doubt as to which teams ruled the roost in 2011-12.

East Side’s girls went from worst to first in 2011-12 and won the championship in resounding fashion with a 48-21 win against second-seeded West Side. Kelli Davis poured in 29 points and was named Tournament MVP. She also was regular-season MVP.

Woodland’s boys had to work a little harder for their title before pulling away with a 36-27 win against No. 2 seed West Side. Austin Martin supplied a double double with 13 points and 15 rebounds and was named Tournament MVP. He also was regular-season MVP.

The Lady Tigers, who also received eight points from Haylee Mooneyham and seven from Katie Hoskins, both all-tournament selections, wasted little time separating themselves.

After a sluggish first quarter that saw East Side grab a slim 6-3 lead, the Lady Tigers pounced on the Lady Eagles in the second quarter. They outscored them 16-4 to take a 22-7 halftime lead and never looked back.

Sydney Elrod led West Side with seven points. Autumn King added six points and six rebounds, and Kelsie Smith finished with six for the Lady Eagles.

BOYS
WOODLAND 36
WEST SIDE 27
Martin and teammate Bo Bryson provided too much muscle inside and guards Jared Judkins, John Mark Turney and Austin Spry were solid as the Warriors rolled to a 36-27 win.

In addition to Martin’s 13 points and 15 rebounds, Bryson added eight points and 15 rebounds. Turney finished with six, followed by Spry with five and Judkins with four.

Woodland came out strong and used a 13-3 first-quarter blitz to stake early control. The Warriors maintained the 10-point lead at half, leading 23-13, but West Side had one run left.

West Side, led by Collin Anderson’s nine, Tristan Choate’s eight and Tucker Francis’ seven, pulled to within 23-20, in the third quarter and had three straight chances to either tie the game or cut into the lead, but Woodland’s defense answered each challenge. The Warriors closed the quarter with a 4-0 run to take a 27-20 lead into the fourth quarter and they were never really challenged from there.

GIRLS CONSOLATION
AUBURN 36
WOODBURY 34
Samantha Gaither poured in 16 points and pulled six rebounds, Maleah Scott added 12 points and five rebounds, and Alayna Reed added five points as Auburn took a 36-34 win from Woodbury in the girls consolation game.

The game was nip-and-tuck and Woodbury led 27-25 going into the final quarter before Auburn came back to get the win.

Emily Sissom led Woodbury with 20 points. Hannah Haley finished with seven.

BOYS CONSOLATION
AUBURN 47
EAST SIDE 42
Auburn’s Dalton Gaither’s offensive rebound and putback with 1:26 remaining provided the Knight’s a 41-40 lead and they hung on for a 47-42 win against East Side in the boys consolation game.

After a East Side miss, Briar Jakes knocked down a five-footer to extend the lead to 43-40. Kyle Fults’ layup pulled East Side to within 43-42 with 29 seconds remaining but Brandon Cox and Jakes combined for four free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Jakes led Auburn with 16 points. Tyler King and Dalton Gaither added 10 each. Austin Brock led East Side with a game-high 22 points. Graden Strang added 11 and Fults finished with nine.

ALL-TOURNAMENT BOYS: The 2012 Boys All-Tournament team includes, kneeling, from left, John Mark Turney, Jared Judkins, Tucker Francis, Briar Jakes and Austin Brock. Standing, from left, Austin Martin, Collin Anderson, Tyler King, Graden Strang, Bo Bryson and Courtland Ryan.