Jr. Lady Cyclones fall short in quest for Area 1 AAA title
Published 11:55 pm Thursday, January 27, 2022
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Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
The T.A. Dugger Jr. Lady Cyclones captures Area 1 AAA Runner-up and will advance to sectional play at Powell Middle School beginning Saturday.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Rylee May looks to find an open teammate along the baseline under the T.A. Dugger goal on Thursday evening.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Adrian Heading puts up a long three during the Area 1 Class AAA Girl's Championship game against Liberty Bell on Thursday evening at John Sevier in Kingsport.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Jr. Lady Cyclone Michelle Shields takes the ball toward the rim against Liberty Bell.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Jasy Shell prepares to send a trey toward the goal during action Thursday against Liberty Bell.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Kalli Shepard prepares to send a free throw toward its mark for the Jr. Lady Cyclones.
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
KINGSPORT – The T.A. Dugger Jr. High Lady Cyclones knew the road to the TMSSA Class 1 AAA title wasn’t going to be a cakewalk against a team that gave the girls from ‘Betsy their only two losses of the season.
And while the first quarter was close, the Jr. Lady Cyclones just couldn’t get enough baskets to fall and as a result, had to settle for the AAA Runner-up for the 2021-2022 season dropping a 32-19 final.
The loss hasn’t ended the team’s season, however, as they will advance as the #2 seed from Area 1 in the sectional tournament at Powell Middle School beginning on Saturday morning.
At the first stoppage of the game, the Jr. Lady Cyclones only found themselves trailing by a score of 6-5 as Michelle Shields trey and a deuce from Jamira Smalls kept TAD close.
Liberty Bell went on a 14-6 run that gave the Lady Patriots a small cushion at the half leading 20-11 over the Jr. Lady Cyclones.
Sadie Williams buried a trey in the period for Coach Matt Fox’s team while Kalli Shepard was a perfect 2-of-2 from the free-throw line while Small connected on 1-of-2.
Neither team managed to get an offensive flow coming out of the locker room as Liberty Bell managed to hold onto their earlier lead to take a 26-15 edge into the final six minutes of play.
There just wasn’t enough time for the Jr. Lady Cyclones to change up the game plan as Liberty Bell held on for the title.
Shields was named to the All-Tourney team at the conclusion of the contest.
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2022 TMSSA AREA 1 AAA GIRL’S TOURNAMENT
Liberty Bell, 32-19
T.A. Dugger (19)
Adrian Heading 4, Michelle Shields 5, Kalli Shepard 2, London Taylor 2, Sadie Williams 3, Jamira Small 3.
Liberty Bell (32)
Khloe Summers 3, Clara Crowe 4, Gabby Long 5, Allie Conner 1, Maria Lyde 13, Audrey Adams 1, Chloe Conner 5.
T.A. Dugger ……. 5 6 4 4 – 19
Liberty Bell ……. 6 14 6 6 – 32
