Lady Bulldogs capture District 1-2A title in debut year
Published 11:48 am Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Macy Henry (12) sparks the Lady Bulldogs' fast start early in the first quarter of the District 1-2A finals against the Lady Rebels of South Greene Monday night inside Bobby Snyder Gymnasium at Daniel Boone High School.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Lady Bulldogs' Macy Henry (12) draws a foul as she drives to the basket against South Greene’s Emma Cutshall (5) early in the first quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Lady Bulldogs' Taylor Berry (31) and Piper Helle (2) vie with South Greene’s Hailey Brooks (23) for a loose ball under Hampton’s net. A jump ball was called, awarding possession to Hampton.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Hampton’s Ella Eastep (11) is fouled by South Greene’s Natalie Foshie (10) as she pulls up for a jumper in the lane midway through the second quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Hampton’s Macy Henry (12) sinks a turnaround jumper as she's fouled by the Lady Rebels' Ari Hoses (20) late in the second quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Lady Bulldogs' Ella Eastep (11) amplifies Hampton’s full-court pressure late in the second quarter. The defense limited South Greene to just ten points in the second frame.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Hannah Smith’s three-pointer with 1:42 left in the third quarter sparks a 7-0 run for the Lady Bulldogs, tying the game at 41 at the end of three.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Lady Bulldogs' Piper Helle (2) absorbs a hard foul from South Greene’s Ava Clark (2) as she attacks the basket off a steal late in the third quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Hampton Head Coach Dwayne Humphrey calls a timeout with 3:32 left in the fourth quarter to set up plays and strategize for the final minutes of the game.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Piper Helle’s (2) determined demeanor sets the stage for the final two minutes of the game as free throws help Hampton maintain and extend its lead to as many as 12 before the final score of 57-47.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders The Lady Bulldogs and Head Coach Dwayne Humphrey celebrate their 57-47 victory over the Lady Rebels of South Greene.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders In his inaugural year as the head coach of the Lady Bulldogs, Dwayne Humphrey has guided them to back-to-back District titles, the second one in Class 2A, earning him Coach of the Year honors for the 1st District.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders The Lady Bulldogs of Hampton secure back-to-back District 1 championships, this time in their first year as a Class 2A team.
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Contributed by Chris Tolley and Larry N. Souders
The Hampton Lady Bulldogs rallied from behind to clinch the District 1-2A Championship over the South Greene Lady Rebels tonight, with a score of 57-47, marking an impressive debut in Division 1-2A basketball in Tennessee.
The game’s opening quarter saw Hampton trailing closely, despite numerous turnovers that South Greene capitalized on, leading 14-8 after the first period. In the second quarter, the Lady Rebels appeared poised to dominate, extending their lead to as much as ten points. However, a strong defensive effort and crucial shots by the Lady Bulldogs allowed them to narrow the gap. By halftime, they trailed by just four points, with the score at 24-20 in favor of South Greene.
Asked about the team’s position at halftime, Hampton Lady Bulldog Head Coach Dewayne Humphrey confidently remarked, “We’ve got them just where we want them!” In the third quarter, South Greene began with another strong push, raising concerns for Hampton. Down by seven with 1:42 remaining in the third quarter, the determined Lady Bulldogs launched a comeback, fueled by standout performances from Taylor Berry, Hannah Smith, and tournament MVP Macy Henry, ending the quarter tied at 41.
A slow start by both teams in the fourth quarter eventually saw the Lady Bulldogs surging past the Lady Rebels, outscoring them 16-6 in the final period. With a combination of tenacious defense, timely steals, and successful free throws down the stretch, Hampton secured a significant victory with a final score of 57-47, bringing the District title back home.
This victory marks the Lady Bulldogs’ second consecutive District title, following their win in 2023 in Division 1A and now in 2024 in the Division 1 2A category. With this triumph, the Lady Bulldogs improve to 21-9 for the season. Up next, they will host Austin-East on Friday night at 7 PM at the VanHuss-White Gymnasium in Hampton. The Lady Roadrunners fell to Oneida, 62-39, in the District 2 AA consolation game.
In his debut year as the Girls’ Head Coach, Dwayne Humphrey was honored as the Coach of the Year for the First District.
District 1AA Playoff Finals
Location: Daniel Boone High School, Bobby Snyder Gymnasium
Hampton 57-47 South Greene
South Greene (47): Bailey 3, Clark 9, Foshie 1, Gregg 5, Hoese 9, Arrowood 2, Brooks 3, Cutshall 15
Hampton (57): Helle 6, Henry 13, Hicks 8, Carrico 2, Berry 18, Estep 1, H. Smith 7
South Greene: 14 10 17 6 – 47
Hampton: 8 12 21 16 – 57
3-point goals: SG 6 (Bailey 1, Gregg 1, Hoese 3, Cutshall1), H 5 (Henry 1, Hicks 2, H. Smith 1, Berry 1)
