Lady Bulldogs fall to Alcoa in region semifinal
Published 12:16 pm Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent The Lady Bulldogs’ Hannah Smith (20) and the rest of Hampton’s starting five are introduced prior to their Region 1-2A match against the Tornados of Alcoa Monday night.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent The Lady Bulldogs’ Piper Helle (2) is fouled by Alcoa’s Halle Bailey (3) as she drives for the basket early in the first quarter of the Region 1-2A Semifinals.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent A baseline pass from the Lady Bulldogs’ Hannah Smith (20) sets up a Piper Helle (2) three-pointer from the corner early in the first quarter.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent The Lady Bulldogs’ Ella Eastep (11) nails a jumper from the foul line midway through the first quarter of the Region 1-2A Semifinals game.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent The Lady Bulldogs’ Faye Carrico (25) gets the and-one as she is fouled from behind on this layup by Alcoa’s Maddy Stewart (34) late in the first quarter.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent The Lady Bulldogs’ Piper Helle (2) is mugged in the lane by Alcoa’s Bella Daugherty (24) as she comes down with a rebound early in the second quarter.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent The Lady Bulldogs’ Piper Helle (2) is fouled while making this layup by Alcoa’s Jacy Cox (20) midway through the second quarter.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent The Lady Bulldogs’ Faye Carrico (25) hits this runner over Alcoa’s Maddy Stewart (34) early in the third quarter of the Region 1-2A Semifinals game.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent The Lady Bulldogs’ Piper Helle (2) is fouled in the lane by Alcoa’s Jacy Cox (20) as she puts up a baby hook midway through the third quarter.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent The Lady Bulldogs’ Hannah Smith (20) is fouled by Alcoa’s Kadie Bremer (5) as she tries to slide by for a layup late in the third quarter.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent The Lady Bulldogs’ Hannah Smith (20) glides down the lane for one of only a few unchallenged shots in the game late in the fourth quarter.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent The Lady Bulldogs’ Lauren Smith (4) nails Hampton’s final basket, a three-pointer from the corner, with under a minute to go in the Region 1-2A Semifinals game.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent Emotions overwhelm four of the five Lady Bulldogs starters as the final seconds run off the clock of their Region 1-2A Semifinals 83-54 loss to Alcoa.
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STAR CORRESPONDENT
UNICOI COUNTY – On Monday night at Unicoi County High School, the Hampton Lady Bulldogs ran into a quicker, stronger version of themselves in the Alcoa Lady Tornadoes. The result was an 83-54 defeat in the Region 1-2AA playoff semifinal.
“One of our keys was to limit turnovers and transition baskets,” Lady Bulldogs head coach Dewayne Humphrey said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t do that early, and we got down early and had to battle back. These ladies have fought all year long. They have had everything taken away from them, and they continued to show up night in and night out and played with toughness and grit. They exemplify what a Lady Bulldog is.”
The Tornadoes forced 14 first-half turnovers, and that led to a 38-24 halftime lead, with guard Gwen Carroll scoring 15 of her game-high 24 points in the half while Alcoa (25-7) held junior phenom Hannah Smith to just two points in the first half.
The Tornadoes were quick to double-team the player with the ball, effectively disrupting Hampton’s offense, with only senior point guard Piper Helle able to score the way she has all season.
Helle scored 11 of her team-high 22 points in the first half and was effective at getting to the free-throw line, canning 13 of 16 from the charity stripe.
“Piper has brought consistency to this squad,” Humphrey said. “Anything this team needs, Piper provides it, whether it is loose balls, steals, points, tough defense—she does it. She is assigned to guard the best player on the other team every time, and she does whatever is asked of her. I hope she goes on to play at the next level because I think anyone would want the kind of player that gives the effort she gives.”
The Tornadoes put the pedal to the metal in the third period, scoring 26 points in a mirror image of the way Hampton (24-9) has dominated foes throughout the regular season and early playoffs. The fourth quarter was a nonfactor, with Alcoa leading 64-38 going into the period.
Hannah Smith finished with 11 points, along with senior post Faye Carrico, while Alcoa post Maddie Stewart had 11 points and guard Jacy Cox had 10.
Region 1-2AA semifinal
Alcoa 83, Hampton 54
Alcoa (83)
Garner 4, Bailey 6, Bremer 8, Kar. Pitts 4, Cox 10, Flatt 8, Carroll 24, Daugherty 8, Stewart 11.
Hampton (54)
Helle 22, Eastep 4, Hicks 3, Smith 11, Carrico 11, L. Smith 3.
Alcoa 19 19 26 19 – 83
Hampton 12 12 14 16 – 54
3-point goals: Alcoa 10 (Bremer 2, Cox 2, Carroll 2, Daugherty 2, Stewart 1, Flatt 1), Hampton 4 (Helle 1, Hicks 1, H. Smith 1, L. Smith 1).
