2019 Food City Thanksgiving Tournament Bulldogs go overtime to defeat East in dogfight, 68-65
Published 12:37 am Wednesday, November 27, 2019
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Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Lady Bulldog Hazen Brumitt is focused on the rim as she shoots free throws.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Madison McClain of Hampton drives hard to the paint as Lady Patriot Morgan Bringman provides defensive pressure.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Lady Bulldog Skylar Hicks goes in for a one-handed jumper.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Hampton's Matt Hughes pushes the ball quickly toward the rim.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Hampton's Jordan Bentley gets off a tough shot over the outstretched hand of a Patriot defender.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Hampton's Rocky Croy fires a pass to a teammate running the base line in Monday's action from Sullivan East.
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
BLUFF CITY – If the game between Hampton and Sullivan East in the Food City Thanksgiving Tournament being played at Sullivan East in the Dyer Dome was an indication of what the remainder of the season holds, basketball fans are in store for a special treat.
The Bulldogs led by as many as 16 points before East rallied in the last two minutes of regulation to even the score at 58-all to force an extra four minutes to decide the outcome of the game with Hampton finally pulling out the 68-65 victory.
It was a dandy of a game between the two non-conference teams that showcased fantastic ballhandling, in-your-shorts defense by both teams, and a dazzling display of offense from both inside and outside the paint.
Hampton broke out 17-9 at the first horn and led 38-22 at the break. Rocky Croy and Matt Hughes led the first-half charge with ten and nine points respectively. Hughes buried three treys and Croy was working the perimeter adding a trey, three field goals, and was 1-of-2 from the charity stripe.
A scary moment for the Bulldogs came at the 4:01 mark of the second period when Conor Jones was setting up to take a charge and when Jones went to the floor, the East player inadvertently stepped on his face and drove his head to the court.
Jones was tended to for several minutes before a hushed gymnasium and was able to walk off the court under his own power and had to be taken from the gym with a towel wrapped around his head.
Whatever the message that East head coach John Dyer gave his team at the half proved dividends as his Patriots came out of the break to outscore Hampton 21-10 in the third and 15-10 in the fourth quarter to tie the game.
The ‘Dogs managed to eke out the victory by outscoring East 10-7 in the overtime session.
Croy finished the contest with 16 points to lead the Bulldogs. Hughes was close behind with 14 points while Jordan Bentley added 12 points.
Izaak Hill reached double figures with 11 points as did Caleb Oaks finished with 10 tough points in the paint.
Garrett Vines chipped in three points and Morgan Lyons collected two in the win.
Dylan Bartley led the Patriots with a game-high 22 points in the loss. Clayton Ivester added 14. East totaled seven treys in the contest.
Girls
Sullivan East……64
Hampton………..28
The Hampton Lady Bulldogs just couldn’t find the answer to shutting down the Lady Patriot three-ball machine as Sullivan East drained eight long-range treys to run over the Lady ‘Dogs in the Food City Thanksgiving Tournament being played at East.
Hampton only trailed by seven after the first period, 14-7, but from then on it was all Lady Patriots who built a 33-16 by the half to cruise to the win.
Sara Orr and Madison McClain led the Lady ‘Dogs in scoring in the contest with eight points apiece. Hazen Brumitt dropped in four points while Linsey Jenkins contributed with three points.
Other Lady ‘Dogs to reach the scorebook were Bridgett Heaton and Bre Davis with two points each and Hannah Collins who hit 1-of-2 free throws.
Sullivan East was led by Emma Aubrey who hit five three’s on her way to a game-high 19 points. Jenna Hare finished in double figures with 16 points.
