Lady Raptors crash Jr. Lady ‘Dogs party in sectional final
Published 1:48 pm Tuesday, February 9, 2021
Photo Contributed by Jenni Lunsford Ella Eastep takes the ball up for a layup over a Lady Raptor.
Photo by Jenni Lunsford Hampton Jr. Lady 'Dog Piper Helle puts up a free throw while Hampton's Abbie Lunsford readies for the rebound.
Photo Contributed by Jenni Lunsford Ella Eastep works the basketball toward the paint. Trailing the play is Hampton's Hannah Smith and Piper Helle.
Photo Contributed by Jenni Lunsford Faye Carrico goes shows grit in this layup attempt while being pressured by a Ridgeview defender.
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BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
KINGSPORT – The Jr. Lady Bulldogs of Hampton Middle could smell a trip to the TMSAA state championship but a group of Lady Raptors smelled the same savory flavor and were determined that they were the ones that would earn the berth during the Sectional Finals played at John Sevier in Kingsport on Saturday.
After a slow quarter that saw Ridgeview score only one point, the rest of the contest belonged to the Lady Raptors offensively as they went on to down a fiesty bunch of Jr. Lady ‘Dogs by a 36-18 score to end Hampton’s fantastic 2021 season despite COVID-19.
Hampton led in the game only one time and that was the first stop as Coach Ginny White’s team led 2-1 at the first horn.
From that point, Ridgeview took control and ended up with a 13-10 lead at intermission.
Lillie Walters led the Lady Raptors in the first 12 minutes with five points while Hampton found its leadership from Ella Eastep with four points. Hannah Smith stroked a three-pointer as well for the Jr. Lady ‘Dogs.
Hampton just couldn’t find any offensive rhythm in the second half as the Lady Raptors used a 10-2 third quarter to extend a grip on their lead at 23-12 heading into the final period of regulation.
Needing a huge rally to gain the state berth, the Jr. Lady ‘Dogs reached down for all they had but failed to get the needed points to overtake the Ridgeview lead.
Eastep led the girls from Hampton with seven points in the game. Piper Helle, Chloe Trivett, and Smith finished with three points each while two points were recorded by Abbie Lunsford.
Ridgeview was paced by Kenzie Bacon with 14 points and 12 from the hand of Walters.
