Hot-shooting Huskies too much for Hampton in District 1-A championship
Published 5:36 pm Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders The Hampton Bulldogs claimed the District 1-A Runner-Up plaque after a tough loss to North Greene in Baileyton.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Hampton's Michael Harrison, Conor Burleson, and Morgan Lyons joined North Greene's Chriss Schultz, Kendal Loftis, Cayden Foulks, and Chance Campbell were selected to the Watauga Valley All-Conference team for 2020-2021.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Conor Burleson, Morgan Lyons, and Garrett Vines of Hampton along with North Greene's Chriss Schultz, Chance Campbell, Shane Cooter, Cayden Foulks, and Kendal Loftis were named to the District 1-A All Tournament team.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Morgan Lyons pulls up for a mid-range jumper among a host of North Greene defenders.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Hampton's Garrett Vines fires for one of his five treys on the evening.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Hampton head coach Ned Smith talks with his team during a timeout in the District 1-A Championship.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Conor Burleson of Hampton looks to make a move against the Huskies Shane Cooter.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Hampton's Michael Harrison looks for an outlet pass to a teammate while being defended by North Greene's Cayden Foulks.
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BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
BAILEYTON – Sometimes a team leaves everything all out on the court especially when it comes to playing for a high school district championship only to still find themselves looking up at the short end of the stick.
Such was the case in Baileyton on Tuesday evening when the Hampton Bulldogs played a gutsy game from the opening tip to the final horn only to fall to a hot-shooting North Greene team by a 71-58 final in the District 1-A boys basketball championship.
North Greene was hitting from inside and out as the Huskies built a 36-25 halftime mark behind the stellar play of Chris Schultz who blistered the nets to the tune of 18 first-half points with 12 coming in the second quarter.
Shane Cooter contributed two big treys in the half while Cayden Foulks also added six for the Huskies who were the one-seed in the tourney.
Garrett Vines and Morgan Lyons were doing their very best to keep the lead from being greater as Vines hit for eight in the half including two treys while Lyons chipped in with seven points.
Nate Wilson, Parker Henry, Logan Whitehead, Conor Burleson, and Hayden Campbell accounted for two points apiece in the first 16 minutes.
Hampton adjusted their defense at the half and managed to work their way to within two points of the Huskies however each time Hampton made a run toward the front, the Huskies had an answer pushing the lead back to five points or better each run.
The ‘Dogs outscored North Greene 24-20 in the third period shaving four points off the halftime lead to making it a 56-49 heading into the fourth quarter of play.
Vines continued with his hot hand sinking three more treys in the third period while Michael Harrison found the range to record five points. Lyons added four more to his total while Isaiah McCoury also stroked a three-pointer for Hampton.
Hustling all over the floor for three quarters began to show its results in the fourth quarter as the ‘Dogs legs disappeared from their shots and they couldn’t keep up when North Greene made their final push to the win.
Vines finished with 21 points to pace all Bulldogs while Lyons accounted for 11 points.
Schultz finished with a game-high 32 points to lead the Huskies to the title. Kendal Loftis finished with 11 points and Cooter nine.
“I thought our kids played hard to get back in it,” said Hampton head coach Ned Smith. ” We got down at 15 at one time and dug ourselves into a big hole and battled back there within two but I think we got a little tired and couldn’t sub as much as we normally did.
“We had to keep our bigs on the floor to try to keep them blocked out, but our kids didn’t quit.”
The Bulldogs still have some games to play starting with Saturday’s contest at VanHuss-White Gym when they host Jellico in the region tournament.
“The kids just need to shake this off and we will get a lot more kids in there Saturday night,” said Smith about the region matchup.
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North Greene, 71-58
Hampton (58)
Nate Wilson 2, Michael Harrison 5, Parker Henry 2, Dalton Holsclaw 2, Logan Whitehead 5, Isaiah McCoury 3, Morgan Lyons 11, Garrett Vines 21, Conor Burleson 5, Hayden Campbell 2.
North Greene (71)
Carson Whaley 3, Cayden Foulks 8, Chance Campbell 7, Kendal Loftis 11, Chriss Schultz 32, Shane Cooter 9.
Hampton………. 12 13 24 9 – 58
North Greene… 15 21 20 15 – 71
