CELINA, Tenn. - Lookout Valley's bid to go from a one-win basketball team four years ago to a state qualifier came to an end Monday night.
The Yellow Jackets fell victim to a hot-shooting Clay County squad boosted by a raucous full house, as the Bulldogs won 67-50 in their Class A sectional.
Trent Boles was a one-man wrecking crew for Clay County (24-8), burying six 3-pointers and scoring 34 points. He was aided by Corey Hamilton's 18 points.
After a close start, the Bulldogs blew the game open with a 17-2 run that stretched from late in the first quarter until midway through the second. Lookout Valley took a 6-5 lead on a Stracey Bonner basket with 1:31 remaining. But Clay County responded with the run that finally ended when Trent Boles' 3-pointer made it 22-8.
"They really did get hot," Yellow Jackets coach Joe Galloway said. "They've got a fine team, the crowd got them going and that was a little bit intimidating for our kids, although we kind of bounced back and played pretty decently. Right before the half we scored and cut it to 13, so we were kind of hanging around."
Boles had a huge first half, outscoring the Jackets 18-17 as the Bulldogs took a 30-17 advantage.
Class A Boys' Sectional
CLAY COUNTY 67, LOOKOUT VALLEY 50Lookout Valley 8 9 10 23 - 50Clay County 9 21 16 21 - 67Lookout Valley (50) - William Long 14, Stracey Bonner 11, Delaney Heathington 11, Tyler Gay 8, Tshombe Farmer 6.Clay County (67) - Trent Boles 34, Corey Hamilton 18, Matt Copeland 7, Dusty Birdwell 4, Jake Edwards 2, Jordan Strong 2.
Very few fouls were called on either end in the first two quarters. Clay County was whistled for its first midway through the second quarter, and Lookout Valley got its first with 1:12 left in the half.
Clay County scored 10 straight points to open the second half, taking a 40-19 lead on another Boles 3-pointer.
In the fourth quarter, the Jackets (21-12) pulled as close as 53-39 on a William Long steal and layup. But that was as close as they would get. Boles made two free throws and Hamilton swiped a steal that turned into a fastbreak layup to help the Bulldogs pull away for good.
"We have only one senior (Bonner), and he had a good game," Galloway said. "I was glad to see him finish with a good game. He's the only one we lose and we'll miss him, but I was proud of the effort we gave."
Long led Lookout Valley with 14 points, while Bonner and Delaney Heathington added 11 each.