The first season for the Soddy-Daisy girls’ basketball program under Katie Collier has gotten off to a rock solid start.
Just two months into her first high school head coaching job, Collier’s Lady Trojans have achieved their first signature moment.
A young, up-and-coming group did so with a second half comeback against Sale Creek Tuesday, as Soddy-Daisy beat the host of the Battle at the Creek Christmas tournament 56-43.
The Lady Panthers could not hold on to a 26-20 halftime lead as junior Melody Crawley sparked the tournament champions with nine points in a 21-point third quarter for the Lady Trojans.
Cameron Varner’s toughness inside provided a major lift for Soddy-Daisy (9-4), which is looking for its first winning season since the 2008-09 campaign.
Varner, a junior forward, made nine free throws in 14 trips to the line to lead all players with 19 points. Meanwhile, junior forward Jada Trimiar was a defensive force and finished with a dozen points while sophomore Alivia Hall hit a 3-pointer in each of the first three quarters.
Sale Creek (6-4) received a pair of double-doubles from Keilyn Morgan and Shelby DeFore. Both scored 11 points while DeFore had 13 rebounds and Morgan grabbed 11.
GIRLS’ RESULTS
Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe 71, Rockmart 20: Christen Collins scored a game-high 26 points, 15 coming on 3-pointers, and Angel Simmons added 19 points as the Lady Warriors improved to 10-0 overall and 5-0 in Region 6-AAA.
Ringgold 39, North Murray 29: The Lady Tigers earned a championship berth at the Mistletoe Madness tournament at North Murray as Rachel Lopez had 16 points and Baileigh Pitts added 11. Ringgold will face Dalton in the finals.
Trion 61, LaFayette 58: Jenna Mosley hit six 3-pointers en route to a game-high 25 points as the Lady Bulldogs won the battle of Walker County teams. Kinleigh Turner added 11 points and Aubree Weaver 10 for Trion.
BOYS’ RESULTS
Red Bank 66, Carter 57: Recent ETSU football signee Reco Trimble helped the Lions move to the championship game of the Heritage High School Christmas tournament with a stellar 20-point showing. Trimble made all five of his free throws late as he scored 11 points in the fourth quarter while he added four steals in the win. Fellow senior Haden Spurgeon added 19 points and four 3-pointers for Red Bank (7-1).
Notre Dame 74, Calvary Christian (Ky.) 30: Lee University signee Tim Vaughn wreaked havoc scoring 19 first quarter points on eight made field goals (three 3-pointers) on the way to a 28-point performance in the Smoky Mountain Christmas Classic. Cole McCormick chipped in with 16 points for Notre Dame, which improved to 10-3 overall.
LaFayette 82, Trion 37: Aidan Hadaway scored all of his game-high 28 points in the first half and Junior Barber added 19 points – all in the opening two periods – as the Ramblers improved to 9-0 with the nonregion win.
Compiled by Patrick MacCoon and Lindsey Young. Contact MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon. Contact Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.