DUNLAP, Tenn. – Not only were each of the current Bledsoe County players more than a decade from even being born the last time the school won a boys’ district basketball tournament, but even coach Mark Cagle barely can recall it. Cagle was only 7 when his father Harold coached the Warriors to a district title 30 years ago.
But Tuesday night, Bledsoe County broke the long dry spell and added a new championship plaque with a 73-64 win over Signal Mountain for the 7-AA title at Sequatchie County.
“This was the first of our goals for the season, to finally win the district tournament again,” said Warriors senior Jamal Worthington, who contributed 20 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and five blocked shots. “Now we can celebrate this for now and then get ready for our next goal, to win the region.”
Worthington, who had helped Bledsoe sweep the regular-season series with a buzzer-beater at Signal Mountain and a dominating home performance, again was key in the Warriors getting off to a quick start. He had seven points, three assists, three rebounds and two blocks in the first quarter as the Warriors (23-6) jumped to a 9-0 lead and built a double-digit margin later in the quarter.
The lead swelled to 13 before the Eagles closed the first half on a 10-2 run, then cut it to three with a quick basket to open the third quarter.