Staff photo by Troy Stolt / Heritage guard Cooper Terry (4) lays the ball up during the Generals' home basketball game against Central-Carrollton on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021 in Ringgold, Georgia. Heritage would win the game 54-53.A strong start in league play got even stronger Tuesday night for Heritage.
The Generals scored the game's final seven points to rally past Central-Carroll, 54-53, to improve to 5-0 in Region 7-AAAA. Cooper Terry's two free throws with 1.2 seconds to play completed the comeback from down six with 1:01 remaining.
"It was an ugly and somewhat lucky win tonight," said Heritage coach Kevin Terry, who has taken the Generals to six consecutive playoff appearances. "The main thing for us this year was finally getting guys healthy. We are senior laden and have some balanced talent, but we have just been trying to put the pieces together and figure it out."
Cooper Terry scored 15 of his game-high 21 points in the second quarter, including going three-of-three from 3-point range, as Heritage built a 29-21 halftime lead. The advantage was five with just under four minutes left in the third quarter when the Lions (6-5, 0-2) turned the game around by going to a trapping defense that forced four quick turnovers.
Still down five, though, after Mitchell Kennedy's layup with 6:15 remaining, Central turned up the heat even further to spark a 9-0 run over the next three minutes, capped by Jacobi Almon's 3-pointer. The Generals' comeback started with Ty Loveless' three-point play on a putback, before Caden Swope made a steal that led to a pair of free throws with 38 seconds left.
Central's Xavier Adams missed a one-and-one free throw with seven seconds remaining and Terry quickly drove into the lane, where he was fouled. His two free throws were perfect and, after a timeout, a 60-foot Central heave was off.
"They had us on the ropes but we somehow pulled it out," Kevin Terry said.
Carson Palmer added 11 points and six rebounds, with Loveless adding seven boards and a pair of blocked shots for the Generals.
BOYS' BASKETBALL
* McMinn County 77, McMinn Central 64: Andrew Beavers made seven 3-pointers in the first quarter on his way to a 30-point outing in which he shot 9-of-11 from long-range. The Cherokees were also led by Hayden Frank (12 rebounds), Ty Runyan (six assists), Davion Evans (12 points) and Tucker Monroe (13 points).
* Walker Valley 59, Bradley Central 46: After a slow start offensively for both sides the Mustangs came alive hitting 10 of their 11 3-pointers over the final three quarters in Tuesday's District 5-AAA road win. Heath Davis made three straight from beyond the arc in the third quarter, while Hayden Moore (17 points, 7-of-12 FG) and Seth Sausville (11 points, 3-of-6 3PT) led the way for Walker Valley which improved to 6-2 overall and 2-0 in district play. Bradley Central had three in double figures, led by Brandon Shumbera (12 points), while Mason Rothwell and Karter Howard who each had 10.
GIRLS' BASKETBALL
* Notre Dame 49, GPS 37: Kenzie Campbell sparked the Lady Irish as the junior point guard scored 10 of her game-high 16 points in the fourth quarter. Notre Dame (3-4) turned up its attack in the second half with 33 points while Mary Fillauer and Makayla Skaggs each had six second-half points. GPS trailed 30-27 at the end of the third quarter and was led in scoring by sophomore McKamey Bratcher (10 points).
* Boyd Buchanan 37, Collegedale 32: The Lady Bucs were able to provide the difference by outscoring their opponent 25-18 in the second and fourth quarter combined. Boyd Buchanan was led in scoring by Dani Reeves with 14 points while Collegedale sophomore Avana Im scored a game-high 20 points and made a trio of 3-pointers in the close road loss.
* Bradley Central 76, Walker Valley 33: Hannah Jones and Anna Muhonen were unstoppable in the paint as they combined for 40 points, 18 field goals and 19 rebounds to lead the Bearettes (7-1, 1-0 5-AAA). Jones led all with 22 points (10-17 FG) while Muhonen had a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds (seven offensive). Bradley Central also had strong performances by Ashlan Crittenden (six points, six assists) and Karsee Weber (three 3-pointers). Walker Valley's Sloane Watson finished with 10 points.
VOLLEYBALL
The Tennessee Sports Writers Association's all-state volleyball team was released on Wednesday with seven local players earning honors.
Division II accounted for three of those players, which included Notre Dame senior outside hitter McKenna Brown along with Baylor seniors Tess Magio (middle hitter) and Elaine Redman (outside hitter).
Brown led the state with 593 kills (16.5 per match) to help the Lady Fighting Irish to a 32-4 overall record and a Division II-A state runner-up finish. Redman was a do-it-all standout for the Lady Red Raiders who averaged 12.5 kills, 16 assists, 15.2 digs and 1.3 blocks per match. Margio averaged 10 kills and 1.5 blocks per match for Baylor, who was the state runner up in Division II-AA.
Class A's Sale Creek went 22-7 and made a fifth straight state appearance. The Lady Panthers had a trio of standouts make the all-state team: senior libero Allison Smith (360 digs), senior outside hitter Lillie Morgan (200+ digs and kills) and sophomore outside hitter Ava Higgins (300+ kills).
Cleveland senior Joy Douglass made the TSWA all-state team in Class AAA as she had 360 kills, 280 digs and a 95.5% success rate on her serves.