HIGH SCHOOL

Blackman sweeps Smyrna on cancer awareness night

Corby A. Yarbrough

MURFREESBORO – The Blackman basketball teams picked up a pair of wins while raising funds and awareness for a good cause Tuesday.

Playing host to District 7-AAA rival Smyrna for its annual “Pink Out” night, the Lady Blaze were 69-34 winners and the Blaze scored a 57-42 victory. The collections gathered at the game went toward local research as well.

“Cancer touches everybody in every walk of life,” Blackman boys coach Barry Wortman said. “My father has cancer, so it hits home for me. The awareness that we can bring to people through the great game of basketball is a great way to reach out and try to give a little something back.”

The host teams wore white jerseys with pink numbers and pink stripes down their jerseys and shorts. The Lady Blaze had “Hope” emblazoned across the front of their jerseys, while the boys’ team had “Cure” across theirs. Lady Blaze coaches were decked out in pink shirts and pink shoelaces, the Blaze coaches were in pink ties, and the dance team and cheerleaders wore pink with pink pom-poms.

“We want to let our girls know that as we play this game we love, there’s greater causes out there than just this game of basketball,” Lady Blaze coach Chad Hibdon said. “We want to instill that in them and get them to understand that they have a platform and we have a platform that we can use to benefit others.”

Tuesday night was part of the Coaches vs. Cancer program, a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

The initiative is meant to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living through year-round awareness efforts, fundraising activities, and advocacy programs. Since 1993, coaches have raised more than $87 million for the American Cancer Society.

Blackman girls 69, Smyrna 34: The top-ranked Lady Blaze (20-2, 9-0) jumped out to an 18-0 lead after one quarter before the Lady Bulldogs (16-6, 5-4) got on the board after the first possession of the second quarter.

Smyrna was 0-for-12 from the field, 0-for-5 from 3-point range, with just one offensive rebound in the first eight minutes, and had three turnovers that led to four Blackman points.

Four different players scored for the Lady Blaze in the first 2:18 on the way to a 10-0 lead. An assist from Brooklyn Blanchard to post player Diamond Forrest under the basket was converted 24 seconds into the second quarter for Smyrna’s first points.

Blackman’s Alex Johnson, a MTSU signee, led all scorers with 16 points, while UConn commitment Crystal Dangerfield had 15. The Lady Bulldogs were led by Blanchard’s 11.

Blackman boys 57, Smyrna 42: A 15-4 run over the final seven minutes of the second quarter was the catalyst for the Blaze to get the win.

After falling behind 14-13 1:06 into the second quarter following baskets by Taylor Vanderbilt and D.J. Williams on consecutive trips, the Blaze hit six of its next nine field goals and two free throws as six different players scored during the run.

It was capped by a Jordan Jeffries one-handed putback from a long 3 just before the halftime buzzer. Smyrna shot 2 of 10 from the field during the crucial run.

Blackman (16-3, 7-2) was led by Christian DeWitt’s 10 points. Jaylen Johnson paced Smyrna (13-13, 3-6) with 14 points.

GIRLS

Blackman 69, Smyrna 34

Smyrna 0 14 17 3 — 34

Blackman 18 16 25 10 — 69

Smyrna: Brooklyn Blanchard 11, Sha Roebrts 3, Treasure Hunt 5, Allie Bolton 4, Kesha Brady 9, Diamond Forrest 2

Blackman: Meme Jackson 7, K.K. Williams 7, Jazz Bond 8, Crystal Dangerfield 15, Alex Johnson 16, Angel Allen 8, Jaleah Goff 1, Taylor Freeman 2, Jada Hughes 5.

BOYS

Blackman 57, Smyrna 42

Smyrna 10 9 11 12 — 42

Blackman 13 15 15 14 — 57

Smyrna: D.J. Williams 2, Jaylen Johnson 14, Brendan Moore 2, Chavel Glover 4, Myles Kumrow 2, Taylor Vanderbilt 5, Mykale Repress 4, John Turner 2, Taylor Cunningham 2, Darian Cunningham 2, Trey Wilder 3.

Blackman: Jordan Jeffries 2, Isaiah Hart 6, Christian DeWitt 10, Cedriontis Wilson 9, Donovan Sims 8, Donovan Pass 2, Bryce Williams 2, Miller Armstrong 9, Jacob Nelson 2, Jaellan White 5.