Middleton, Dresden meet for 3rd straight year

Dresden coach Jonathan West and Middleton coach James Burkley may or may not be happy that their two teams will be in the same region next year.

But for the third straight season, the Lady Lions and Lady Tigers will play in a Class A sectional with the winner advancing to the Class A state tournament.

Middleton has been victorious in the first two meetings, but both of those were played at Bailey Howell Gymnasium in Middleton.

This one will be played in Dresden.

"We find ourselves playing each other every year," Burkley said. "We will have to go into a hostile environment. They have been coming here, but we will have to go there this year."

West is glad to not have to make that three-hour trip to Hardeman County.

"We talked about that before the region final that we wanted to play at home," West said. "There is a comfort level for the kids at home. We can make the day normal. We will have a lot more fans here."

Both team's personnel have changed some since last year, so West is hoping the chance to play at home will give the Lady Lions the edge.

"I thought last year playing them for a second time would help, but we seemed less confident once we got down there," West said. "We both are a different team with different strengths."

But Burkley does believe that philosophies will be similar from year to year.

"Dresden has a few players back like Kasey Gallimore and Millie Bryant from last year, so they do have some new players, but I don't think he is going to change his system too much."

One area that West is hoping will not carry over from the past two years is the first half runs that Middleton has made.

"We have to come out and compete like we have all year," West said. "We can't let them get a big run. Last year, the game was over immediately with their first quarter run. Two years ago, it came in the second quarter."

Gallimore and Bryant have been the leaders for Dresden at the guard position. Middleton is led in the post by UT Martin signee Chelsey Perry along with junior guard Sequoya Warren.

"Perry is going D1 for a reason," West said. "She has length and strength that will challenge us. They remind me of Huntingdon inside."

Burkley feels like the first quarter will be crucial for his team.

"I feel like the first quarter will be key, handling everything around us," he said. "We have been in hostile environments before, and we play well on the road. So we have to match their intensity. We will settle down after that first quarter because we have veteran ball players."

Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.