MORRISTOWN — Dobyns-Bennett might have run out of momentum, but the Lady Indians basketball team certainly hasn’t run out of chances.
Sevier County frustrated the Tribe with a zone defense for the last two quarters of Wednesday’s Region 1-4A championship. The Bearettes won their fourth consecutive region title with a 41-27 victory at Isenberg-Siler Gymnasium.
“We hadn’t faced much true adversity recently,” D-B coach Bill Francis said. “We’d been riding a real high wave, which is great, but you know the wave is always going to hit the shore. Tonight that’s kind of what happened.”
To make its first state tournament trip since 1995, Dobyns-Bennett (23-8) will need to defeat Farragut on the road Saturday night. The Lady Admirals topped Bearden 56-49 for the Region 2-4A crown.
SEVIER DROUGHT
Caroline Hill’s 3-pointer got the Lady Indians within 14-12 with 2:37 remaining until halftime. But over the next eight minutes, Sevier County (30-3) went on a 15-1 run to seize control.
Rae Evans drove to the basket to end the slump with 2:15 in the third quarter, and Reagan Hollowell’s 3-pointer made it a 31-18 game. But that was as close as D-B could get.
“The theme for tonight was we just couldn’t see the next pass, and that’s not normally like us,” Francis said. “That’s what Sevier County does to you (with their zone). Very well coached, three 1,000-point scorers, and they’re so patient. We picked up a couple fouls early, and I thought we just got a little bit rattled.”
HANGING TOUGH EARLY
Kaydence Black made D-B’s first field goal 7:15 into the game, a 3-pointer that put the Tribe up 5-4 after one quarter. Hollowell’s first 3 gave the Lady Indians their final lead at 9-8 in the second quarter.
Cybil Penland, who led all scorers with 10 points, answered with back-to-back buckets.
Loveday finished with nine points for the Bearettes. Aubree Laney and Carsyn Loveday each had eight.
Payton Moore’s seven points led D-B, all coming in the second half. Hill and Hollowell both scored six.
UP NEXT
Dobyns-Bennett’s 4A sectional game at Farragut tips off at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Sevier County entertains Bearden.
Saturday’s winners advance to the TSSAA Class 4 tournament.
Stay Engaged
React to this article and join our community of readers sharing their feedback.
