Top-Ranked Haywood Too Much For Unicoi in State Quarterfinals

Top-Ranked Haywood Too Much For Unicoi in State Quarterfinals
Top-ranked Haywood ended Unicoi County’s season in the Class 3A Quarterfinals Tuesday at the Murphy Center. TriCitiesSports.com photo by Dawn Lambert Photography.
by STEVE WILMOTH
TriCitiesSports.com
March 14, 2023

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Unicoi County overcame a tough start and early foul trouble on star senior Lucas Slagle, but top-ranked Haywood eventually wore the down the Blue Devils, 63-43, in the final TSSAA Class 3A state quarterfinal of the day Tuesday at the Murphy Center.

The Tomcats (29-5) will move on to face Ridgeway (18-12) in the state semifinals on Thursday.

Haywood opened the game on an 11-2 run. Slagle picked up his second personal with 3:18 left to go in the first quarter and sat out the rest of the half. But the ‘Devils were still within seven, 31-24, at the break, and could have been even closer.

“I thought our guys left it all out there,” said Unicoi County coach Jordan Simmons. “We had a lot of opportunities early. We missed some easy ones early, we missed layups, we missed some free throws. Against a team like that that’s making you work so hard, when you get opportunities like that you have to cash them in.

“I thought our guys really settled in and battled in the first half. I thought we had guys step and battle. Mason Hensley came in gave us great minutes inside.”

Certainly the athletic Tomcats had something to say about those missed opportunities as well.

“I think a lot of guys were looking over their shoulder because they have some big time athletes that are up around the rim contesting those shots,” added Simmons.

Unicoi County was still within nine at 43-34 late in the third period, but 6-4 sophomore guard Jaybyon Snipe knocked down a three at the buzzer pushing the advantage to a dozen and really broke things open with a steal and dunk before assisting on a flush by 6-7 senior Janerus Snipe as the Tomcat lead quicky went to 57-38.

“We had guys play a lot of minutes,” noted Simmons of the 32 minutes played by Grant Hensley, Eli Johnson and Jackson Simmons and 28 by Kolby Jones.

“When you play those kind of minutes against pressure and athleticism and length, a lot of the shots that we normally make just didn’t go in tonight.”

Indeed, the Blue Devils finished 16-of-44 from the field, including 5-of-18 from distance.

“We were concerned about Unicoi County’s shooting,” said Haywood coach Rodney Chatman. “We knew they run great sets so we had to be very disciplined on defense and not gamble or they would knock down threes.”

Chatman’s son, senior point guard and Mr. Basketball finalist Tylon Chatman, led all scorers with 21 points while dishing out four assists and directing an offense that committed only four turnovers on the evening.

“We preach protecting the ball all the time,” Chatman said. “If you can protect the ball, you can win ballgames. On the season we probably averaged seven turnovers per game, but as of late we’ve been at 10-12, so I was like, look we have to protect the ball. If you don’t turn the ball over you’ve got a chance to win every time.”

Jaybyon Snipe made seven of his ten field goal attempts for 16 points while Janerus Snipe was a perfect 4-for-4 for 11 points.

Playing their final games as Blue Devils, seniors Hensley, Johnson and Slagle combined for 34 of Unicoi County’s 43 points.

Hensley led the way with 14 points and also snagged four rebounds.

“We believe we are a good team and we believe we can compete with anybody if we play our game and believe in ourselves,” said Hensley.

Johnson transferred in prior to his sophomore year and goes out with 11 points and two assists.

“They (Haywood) are the best team we watched all day,” said Johnson. “They are the best team in our division. I think we played them as good as anybody in the state can play them. I really feel like we were just a few possessions away from being in a better game with them.

“I’m not from Unicoi County, but I really feel like I’m part of the community because when I moved there everybody took me in and I was just one of the guys and it’s meant everything to me.”

Slagle was limited to 21 minutes of action but still scored nine points and grabbed a team-high ten rebounds.

“They were definitely an athletic team,” Slagle said. “But I feel like we saw a few things they did and capitalized on it.”

Slagle was a highly-touted multi-sport athlete when he entered Unicoi County and goes out a four-year starter and state tournament participant.

“It’s been a goal all four years to get to state and I feel like we’ve had a shot in every one of them, so to be here is a surreal experience,” added Slagle. “It’s something we’ve never done in my lifetime. I ‘ve watched a lot of teams get close, so to be part of a team that did it is special.”

Unicoi County ends the season at 28-9 and with its first state tournament appearance since 1986.

“These kids are special and the whole county sees that so that’s why the whole county is pulling for them and everybody has been so excited for them,” Simmons said. “It’s been special to see that type of excitement breathed back into our program. They have breathed life back into this program with what they’ve done the last four years. For it to culminate here in Murfreesboro for the first time in 37 years is a fitting end to their careers.”

UNICOI COUNTY (43) – Kolby Jones 1-3 0-0 2, Grant Hensley 4-14 5-7 14, Eli Johnson 4-8 1-4 11, Jackson Simmons 1-6 0-0 3, Lucas Slagle 4-11 0-0 9, Mason Hensley 2-2 0-0 4, Keilet Rodriguez 0-0 0-0 0, Zeke Campbell 0-0 0-0 0, Garrett Sellars 0-0 0-0 0, Eli Riddell 0-0 0-0 0, Brady Simmons 0-0 0-0 0, Totals 16-44 6-11 43.

HAYWOOD (63) – Tylon Chatman 7-16 6-6 21, Jamari Person 2-7 2-2 6, Janerus Snipe 4-4 3-4 11, Jaybyon Snipe 7-10 0-0 16, Jucari Comage 2-7 0-0 5, Ja’Malichi Bond 0-0 0-0 0, Lakendrick Phillips 1-2 0-0 2, Quontayvis Comage 0-1 0-0 0 Davarrian Pierce 1-2 0-0 0, Caden Pirtle 0-0 0-0 0, Makylan Seymour 0-0 0-0 0, Robert McAfee 0-0 0-0 0, Antrell Jones 0-0 0-0 0, E’Deriyon Clark 0-0 0-0 0, Totals 24-49 11-12 63.
 
Unicoi County
12
12
10
9
-- 43
Haywood
18
13
15
17
-- 63
 
Points off Turnovers – Unicoi County 2, Haywood 16. Second Chance Points – Unicoi County 10, Haywood 9. Three-Pointers – Unicoi County 5-18 (Jones 0-2, G. Hensley 1-5, Johnson 2-4, J. Simmons 1-2, Slagle 1-4), Haywood 4-14 (Chatman 1-4, Jay. Snipe 2-5, J. Comage 1-5). Rebounds – Unicoi County 27 (Slagle 10, Team 5, Jones 4, G. Hensley 4), Haywood 30 (Team 7, Chatman 5, Jan. Snipe 5, Person 4, Jay. Snipe 3, J. Comage 3). Assists – Unicoi County 6 (G. Hensley 2, Johnson 2), Haywood 5 (Chatman 4). Steals – Unicoi County 1 (G. Hensley), Haywood 7 (Chatman 2, Jay. Snipe 2). Blocks – Unicoi County 2 (G. Hensley, Slagle), Haywood 3 (Person, Jan. Snipe, Phillips). Turnovers – Unicoi County 10, Haywood 4. Total Fouls – Unicoi County 12, Haywood 15. Technical Fouls – none. Fouled Out – none.



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