Sequoyah’s effort falls short, season ends at Lenoir City

“I thought we had moments and bright spots, but I also thought we had times where the moment got too big for us,” Sequoyah coach Joel Bailey said. “It kind of got the best of us. Just knowing when to slow it down or push the pace, those things you really need to understand when being in a do-or-die game like that.”

Sequoyah led at halftime, but being outscored 14-8 in the third quarter knocked the team back behind going into the final quarter.

“We had moments where we made runs and we looked really, really good. That has kind of been how our season has been with that inconsistency,” Bailey said. “I cannot say enough about when we did slow it down and get into something good we did really, really well.

“I was kind of disappointed in myself more than anything in getting those guys to slow it down and get the ball where we needed it.”

Blake Summey led the game with 20 points. The senior started influentially with four field goals in the first frame. He added two more baskets in the tumultuous fourth quarter and finished with nine field goals on the night.

“During the season, he has had his moments where we have to get him locked back in, but that is with him learning. Sometimes when double teams are coming at you it gets the best of you,” Bailey said. “He had a moment or two like that in the game, but he found a way to get himself back under control. My coaching staff did a great job of talking to him and getting him ready.

“He did a great job of locking back in and doing what he needed to do. I was so, so, so proud of him,” Bailey added.

Summey knocked down one basket in the third quarter — a period where Sequoyah had only three baskets.

The Chiefs offense finished with 16 baskets on the night, the same as Lenoir City. Sequoyah spread the baskets out through six different scorers.

Billy Barr dropped in six points, five from Caden Stallcup, three from Josh Phillips and two each from Benjamin Barr, Skyler Kilby and Jake Massingale.

“For the most part, we had our offense going. We had opportunities but we just missed shots,” Bailey said.

Point-blank layups, normal points — Sequoyah missed shots that normally fall. Add only 11 trips to the free throw line, the Chiefs finished below their average 52.7 points per game.

“Caden did a great job of coming in with energy. Jake Massingale did a great job as well as being more aggressive,” Bailey said. “We got what we wanted, we just couldn’t capitalize on it. I don’t think it was anything Lenoir City did not take away from us. I think, at times, we did not execute what we needed to.”

Sequoyah returns Benjamin Barr, Caleb Lane, Logan Lee, Josh Phillips and Stallcup amongst others.

“First and foremost, we are losing six incredible seniors. It still has not hit me yet that those guys won’t be in the locker room. We are going to take some time off then we are going to get back at it. I talked to the guys before the season and their roles are about to increase,” Bailey said. “We have a lot of young guys that we have to get ready, but I think they are excited for the challenge. I love Pat Summit and she said ‘You cannot always be the most talented team, but you can be the most competitive.’

“We are built on toughness, togetherness, competitiveness, hard fight, hustle and that is what we are going to get back to.”

Sequoyah graduates Billy Barr, Eli Cook, Skyler Kilby, Tyler Kilby, Massingale and Blake Summey.

“To see those guys walk in as young and shy freshmen who did not know what they were capable of, to what they are today and to be young men. Not just basketball players, but great young men, Christians, students and people,” Bailey said. “They have grown and blossomed into something that I would have never imagined they would blossom into. I love them so, so much.”

Bailey let the team know his feelings before they departed the locker room.

“They say pressure either makes diamonds or busts pipes. I was blessed to be around six diamonds. I challenged them for four years and set a standard that was even higher than what their parents set,” Bailey said. “I told them if they can handle me on them every day then I know they are going to be a great father, businessman, husband or whatever they want to be.”