Dobyns-Bennett girls win, Science Hill swept in Roundball Classic

JOHNSON CITY — It had been nearly two weeks since the Dobyns-Bennett girls basketball team suffered their lone defeat of the season against Elizabethton. They got revenge, and the growth they were looking for on Friday, defeating the Cyclones 55-48 in the Double Tree Roundball Classic at Science Hill High School. "One thing we were looking for, especially this early in the season, you don't play somebody twice in two weeks very often and the reason we play Elizabethton is because they make you better," Dobyns-Bennett head coach Bill Francis said. "They are extremely well-coached, their players know how to play the game." Reese Haselton led three Dobyns-Bennett (4-1) scorers in doubles figures, while Sally McReynolds and Zymira Horton added 10 apiece each for the Indians. Carlee Cradic added nine points as the Dobyns-Bennett improved to 4-1 on the season, avenging a 69-50 loss to the Cyclones on Nov. 22. "The first time around we were a little flat, they shot the lights out of it, they exposed a lot of things that we need to improve on," Francis said. "Our kids really bought in, we were committed in practice and we talked about that growth. "I didn't really care, win or loss. I want to win, just like everybody, but we needed to see growth tonight from that last game and I thought we saw a lot of growth. It just ended up going the right way for us so we were able to come out with some growth and with a win." Elizabethton (4-3), which was led by West Ridge transfer Addison Bunn with 15 points, fell behind 17-7 after one quarter, but pulled within 21-18 at the halftime break. The Indians went back up, 37-27, doing into the final period before Elizabeethton narrowed the margin to 42-40. The Indians answered with a basket and free throw from Cradic, which led to another 10-point lead. "I liked how handled the ball, we got up on them big, they crawled back in, we stretched it out and we let them back in," said Francis, whose Indians were just 9-for-24 from the free throw line. "We kept answering, we answered when we need to. I thought we were patient offensively. We have got to hit free throws..." Jamira Smalls was her usual dominant self on the inside for the Cyclones, finishing with 13 points and double digit in rebounds, while Sydney Minton added seven points in the loss. Dobyns-Bennett will face defending TSSAA Division Class AA state champions Knox Webb this morning at Science Hill at 11:30 a.m., while Science Hill will play Elizabethton at 1 p.m. Knox Webb 68, Science Hill 27 Knox Webb looked like the defending state champions they are in dismantling the Hilltoppers in the second of three games on Friday night at Science Hill. "I am just proud of the way our girls played. We haven't played so well over the last couple of weeks and played some really good teams," Knox Webb head coach Greg Hernandez said. "Today, with the way they were enthusiastic and the way they shared the basketball, they got after it defensively, really set the tone for how we were able to perform." All the Spartans have back from last year's seventh state title team in program history is the entire starting five, which is a good thing for Hernandez. "We return all of our starters from our state championship team," Hernandez said. "Not very often does that happen, not very often, but we have a good group of kids in that locker room." Knox Webb (4-2) had three players score in double figures, led by Clemson commit Meeyah Green and talented sophomore post player Kyndall Mays, who both had 14 points. Consa Lowry had three of the Spartans' 11 3-pointers to finish with 13 points, while Ivy Napier added eight in the win. Only Green has an NCAA Division I offer, but Mays could be one to watch in the future. Science Hill, which was led by Allie Conner with 10 points, fell behind 12-3, but pulled within 17-8 after one quarter. It was all Spartans from there, taking a 44-13 halftime lead en route to a 41-point win. No one else scored more than four points for the Hilltoppers. "They are good. Somebody asked me last week after the (Daniel) Boone game is that the best team you are going to play," Hauldren said. "They (Webb) are the best team we will play all year unless we get better all of a sudden and we move on, but they are good." Science Hill (3-5) will look to get back to its winning ways on Saturday by playing host to Elizabethton at 1 p.m. That game will be preceded by Knox Webb and Dobyns-Bennett at 11:30 a.m. "I talked to the girls, I said we have got to squash what happened tonight and we have got to find a way to win tomorrow somehow," Hauldren said. "Obviously, Saturday night, Hardee's, loss, Tuesday, loss, tonight, loss, we have got to find a way to win the game tomorrow. Regardless of who plays, we are more than capable to doing that so hopefully we do." BOYS Tri-Cities Christian 78, Science Hill 58 Lofton Looney connected on six 3s and finished with 28 points, leading the Eagles past the Hilltoppers in a raucous and loud Topper Palace. Tri-Cities Christian (5-1) pulled away from a 12-11 lead after one quarter to build a 33-20 lead at the halftime break. The Eagles kept rolling, taking a 50-33 lead into the third before winning by 20 points. Lanny Holland added 14 points for the Eagles. Aaron Pomrenke and Andrew Ferguson added seven points each. Darian Jackson paced Science Hill (3-3) with 24 points, while Stephen Hensley added 14 for the Hilltoppers, which will play Graham (Bluefield, Va.) - which was the Class 2 state runner-up last season in Virginia - today at Virginia High School's Bearcat Den.