Patriots Top Hilltoppers, 61-53

TSSAA Region 1-3A Basketball Tournament, JCHS Patriots vs. Science Hill Hilltoppers
Staff Photo by Mike Stanley, Jefferson County Post Sports

It was the first round of the TSSAA Region 1-3A basketball tournament, Saturday night. However, someone forgot to tell Jefferson County and Science Hill that this was not the championship game. The energy in the building was as high as the energy on the court, and the two teams definitely left everything on the floor.

The first quarter saw Science Hill come out firing, opening the game on a 10-2 run. The Patriots would respond with a 6-0 run of their own and the Hilltoppers would take a 13-8 advantage into the second. After a stern talking to on the sideline, Jefferson County came out in the second quarter with much more intensity and hustle. Senior, Corey Jenkins, would score 4 of his 5 points in the second quarter, but the important stat that is not kept is where he succeeded the most, hustle. The Hilltoppers would make a three as time expired in the quarter to take a 27-26 lead into the half. The third quarter, the intensity was still there, the quarter ended as Noah Carter threw and alley oop pass where John Bryant would finish at the other end with a lay up as time expired. The Patriots would lead after three, 42-39. Jefferson County would extend its lead in the fourth quarter to as many as 11, but Science Hill’s success from outside continued. A Hilltopper three with 45.4 secs left would trim the Patriot lead to seven at 60-53. A trip to the line by Noah Carter would end the scoring and Jefferson County would win, 61-53.

“The point of emphasis all week has been that 21 (Calvin Songster) and 34(Peyton Wingate) can really shoot the ball.” Poore said on Science Hill’s three point shooting. 30 of the Toppers 53 points would come from behind the arc. With the win the Patriots advance to host Tennessee High School on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Poore was asked, what do you know about the Vikings. “Tennessee High is a good basketball team, they got good size. They are going to run a slower game. We will have to handle their big boy.”

The 28-4 Patriots were lead in scoring by junior Kyle Briggs with 15 points. Brice Cusick added 13 points while fellow big man, John Bryant would score 12. Noah Carter chipped in 8 points, while Corey Jenkins netted 5 points. Danny Bates and Malik Styles would add 4 points a piece.