Mavs, Lady Mavs look good early in season
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Anderson County senior Carter Jett splits the Loudon defense during play last Thursday. - Tony Cox
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Lady Mav Kallie Bowling makes a power move in the paint against Loudon. - Tony Cox
One week into the basketball season, the Anderson County Lady Mavericks have already exceeded their win total from a year ago.
Saturday’s come-from-behind 56-50 home win over Greenback gave the Lady Mavs a 2-1 record. Their first win occurred Nov. 17 when they won their season opener at Loudon 46-21. AC suffered a 47-42 loss earlier Saturday at the hands of visiting Pigeon Forge.
“We’re gradually making progress,” first-year Lady Mavs Coach Nicky Anosike said Saturday prior to the Greenback game. “We keep working to try to get better.”
The coach’s philosophy worked against Greenback as the Lady Mavs overcame an early deficit and stayed ahead of the opposition during most of the final period.
Key baskets and free throws down the stretch from Kylie Alvis, Emily Mustard, Jaylynn Bullock and McKenzie Henderson enabled AC to pull ahead of its guests.
The Lady Mavs also forced some key turnovers during the closing minutes to contribute to the victory.
The Lady Mavs’ opening night victory at Loudon was aided by a second period in which they held the host Lady Redskins scoreless while AC put up nine points to build an 18-15 lead.
The two teams were tied after three periods, 27-27, but the Lady Mavs prevailed down the stretch on the way to their four-point victory.
Callie Bowling’s 17 points, including two treys, topped the Lady Mavs.
Against Pigeon Forge Saturday, AC staged a second-half comeback after trailing 28-19 at halftime.
The Lady Mavs won the third period 11-8 and outscored the visiting Lady Tigers down the stretch 12-11.
However, Pigeon Forge still came away with the five-point victory. Bowling topped the Lady Mavs with 13 points while Lydia Meldrum finished with 12, including two treys.
The AC boys also went 2-1 during the first week with a 62-43 win at Loudon and a 77-32 win Saturday at home against Greenback. The Mavs suffered a 68-65 loss earlier Saturday against Fulton.
“I think it was overall a good first week,” said Mavs Coach Derek Wallace.
“The win at Loudon was big and our game with Fulton saw us have our ups and downs,” he said. “It was good we were able to come back against them to make it close at the end, even though we lost.”
Connor Martin scored 26 points against Loudon with two treys. Carter Jett added 12.
Trevor Stagnolia’s 18 points paced the Mavs against Fulton, while Eli Varner added 16.
Martin collected 19 against Greenback with three treys.
The Mavs collected seven three-pointers.
“We’re working to improve our team chemistry during these early games,” Wallace said.
“We open our district season against Central and Clinton and we need to have good team chemistry going in.”