Dragons ousted
Jackson South Side holds off CHS comeback in first round of BlueCross Basketball Championship
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Rishon Bright drives to the hoop for the CHS Dragons last Wednesday at the Blue- Cross Basketball Championships in Murfreesboro. - Shari Wandell-Bryant
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Clinton’s Lane Harrison strips the ball from a Jackson South Side player before he can get a shot off during play last week in Murfreesboro. - Shari Wandell-Bryant
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Clinton’s Jeremiah Blauvelt puts up a trey as a Jackson South Side defender rushes him in the early going of last Wednesday’s BlueCross Basketball Championships in Murfrees- boro. After being down seven at the half, the Dragons mounted a comeback that fell just short. - Shari Wandell-Bryant
The remarkable basketball of the Clinton Dragons ended last Wednesday in the opening round of the state tournament in Murfreesboro.
The Dragons fell to eventual state runners-up Jackson South Side by a score of 52-48.
“I thought the boys did everything they were supposed to,” said Chris Lockard, head coach of the Dragons. “We didn’t shoot it as well as we typically do. And you’ve got to credit South Side.”
Both teams started the game shooting the ball well, as the Hawks opened on a 6-2 run.
The shooting of Jackson Garner and Rishon Bright, who each scored five points in the quarter, brought the Dragons back. Garner, Jeremiah Blauvelt, and Lane Harrison each had a 3-pointer, but the Hawks were just as hot from the floor.
The game was tied at 16-16 at the end of the first quarter.
The game was one possession until late in the second quarter when South Side went on a 9-2 run to lead 31–24 at the half.
In the third quarter, the Hawks pushed the lead out to eight points at 39-31. But Clinton closed the quarter on an 8-2 run, which included a spectacular dunk from Harrison and a basket by Bright late in the quarter to cut the South Side lead to 41-39.
Garner scored to open the fourth quarter to tie the game at 41-41. Bright scored a few seconds later to give the Dragons their first and only lead of the game at 43-42. Later in the quarter, the Hawks went on an 8-2 run to take a 50-47 lead. Shots did not fall for Clinton late as South Side made just enough of its free throws to hang on for the win.
Two of the big factors in the game were foul calls and free-throw shooting.
The Dragons were whistled for 16 fouls, while 10 were called on the Hawks, who did not go into the bonus in either half. Neither team shot the ball well from the free-throw line. Clinton was just 2-7 and South Side was 9-22.
“It dumbfounds me how we were not in a one and one,” Lockard said. “Our guys were fighting like crazy. I felt like we outplayed them most of the ballgame.”
Garner led the Dragons with 16 points, while Harrison had 14 and Bright added 12.
Albany Collins of South Side led all scorers with 20 points.
With the loss, Clinton said goodbye to perhaps its most-talented senior class ever.
“An outstanding group of boys and I’m real proud of them,” Lockard said.
He also expressed his appreciation and gratitude for the large contingent of Clinton fans who showed up to support the Dragons at the Murphy Center for their state tournament game.
CHS 16 8 15 9 48
JSS 16 15 10 11 52
CHS - Jackson Garner (16), Lane Harrison (14), Rishon Bright (12), Trace Thackerson (3), Jeremiah Blauvelt (3)
JSS - Albany Collins (20), Jakarah Anderson (10), Reanna Kemp (7), Bria Harris (5), #25 (6), Sydnee Cole (3), #24 (1)