Lady Senators building momentum Team enters break wth two-game winning streak
When Derek Wallace took over the Norris Middle School girls basketball program, he knew he was stepping into a rebuilding project.
The 2024-25 season has been a rollercoaster ride, filled with its share of ups and downs.
But the Lady Senators (4-8 overall, 2-3 conference) showed signs of improvement as they entered the Christmas break riding a two-game winning streak.
Norris capped off the pre-Christmas portion of its schedule with a dominant 32-13 district victory over LaFollette on Thursday. Earlier in the week, the Lady Senators edged Powell’s First Baptist Academy 29-26 on Monday, Dec. 16.
The accomplishment was the first for Wallace in his inaugural season as the team’s head coach.
“This is the first time we’ve had a two-game winning streak this year,” Wallace said.
“We’re fourth out of six teams in our conference, and I thought that was about where we would be.
“We’re 4-8 and 2-3 in the conference,” he said. “The girls are starting to figure me out, and I’m starting to figure them out.”
Game Highlights
Against LaFollette, Addison Willoughby led all scorers with 14 points. Addie Blevins added four points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Kaitelyn Cofer and Kaylee Matchette also scored four points each, while Kimbree Rains, Leah Nichols, and Evie Chambers each chipped in two points.
In Monday’s win over the Lady Eagles, Blevins tallied 12 points and eight rebounds despite dealing with early foul trouble. Willoughby contributed six points, while Nichols and Cofer each added two points.
Lisa Sickau rounded out the scoring with one point.
Looking Ahead
The Lady Senators will return to action Friday in the opening round of the Anderson County Middle School Christmas Tournament. They’ll face the Holston Lady Hurricanes, a team from the Knox County Middle School Basketball Conference.
Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Anderson County High School.
“Our next game is against Holston in the tournament, and I think we’ve got a chance,” Wallace said.
“That will be good for us. We need the experience of playing in a tournament.”
