Norris Senators fall short of state return
The Norris Senators’ 2024-25 basketball season came to a close on Monday night in the state sectionals. The Senators finished as runners-up in the state sectional tournament. Members of the 2024-25 team are: (in numeric order) 2-Cooper Downs, 3-Liam Childress, 4-Bentley Ellis, 10-Mason Douglas, 11-Mason Ellis, 12-Fisher Clark, 15-Riley Miller, 21-William Dorton, 22-Ty Page, 23-Eli Lindsey, 32-Connor Dabney, 34-Colton Lawson and 42-Brogan White. (photo:Dwane Wilder )
A win Monday night at Anderson County High School would have sent the Senators back to the Midstate for the Class AA Final Four later this week.
Instead, Norris came up short, falling 58-42 to Knoxville’s Vine Magnet Middle School.
The Senators got off to a fast start, holding the Golden Bears to just six first-quarter points while taking a 13-6 lead against the three-time defending Knox County Class AA regular-season and tournament champions.
Norris maintained a 20-19 advantage at halftime before Vine took control in the second half, outscoring the Senators 39-22 after the break.
By the end of the third quarter, the Golden Bears led 35-30 before pulling away in the final six minutes.
Norris’ Colton Lawson led all scorers with 25 points.
Vine countered with a balanced offensive attack, as three players scored in double figures.
Jamir Kimbrough paced the Golden Bears with 18 points, while William Dixson added 13 and Julius Young finished with 11.
Senators’
Tournament Run
Norris reached the sectional championship game with a 43-30 win over Maury on Saturday.
That game was originally scheduled for Thursday but was postponed due to a tornado warning.
In the sectional semifinals, Lawson scored 23 points to help Norris advance.
The Senators opened the tournament with two close wins, edging Chattanooga Prep 47-46 on Feb. 5 and defeating Chuckey-Doak 41-40 on Feb. 1.
All-Tournament
Three Senators earned all-tournament honors: Lawson, Riley Miller and Bentley Ellis were named to the postseason squad.
