Highlanders hold off Mavs
Reese Russell rises for a short jumper during the Mavericks’ opening-round game of the District 4-AAA tournament against Scott. (photo:Ellie Hatmaker )
The Mavericks (13-14), the tournament’s No. 2 seed, dropped a 66-65 decision to Scott in the semifinals on their home floor.
Anderson County trailed by as many as 11 points midway through the third quarter. The Mavericks clawed back, trimming the Highlanders’ lead to 50-46 by the end of the period and setting up a dramatic finish.
The Mavs grabbed a 65-64 advantage when Justin Bunch scored with 1 minute remaining. Scott answered on its next possession as Wyatt Lloyd knocked down what proved to be the game-winner for Scott with 45 seconds left.
ACHS had one final opportunity, but a short shot by Rocky Brown rolled around the rim before falling away as time expired.
“We did enough right to win, but we did enough wrong to lose, and I’m sure Scott would say the same thing,” Mavericks Coach Jordan Jeffers said. “Scott is a good basketball team and they’ve got a lot of seniors, and they’ve been waiting a long time for this.
“We battled our butts off to get back in it and have a chance to win,” he said. “I hate it for our kids. We have the district tournament at our school and we won’t be in the championship. Rocky missed a shot he usually makes, and we left a lot out there — a lot of points and a lot of rebounds.”
Lloyd led all scorers with 22 points for the Highlanders. Isaiah Washam and Landon Washam added 10 points each.
Cam Lawson paced the Mavericks with 16 points. Bunch scored 13, while Colton Lawson added 10. Brown finished with eight.
Anderson County has qualified for the upcoming Region 2-3A tournament and will open regional play on the road Saturday night.
The Mavericks faced Gibbs in the district’s third-place game Tuesday, but results were not available at press time.
