T.A. Dugger ladies blast Robinson in home finale

By Ivan Sanders
STAR CORRESPONDENT

   It is highly unlikely that Sitting Bull would have had an answer for the Lady Redskins on how to stop the Jr. Lady Cyclones on Thursday night at T.A. Dugger Jr. High.
   Behind a triple-double from post player Takisha Avery, T.A. Dugger blasted Ross N. Robinson from Kingsport 43-16 in the last regular season home game for the Jr. Cyclones.
   It was a special night for the Jr. Cyclones, as they honored the memory of a very special teacher, friend, and coach at T.A. Dugger -- Harold Ellis.
   "These girls have dedicated their season in honor of Coach Ellis," stated head coach David Hilton. "I was happy that this night turned out the way it did with the victory."
   The game was really never in jeopardy of slipping away from the Cyclones, as T.A. Dugger took an early 11-4 lead after one period on the inside play of Avery with four points.
   Alicia Sells tried her best to keep the Lady Redskins in the contest, netting all four of Ross N. Robinson's points in the quarter.
   Coach Hilton's squad turned the heat up in the second, as full-court pressure forced the Lady Redskins into numerous turnovers.
   Meanwhile, Avery was quietly going about business, scoring five more points to tally nine for the half. Megan Johnson contributed five points, while Lara Bowman and Ryann Musick each recorded two for the Jr. Lady Cyclones in the half.
   Once again, Sells added the only two points in the second period for RNR, as T.A. Dugger entered the locker room up 20-6 at the break.
   "I believe we are really beginning to peak at the right time," stated Hilton. " These girls are playing extremely well right now."
   The third period belonged to the Lady Redskins, who outscored the home team 8-7 with Sells picking up six more for Coach Doug Wagner's squad.
   Cameron Crapps tallied three points on a long-range trey to pace the Jr. Cyclones in the quarter. Edin Treadway and Johnson picked up the other four points on a bucket each.
   The first three quarters might have belonged to Avery, but the fourth quarter belonged to Katie Hubbard of the Jr. Cyclones.
   Hubbard was hotter than an oven-cooked, Stoney's Pizza calzone, blistering the nets for nine points in the period on four of five field goals, including a trey.
   The Cyclones outscored the Redskins 16-2 in the final period. Megg Dennison recorded the only bucket in the quarter for RNR.
   Avery finished the evening with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 block shots for T.A. Dugger. Hubbard's nine, Treadway's six, and Johnson's five paced the Lady Jr. Cyclones behind Avery.
   Sells ended the evening with 12 of the Lady Redskins 16 points. Laura Eanes and Dennison collected the other two buckets for RNR.
   The Jr. Lady Cyclones finish out the regular season on Tuesday at Unicoi Co. and begin tournament play the last week of January at Vance Jr. High. They are currently 12-3 overall and 9-2 in conference play.
   "I feel very good about our chances in the conference tournament because I feel we are really coming together as a team, commented Coach Hilton. " These girls are really supportive of one another and they are playing as a unit."
   Vance is leading the conference with an unblemished mark over two years, so the Lady Vikings will have the number one seed heading into the tourney. Hilton feels good about the odds.
   "I think we have a shot because we improved during the head-to-head season meetings with Vance, being defeated by 22 early and then the last meeting by only six," Hilton said. "Science Hill cannot be overlooked either."
  
Seventh Grade Girls
   Ross N. Robinson-------22
   T.A. Dugger------------37

   Coach Doug Fritz saw his seventh-grade team run their regular season mark to 11-0 in the conference and 14-1 overall thanks to another stellar night from Victoria Hopson, who registered 19 points in leading the seventh graders to the win.
   Hopson also collected seven steals and five rebounds to go along with her offensive output. Mikael Oliver played a defensive gem, with four steals, one rebound and a blocked shot for the Cyclones as well.
   Britney Smith and Courtney Towle added four points for T.A. Dugger, while four other Cyclones recorded a bucket.
   Christine Horton paced the Redskins with eight, and Danielle Zimmerman tallied six to lead RNR.
   The seventh-grade team enters tournament play on Jan. 28 at Robinson Middle School in Kingsport, as the conference number one seed. Game time is 6:30 p.m.