Climax to Boys/Girls Club season

By Ivan Sanders
STAR CORRESPONDENT

   The Elizabethton-Carter County Boys and Girls Club was rocking Saturday as six teams were vying for championships in the finals of the 2002 basketball season.
   In the Boys 5-7 championship, the Baughman Mfg. Trail Blazers forced another game on Monday night against the Maze Emporium 76'ers as they took a hard fought 10-6 victory in the double-elimination tournament.
   Travis Lowe pumped in nine points and Alex Baughman contributed the final point to lead the Trail Blazers.
   For the 76'ers, Cory Richardson paced Maze Emporium with three points while teammate Cameron Blair added two and Jordan Hinshaw netted one.
   A rematch for the championship will be Monday at 7 p.m.
   The Blossman Gas Wizards put the final touches on a perfect 15-0 season by handing the Memorial Funeral Chapel Bulls a 31-18 setback in the Boys 8-9 championship.
   The Wizards used a tenacious defense to build a solid lead, then held off the Bulls in the second half.
   Ryan Thomas blistered the nets for 14 points while Drew Chambers powered in eight points to pace the Wizards. Tyler Nolan chipped in with four points, Dustin Edens added three points, and Zach Casey pitched in two for the victors.
   Austin Owens showed the way for the Bulls with 13 big points on the afternoon. Ethan McKinney finished off the scoring with five for Memorial Funeral Chapel.
   In the Girls 8-11 Championship, the Jazz called the Bulls hand to force a rematch Monday night at 6 p.m. by defeating the Bulls 16-10.
   Leslie and Kayla had six points each to pace the Jazz. Chelsie and Madison added 2 each to close out the scoring for their team.
   For the Bulls, Mindy tallied five points while Whitney and Megan swished the cotton for two each. Karlissa broke the scoring column with a free throw.
   The Jeff Reed Lakers took a 29-18 victory in the Boys 10-11 Championship over Dr. Laing and Green's Wizards. Zach Montgomery placed a hex on the Wizards by tallying 10 points on the day.
   Jake Davis contributed six points while Lance Reed, Kelly Roper, and Alex Chambers each collected four for the Lakers. Colin Blowers picked up the final point for Coach Len Dugger's squad.
   Ryan Green led a balanced attack with six for the Wizards. Derek Mann was close behind Green with four points and Bruce Perry laid in three points.
   Joshua Sorah and Jordan Hodges closed out the scoring for the Wizards with two each, and J.T. Lyons connected from the foul line for one point.
   Happy Valley gave all they had in the Boys 12-13 championship, but found that Citizens Bank was ready to collect on the crown by defeating the Warriors 37-28.
   Guinn and Osborne led Happy Valley with 10 apiece. Foltz, Garland, Schaller and Stewart all collected a bucket each.
   Tyler Andes netted 11 to lead the Lakers to a banner 12-2 year. Mark Ward tickled the twine for seven points while Josh Sneed and Drew LaPorte added five.
   Derrick Vines found the shooters touch with four on the afternoon. Joey Little wasn't about to be shut out so he collected three points and Daniel Morris put the exclamation on the victory with two.
   Coach Phil Jackson would have been proud of the performance the Ritchie's Inc. Bulls put on in the Boys 14-16 contest as they stampeded the Toppers with a 22-point victory, 62-40.
   Brandon "Express Train" Garland rang up 17 points and Andy "Brahma Bull" Slagle added 16 to pace the Bulls.
   Post Joseph Vines used his mammoth size to bully in 14 with the other big man Roy Simpson picking up six. Gavin Dugger netted five and Jody Presnell added four for the champs.
   The Toppers were led in scoring by Taylor with a game-high 19 points while Beington ripped the twine for 14. Webster picked up five points and Marion closed the scoring with two points.
   There were standing room only crowds all day and local radio coverage provided for the rousing finish. John Malone was an outstanding host and every team played their hearts out.
   What a way to close out basketball action in 2002.