JEFF CLAIMS FIRST CLASSIC TITLE
Defensive minded Jefferson County held Oak Ridge to five first half points while taking a big lead, then weathered a furious second half rally by the Wildcats before escaping with a 43-34 victory.
It was the first title for Jefferson County in several trips to Greeneville to participate in the Classic, including last year, when they finished runnerup to Oak Ridge.
The Patriots led 19-5 at halftime, but everybody in the gym knew the Wildcats would make a run, and they certainly did. They closed to within 24-19 by the close of the third by applying some of their own defense. When Khamari Mitchell-Steen hit a layup halfway through the final period, Oak Ridge had grabbed a 30-29 lead.
But that advantage was short-lived as Jeff recovered quickly, getting solid play from Alexa Gramann, Madee Denton and Kali McMahan down the stretch to pull back ahead and then stayed there.
Tournament most valuable player Makayla Alvey led with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while McMahan scored 10.
Khamari Mitchell-Steen, the tournament’s defensive MVP, scored 20 while Bri Dunbar scored 10, but that accounted for 30 of Oak Ridge’s total of 34 points.
JEFFERSON (43): Gramann 2-2 4-4 8, Makayla Alvey 2-12 8-10 12, Smith 1-5 0-0 3, Kali McMahan 4-6 2-2 10, Denton 1-5 5-6 7, Scales 0-3 0-0 0, Alvey 0-0 0-0 0, Johnston 1-1 1-3 3. TOTALS: 11-34 20-25 43.
OAK RIDGE (34): Khamari Mitchell-Steen 7-17 5-6 20, Clark 0-1 0-0 0, Bri Dunbar 4-17 2-4 10, Eckles 0-5 0-0 0, Holt 1-1 0-0 2, Steade 1-1 0-0 0, Hearon 0-1 0-0 0, Pettus 0-1 0-0 0. TOTALS: 13-44 7-10 34.
Score by quarters:
Jefferson County 13 6 5 19—43
Oak Ridge 2 3 14 15—34
ALL TOURNEY
Madison Hayes, East Hamilton; Lauren Bailey, Greeneville; Jabrea Johnson, Dobyns-Bennett; Zuriyah Davis, Lanier (Ga.); Reagan Hurst, Upperman; Jacelyn Stone, Meigs County; Casey Coleman, Rockcastle Co. (Ky.); Lazaria Spearman, Dacula (Ga.); Aleea Crites, Parkersburg (W. Va.); Cazia Nelson, Archer (Ga.); Brooke Anderson, North Greene; Kiley Collins, South Greene; Cayla Smith, Jefferson Co; Bri Dunbar, Oak Ridge; Alexa Gramann, Jefferson Co.; Defensive MVP, Khamari Mitchell-Steen, Oak Ridge; MVP; Makayla Alvey, Jefferson Co.
