Strong Seymour team is playing the waiting game
By Steve Williams
March Madness hasn’t arrived yet, but February Fever has, particularly on the middle school basketball scene.
Seymour got off to winning start in AAA Sectional play last Wednesday, eliminating Hardin Valley 50-37 in a physical battle at Clinton Middle.
Now the Eagles are playing the waiting game. They got their semifinal game in Thursday with a win over Greeneville before tornado warnings postponed the Bearden versus East Hamilton semifinal match later that night.
Bearden was rescheduled to play East Hamilton Saturday afternoon, with the winner advancing to the AAA Sectional finals tonight (Feb. 10) at 7 at Clinton Middle.
It’s been worth the wait for Seymour, knowing it is one win away from the AAA state tourney’s Final Four.
The Eagles showed what type of team they had in their quarterfinal win over Hardin Valley last week – tough and strong.
“Just being strong, playing strong through it,” said Coach Dave Leist, pointing out the key to the win over the Hawks. “It was a battle out there. Anybody that watched that game man knows it was a fight and two teams fighting. You have to give Hardin Valley a lot of credit. They battled and fought tooth and nail.
“It kind of went back and forth,” added Leist. “But so many times things happen where maybe it didn’t go our way or we didn’t get a foul called or we kind of got hammered and no call, which happened on both ends.
“But our guys didn’t quit. They kept going in. They kept attacking and kept doing the things we talked about.
“I know our guard (KiKi Bohanan) was looking a little injured, but he didn’t stop though. He kept attacking.”
Ethan Roper led Seymour with 18 points, including 12 in the second half. Luke Carr contributed 10 points, firing in two 3-pointers and sinking 2 of 2 free throws. Bohanan chipped in six, Bryson Comer five and Peyton Davis four.
Abe Derenski and Ayden Perry each scored nine points to lead Hardin Valley. Tyson Butcher added eight and Winston Barnes six.
The Hawks were whistled for 15 team fouls and the Eagles 10. HV made 5 of 11 free throws and Seymour 4 of 10.
