RED DEVILS BURN WEST LIMESTONE

A fantastic game in the opening round of the varsity boys county tournament sent the Red Devils to the next round. The Athens News Courier ran a great article on the game, Jan 28. If you want a hard copy, you can pick one up in Athens until next Wednesday.
 

An inspired Elkmont squad raced out to a 16-point lead, fended off a furious comeback attempt and advanced to the semifinals of the Limestone County tournament with a thrilling 46-43 win Tuesday night against defending Class 4A champion West Limestone.
Elkmont plays Tanner at 7:45 p.m. Friday at tournament host Clements High School. 

The Red Devils are appearing in the county semifinals for the first time since 2010, the last season in which they finished with a winning record.

“We had worked this week on coming out fast and playing with energy, plus our legs were fresh. We wanted to come out and push, and really set the tone,” said first-year Elkmont coach Dennis Black, who highlighted the leadership of his eight seniors. “All of our young men contributed, from the energy from the guys on our bench to all the players who were on the floor. I’m really proud of our overall team effort.”

Despite trailing 20-4 midway through the second quarter, West Limestone whittled the lead to a five-point deficit entering the final period. The Wildcats went on an 11-6 run bookended by a Matt Bozeman trey and Bozeman’s layup off a steal, tying the game for the first time at 39-all with two minutes remaining.



Elkmont responded with perhaps its best possession of the night, milking 33 seconds off the clock and using precise ball movement to find an open shot. Sophomore guard Chance Bailey simultaneously set a screen and slipped a pass to the right corner, where senior Eli Hobbs dropped in a rainbow 3-pointer for a 42-39 lead.

West could get no closer than two points during the final 1:15 and trailed by three in the frenzied closing seconds. The Wildcats’ Alex Casteel heaved a dead-on desperation shot taken near the scorer’s table, but it bounced harmlessly off the rim to send Elkmont fans and players into a joyous celebration.

“We’ve been talking all year long about competing and playing as hard as you can, regardless of the score or our opponent,” Black said. “I’m an Alabama fan, but I love what Clemson (football) coach Dabo Swinney says: ‘Bring your own guts.’ For us, we have to play hard on every play, and we can’t give in on any offensive or defensive set.”

Bailey paced Elkmont with 11 points, including five during the Red Devils’ game-opening 13-0 run, and Ryan Jobman added 10. Senior point guard Jordan Nelson, who helped provide smothering defensive pressure from start to finish, and Nathan Teeples each notched six points, while Hobbs and Colby Holt added five apiece.

  
Pictures by Dean Baucom

Article Link: Athens News Courier  

TEAM	FIRST	SECOND	THIRD	FOURTH
Elkmont	17	22	33	46
West	02	12	30	43

Free Throws: 
Rogers           06/12 -  50% 
Elkmont         09/17 -  56%

Elkmont Scoring:

Jordan Nelson       6 points

*2's-3; 3's-0; FT 0/2 (00%);   Fouls 1

Chance Bailey      11 points
*2's-2; 3's-2; FT 1/1  (00%);  Fouls 1

Brady Garris          3 points       

*2's-1; 3's-0; FT 1/2  (50%);  Fouls 5

Eli Hobbs               5 points
*2's-0; 3's-1; FT 2/6  (33%);  Fouls 1

Ryan Jobman        10 points
*2's-2; 3's-1; FT 2/2 (100%); Fouls 0

Colby Holt              5 points
*2's-1; 3's-0; FT 3/4  (75%);  Fouls 1

Nathan Teeples     6 points
*2's-2; 3's-0; FT 2/2 (100%); Fouls 1

Noah Sharp          0 points

*2's-0; 3's-0; FT 0/0  (00%); Fouls 0

Patrick Jobman     0 points
*2's-0; 3's-0; FT 0/0  (00%); Fouls 1