MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAMS FALL SHORT IN CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Middle School Lady Devils led West Limestone 17- 16 at halftime but they weren't able to hold on for the win.  

The Lady Wildcats were able to pull ahead in the fourth quarter and took the Limestone County Championship, 36-30.  

Congrats to the Red Devils on a great season.  They came up short, losing to West Limestone, 30-25.

FAN COMMENTS:
I'm so proud of all the Elkmont middle school boys and girls basketball teams!!! You came up a little short in the end, but you all worked hard and and had an awesome season! 

Down Home Portraits

Also, a huge thanks to all the cheerleaders for showing up and giving all your support all season!!!

Photos by Dean Baucom
Middle School Girls Link
Middle School Boys Link

WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN..

For the second straight year, Elkmont found itself in the Limestone County Tournament semifinals Thursday and for the second straight season, the Red Devils nearly knocked off top-seeded Tanner.

However, as they have all season, the third-ranked Rattlers found a way to win, 41-30, and advance to the championship game.

The final score was indicative of the closeness of the game, especially in the first half. Elkmont executed its game plan to perfection, slowing the game to a crawl in a first quarter in which the team's combined for seven points.

After three quarters, Tanner led 22-15, but Elkmont was able to pull within four with just over two minutes to play. That's when Tanner's J.J. Johnson and Torey Smith took over. Johnson made 7 of 8 free-throw attempts while Smith scored all 10 of his points. 

Tanner's leading scorer, C.J. Yarbrough was held to eight points.  Chance Bailey accounted for more than than half his team's points, scoring a game-high 18.

Athens New Courier 

TEAM	FIRST	SECOND	THIRD	FOURTH
Elkmont	04	07	15	30
Tanner	02	14	22	41

ELKMONT SCORING:

Chance Bailey - 18 point
2's-2, 3's-4;  FT 2/2 (100%); Fouls 3

Davis Hobbs - 1 points 
2's-0, 3's-0;  FT 1/2 (50%); Fouls 4

 
Hunter Pitman - 0 points

2's-0, 3's-0;  FT 0/0 (0%); Fouls 1

Patrick Jobman - 2 points 
2's-1, 3's-0;  FT 0/3 (0%); Fouls 4 

 

Brady Garris - 5 points

2's-2, 3's-0;  FT 1/2 (50%); Fouls 0 

Noah Sharp - 4 point
2's-1, 3's-0;  FT 2/6 (33%); Fouls 2

Free Throws: 
Elkmont   6/15  (40%) 
Tanner   13/17  (76%)

Total Fouls:

Elkmont    14

Tanner      16

The county tournament for Elkmont is over but the Red Devils have a few more games before the Area 15 tournament begins the week of February 6. 

Photos by Dean Baucom

MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS SWEEP THEIR WAY TO FINALS

Last night, the second seeded Middle School Red Devils beat East Limestone in the semi-finals of the Limestone County Tournament, 44-31.

Elkmont will match up with the West Limestone Wildcats as the two top seeds duke it out for the Middle School Championship this Saturday at 12:15.  Best of luck to our young Red Devils.

The Varsity Lady Devils played the East Limestone Lady Indians in their opening game of the County Tournament.  Elkmont lost to East, 53-30. 

 
The Varsity Red Devils will be playing Thursday, January 26 against the Tanner Rattlers at 8 pm. 

 *Photos by Dean Baucom

ATHENS NEWS COURIER - ELKMONT BEATS CLEMENTS

There is just something about playing in the Limestone County Tournament that brings the best out of Elkmont's boys basketball team.
For the second year in a row, the Red Devils won a first-round game as the lower seed to advance to the semifinals. This time, Elkmont beat Clements on a last-second shot Monday to win 45-42 at Jimmy Drake Gymnasium at East Limestone High School.

“We were able to grind it out and made a big play at the end to win the game,” said Elkmont head coach Dennis Black. “Our kids continued to play hard. Through high points and low points, they kept playing. We were fortunate to get a couple of plays to tie it up and then ran a little play at the end and Noah (Sharp) hit a big shot at the end to win it.”

Clements led for most of the first half and took a 25-20 lead into halftime. The Colts held onto their lead for most of the second half until Elkmont tied the score with just over a minute to play. Black called time out with 16 seconds remaining to draw up a play, which Clements defended well, but Elkmont kept possession after the ball went out of bounds off a Colts player with three seconds left on the clock.
Black gathered his team around the clipboard one more time, only this time it worked.

Brady Garris inbounded the ball to Davis Hobbs, who made a quick pass to Sharp behind the 3-point. Sharp's 3-pointer went through the basket as the buzzer sounded, sending Elkmont into the Limestone County Tournament semifinals.

“It was a hard-fought game. Clements played really hard, give them credit,” said Black. “The biggest thing is we kept playing. We didn't shoot as well from the line as we have in the past, but we were able to do enough to win and move on.”

Patrick Jobman led Elkmont with 15 points followed by Chance Bailey with 13. Austin Harvell scored a game-high 18 points for Clements while Parker Hand added 10.

Elkmont might have been the lower seeded team Monday, but don't call the victory an upset. It was the Red Devil's eighth win in their last nine games and second win over Clements in the last two weeks.

“I think it's preparation. I contribute it to the kids. They play together,” said Black. “Our guys have worked hard during the Christmas break and they get to this point in the season believing that good things will happen. They are a close-knit group. They believe they can win.”

With the win, Elkmont advances to the tournament semifinals for the second straight season under Black. Last year, they defeated by 4A defending state champions West Limestone as a No. 6 seed. In a tournament where every game is a rivalry, Elkmont seems to revel in its competitive spirit.

“This time of year, everyone in the county puts a lot of effort into getting ready for the Limestone County Tournament,” said Black. “For the middle school and JV, it's the biggest games of their season. For varsity, it's the biggest tournament before area. You are playing your friends and cousins. It's a big week for everyone.”

In last year's tournament, the Red Devils nearly pulled off back-to-back upsets to reach the championship game. They led Tanner late in the 2016 semifinals, but lost a close game.
“We carried a lead into the fourth quarter and couldn't finish,” said Black. “Maybe we can give them a run and finish this time.”

Elkmont and Tanner tip off at 8 p.m. Thursday at Jimmy Drake Gymnasium in the Limestone County Tournament semifinals.

Jonathan Deal

SHARP'S LAST SECOND SHOT STARTLES COLTS

photo by Dean Baucom

The Elkmont Red Devils caught the Clements Colts as their first round game in the Limestone County Basketball Tournament, January 23.  

photo by Dean Baucom

As the closing act of the night, it was a barn burning game that kept the crowd in their seats until the final buzzer.    

photo by Dean Baucom

The back and forth, hotly contested game was tied as the final seconds clicked off the clock.  

photo by Dean Baucom

It looked like this game was going into overtime. Clements' defense was on the outside shooters but Elkmont's Noah Sharp let one fly from the corner at the buzzer.

photo by Dean Baucom

The crowd watched....up, up, up, the ball arched toward the rim. Would it be enough?... Swish, it was all net.

photo by Dean Baucom

The crowd went wild as the Red Devils stunned the Colts for the win. Elkmont moves on to the next round against the top seeded Tanner Rattlers, January 26 at 8 pm.

	FIRST	SECOND	THIRD	FOURTH
ELKMONT	07	20	33	48
CLEMENTS	08	25	38	45

 

ELKMONT SCORING:

Chance Bailey      13 points

*2's-3, 3's-2;  FT 1/3 (00%); Fouls 3

Davis Hobbs          5 points

*2's-0, 3's-1;  FT 2/6 (00%); Fouls 1

Hunter Pitman       0 points

*2's-0, 3's-0;  FT 0/3 (00%); Fouls 2

Patrick Jobman    15 points

*2's-1, 3's-4;  FT 1/2 (50%); Fouls 4

Tiyler Walts           2 points

*2's-0, 3's-0;  FT 2/2 (100%); Fouls 0

Brady Garris          6 points

2's-3, 3's-0;  FT 0/4 (00%); Fouls 3 

Noah Sharp           7 points

2's-1, 3's-1;  FT 2/4 (50%); Fouls 3

 
Free Throws:

Elkmont:     8/24 (33%)

Clements:  14/25 (56%)

 

Total Fouls:

Elkmont:     16  
Clements:   18

LADY DEVILS UPSET NUMBER ONE SEED

Elkmont and East Limestone middle school girls teams have played hard fought, close games each time they have matched up this season.  Last night's game was no exception.  The fourth seeded Lady Devils matched up with the first seeded Lady Indians yesterday afternoon in the Limestone County Basketball tournament. Elkmont will be playing in the county championship Saturday at 11 am.
  

	FIRST	SECOND	THIRD	FOURTH
ELKMONT	09	17	17	26
EAST LIMESTONE	06	08	12	18

Free Throws:  
Elkmont                       02/04 -  50%
East Limestone            01/08 - 40%  

Total Fouls:
Elkmont                      12
East Limestone           12

 

Elkmont Scoring:  

Emeril Hand                        14 points  

*2's-4; 3's-2; FT 0/0  (00%);  Fouls 1

Paige Robinson                   05 points

*2's-2; 3's-0; FT 1/2  (50%); Fouls 3

Maggie Gant                        04 points  
*2's-2; 3's-0; FT 0/2 (00% ); Fouls 2

Brilee Miller                        02 points  
*2's-1; 3's-0; FT 0/0  (00%);  Fouls 1 

Morgan Morris                    01 points  

*2's-0; 3's-0; FT 1/2  (50%);  Fouls 4

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

Fan Comments:

*Elkmont beat East 26-18! Headed to the championship on Saturday!!!!🏀❤️

*I'm super proud of these girls and all the hard work they have put in this season. They have given 110% to Coach Duane Wales and it is paying off. Go Big Red!

MIDDLE SCHOOL LADY DEVILS BLOW BY CLEMENTS

The Lady Devils opened the Limestone County County Tournament with a bang.  The first quarter had a split personality.  The first four minutes saw the Elkmont and Clements struggling to find the rim with a 4-3 score.  Elkmont found their stride and were off to the races, putting together a 20-5 score at half.   They finished the Lady Colts off, 32-14, at the final buzzer.  The Lady Devils move on to the next round January 23 as they take on the number one seed, East Limestone.  

JV GIRLS

The East Limestone Lady Indians beat our Lady Devils, 38-26.

JV BOYS
The Red Devils couldn't pull off the win.  They lost to Ardmore.

LIMESTONE COUNTY BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT TIPOFF

Each year the county teams get together and play for the various county championships.  This year's braggin' rights are on the line.  If you are interested in catching a game or two, here is the schedule so you can make your favorite team's game.

The Elkmont Varsity Red Devils are on a winning streak, winning seven out of their last eight games.  They almost kept the run going last night but were a few points short of upsetting the West Limestone Wildcats.

ELKMONT'S WINNING STREAK BROKEN

The Elkmont Red Devils have been on a seven game winning streak.  They hoped to extend that to eight by upsetting the West Limestone Wildcats, January 20. 

The game stayed within reach until the waning seconds of the fourth quarter. West took the contest, 39-33.

The Red Devils are seeded fifth and will be playing the sixth seeded Clements Colts.  The game will be January 23 at 5 pm in the Limestone County Basketball Tournament.  The week long tournament is at East Limestone this year.

TEAM	FIRST	SECOND	THIRD	FOURTH
Elkmont	11	18	23	33
West	11	20	26	39

ELKMONT SCORING: 

Chance Bailey - 7 points

2's-1, 3's-0;  FT 5/6 (83%); Fouls 1

 

Davis Hobbs - 0 points 
2's-0, 3's-0;  FT 0/0 (00%); Fouls 2

 

Hunter Pitman - 2 points
2's-1, 3's-0;  FT 0/0 (00%); Fouls 2

 

Patrick Jobman - 6 points

2's-1, 3's-1;  FT 1/3 (33%); Fouls 1  

Tiyler Walts - 5 points

2's-1, 3's-1;  FT 0/0 (00%); Fouls 1

 

Brady Garris - 8 points

2's-1, 3's-2;  FT 0/2 (00%); Fouls 2 

 

Noah Sharp - 5 points

2's-1, 3's-1;  FT 0/0 (00%); Fouls 4

 

Free Throws:

Elkmont:  6/11 (55%)

West:        4/5 (80%)

 

Total Fouls:

Elkmont:  13

West:       13 

VARSITY GIRLS:
West Limestone 63, Elkmont 25

JV GIRLS:

ELKMONT 30, WEST LIMESTONE 27
 

JV BOYS:
West Limestone 33, Elkmont 26
 

Photos by Down Home Portraits: Game Link