Blue Devils advance in TMSAA tourney

  Two Roane County teams traveled to Pigeon Forge Wednesday evening for the TMSAA Class AA East Tennessee Sectional quarterfinals, but only one survived the evening and advanced to the tournament’s semifinals.

Goose Lindsay

Harriman’s Isaiah McClain sprints in for two of his 23 points against Rush Strong.

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Harriman’s boys was the team that kept their season alive, as Allen Hickman’s squad put together a dominant performance in knocking off Rush Strong, 51-32.

Rockwood’s girls weren’t as fortunate as the Lady Tigers couldn’t get shots to fall in a 30-21 loss to New Center.

Rockwood vs. New Center

Some nights shots just don’t fall and that was the case for Rockwood Wednesday evening in their season-ending 30-21 loss.

New Center never trailed Wednesday as they scored the game’s first six points before holding an 8-4 lead after one period of play.

Lexie Hill scored all four of Rockwood’s points in the opening quarter.

The second quarter was low scoring as Rockwood pulled to within 10-8, before the Lady Rockets hit a late three-pointer to take a 13-8 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Karley Bowling scored three of Rockwood’s four points in the second quarter.

The Lady Rockets hit two more three-pointers in the third period as they took a 21-13 lead into the final period of play.

Rockwood, however, would not go away quietly. Behind four points from Hill, three from Olivia Metcalfe and one from Zoie Hill, the Lady Tigers went on an 8-2 run in a span of 1:37 to pull within 23-21 with 3:35 left to play.

But a comeback wasn’t meant to be as Rockwood didn’t score again while New Center salted the game away by hitting five free throws in the final 1:46 of play.

Lexie Hill led Rockwood on the evening with 10 points, eight rebounds and two steals.

Rockwood (21) Bowling 5, Evans 2, L. Hill 10, Z. Hill 1, Metcalfe 3.

Harriman vs. Rush Strong

It took the Blue Devils a few minutes to get started, but once their tournament jitters dissipated, Harriman pretty much had their way in picking up a 51-32 victory.

Harriman trailed 7-4 early in Wednesday’s contest, but once Blue Devil point guard Isaiah found the range, it was all blue and white. McClain sparked a period-ending 12-0 run with a pair of three-pointers to give Harriman a 16-7 lead after six minutes of play.

McClain buried another three-pointer to start the second period, but the Blue Devils couldn’t deliver an early knockout as Rush Strong settled in, trailing 23-12 at halftime.

McClain had a huge first half for Harriman with 15 points.

Behind six points from John Johnson, Harriman’s lead grew to 33-18 midway through the third period, but the Blue Devils still couldn’t deliver the knockout.

Rush Strong scored the final three points of the third period and first three points of the final period to pull within 33-24.

But that’s when Harriman finally delivered the run that would finish off the Plainsmen. Johnson buried a three-pointer and then came up with a quick steal and lay-up to make the score 38-24. McClain later added six points as Harriman went on to the 19-point victory.

McClain led all scorers on the night with 23 points while Johnson added 13 points, six rebounds, four assists and eight steals. Jo Jo Luna chipped in seven steals and six assists while Hunter Clark had seven rebounds.

Harriman had 20 steals as a team.

The Blue Devils will face Northview Friday night in the tournament’s semifinals.

Harriman (51) Johnson 13, McClain 23, Clark 4, Phipps 2, Duncan 2, Luna 4, Jenkins 3.