Cherokee teams come up short at AAA sectional

The 2012-13 season came to a close Saturday afternoon for the Cherokee Yellow Jackets and Lady Jackets as both squads dropped opening round games in the TMSAA Class AAA East Tennessee Sectional Tournament being played at Sevierville Middle School.

The Lady Jackets were knocked off by Robinson, 48-27, while Cherokee’s boys suffered a 42-33 defeat at the hands of T.A Dugger.

Girls Game

The Lady Jackets stayed within striking distance for a half, but couldn’t muster enough offense in the second half as Robinson picked up the 21-point victory.

Robinson jumped out to an 18-6 lead after one period of play, but Cherokee won the second period, 13-12, to pull within 30-19 at halftime.

Piper Nunley led the Lady Jackets with six points in the first half while Meredith Garrett and Abby Wilson added four each.

Cherokee, however, couldn’t hold on to the momentum in the second half. 

Robinson outscored Cherokee 11-3 in the third period to take a 41-22 lead into the final period of play, and then Robinson cruised down the stretch for the 21-point victory.

Nunley and Rachael Baggett led Cherokee on the afternoon with six points each.

Cherokee (27) Baggett 6, K. Wilson 2, Garrett 4, A. Wilson 4, Gaines 2, Manfredi 3, Nunley 6.

Boys Game

The Yellow Jackets stayed close for three quarters, but the Cyclones pulled away down the stretch for a 42-33 victory.

Cherokee led early as a Jake Reynolds three-pointer allowed the Jackets to take a 7-6 lead after one period of play.

The second period, however, would see T.A. Dugger hitting a pair of triples in the frame in taking a 16-14 lead at halftime.

John Walden led Cherokee in the first half with seven points while Reynolds added five.

The third quarter was also low scoring, but the Cyclones managed to add two points to their lead as T.A. Dugger led 23-19 with six minutes left to play.

The fourth quarter would feature a lot more offense. Cherokee, however, couldn’t take advantage of scoring 14 points as T.A. Dugger hit nine free throws in the period to help pull out the nine-point victory.

Walden (15 points) and Reynolds (12 points) led Cherokee on the night.

 Cherokee (33) Reynolds 12, C. Hardin 2, Spellman 2, R. Hardin 2, Walden 15.