By Michael Lindsay
The District 5-2A boys tournament championship trophy is Jamestown bound as the York Institute Dragons defeated rival Jackson County in Tuesday’s championship game at Monterey, 46-38.
“It feels awesome; this is a great win for us,” said York head coach Rodney Pile. “It seems like every year we’re playing the same team three or four times per year. It was a tough game for us and we had to play extremely well. Jackson County has a really solid basketball team.”
York Institute (21-10) and Jackson County (19-8) split their regular season meetings, setting up Tuesday’s rubber match with a district championship on the line.
Senior Dragon guard Blaine York was named tournament MVP for his efforts in Saturday’s semifinal win over Sequatchie County and Tuesday’s title game victory.
“Blaine’s our only senior and he’s had a really good season,” Pile said. “Tonight, when he got the MVP, that was wonderful. It’s very deserved.”
Jackson Conatser led York Institute with 12 points, followed by Blaine York and Myles Leffew with 11 each.
Jackson County’s Jordan Arroyo led the Blue Devils with 15 points along with 10 by Kendrick Brown.
York Institute held a narrow 10-7 lead following a back-and-forth first quarter.
The Dragons took control in the second period as they outscored Jackson County 14-6 in the frame to take a 24-13 halftime lead. YAI hit 3 three-pointers in the period.
York maintained their double-digit lead midway through the third quarter before Jackson County dialed in late in the frame. An Alex Meadows three-pointer and Kendrick Brown layup cut York’s lead to 31-27 with less than a minute left in the third quarter.
A Myles Leffew stopped the bleeding for York with 30 seconds left in the third period put the Dragons up 34-27 entering the fourth quarter.
Jackson County quickly cut York Institute’s lead to one possession (36-33) via baskets from with 5:38 remaining via baskets from Hayden Stacy and Brown.
“It’s one possession at a time,” Pile said. “I thought we rushed a few shots and let them back in it. We’ve got to learn to take better care of the ball.”
York Institute’s Heath Wattenbarger answered with a layup on the ensuing possession to push his team’s lead out to 5 points (38-33) with 5:14 left.
After trading baskets, York Institute held a 40-35 lead with 1:08 remaining. Following a defensive stop Dragon freshman forward Will Beaty, who started Tuesday in the absence of Bryson Bilbrey, knocked down two free throws with 45.7 seconds left to put his team up 3 possessions at 42-35.
“It’s been a pleasant surprise watching Will develop this year,” Pile said. “Tonight, he grew up a lot. He’s doing a fantastic job and this was a high-pressure game.”
Jackson County was able to cut their deficit to 4 points with 30 seconds left but would ultimately get no closer as York Institute closed out to win by a 46-38 final score.
York’s district championship win over Jackson County avenges last year’s upset loss to the Blue Devils in the same game.
Along with Blaine York being named MVP, York Institute’s Will Beaty, Heath Wattenbarger, Myles Leffew and Jackson Conatser were named all-tournament. Jackson County’s Jordan Arroyo, Kendrick Brown and Hayden Stacy were also named all-tournament.
Up next for both teams is the Region 3-2A tournament quarterfinals on Saturday. York Institute will host Cannon County while Jackson County will host Smith County.
York Institute (46): Jackson Conatser 12, Blaine York 11, Myles Leffew 11, Will Beaty 8, Heath Wattenbarger 4
Jackson County (38): Jordan Arroyo 15, Kendrick Brown 10, Hayden Stacy 7, Alex Meadows 6
