FINAL FOUR BOUND: Smith County Advances To State Semifinals With 61-60 Win Over Lewis County

Smith County vs Lewis County

State Tournament coverage presented by Risher Roofing

Story by Noah McKay

MURFREESBORO – The Smith County Owls advanced to the semifinal round of the Class 2A state tournament in a 61-60 win over Lewis County on Wednesday at the Murphy Center.

The Owls, who advanced to the four for the first time in program history, survived a big comeback attempt late by the Panthers with the help of 20 points by Cooper Williams.

“We played really, really well in the first half and shot the three ball really well,” said SCHS head coach Layne Bussell.

Early on the Owls seemed at home in the Murphy Center as they closed the opening frame on an 11-0 run to take a 20-10 lead.

The run continued early in the second with threes by Tyler Jones and Morgan Sinclair. The Panthers answered with an and-one with 2:22 to play in the first half, and neither team scored the rest of the way with the Owls leading 33-22 at halftime.

Five Williams points to open the third quarter spaced the lead back to 38-22, the Owls largest, before the Panthers answered with four threes in the third quarter to cut the SCHS lead to 38-47 after three.

The LCHS comeback continued in the fourth, as Dakota Hull hit two straight layups to cut the Owl lead to 57-56. Out of a full timeout by Bussell, Williams hit a layup and a free throw and Jones added another as the Owls secured the 61-57 win.

“We kind of melted a little bit there under pressure,” said Bussell. “Take care of the ball. Make the easy play. Make them go foul. Make your free throws. Win the game. That’s what we talk about every end-of-game situation.”

Williams tallied 20 points with six assists. Sinclair scored 17 points while Jones added 13 points and seven assists. Lucas Cornwell scored four points with 10 rebounds. Taylor Willmore scored four points with five rebounds. Cohen Rigsby scored three points for the Owls.

Smith County will face the winner of Gatlinburg-Pittman and Westview in the state semifinals. A win would put them in the state championship game for the first time in school history. Tipoff is set for 11 a.m. Friday at the Murphy Center.

“These guys don’t show a whole lot of nerves,” said Bussell. “They just do what we do. Not being flashy and just doing the simple plays, making the right plays, playing as a team and being unselfish. That’s what they believe in. They’ve bought into the culture here and I’m super proud to be an owl and be their coach.”