DISTRICT 7-1A CHAMPIONS: Jackson County Overcomes 13-Point Deficit To Defeat Pickett County In Overtime, 59-56

By Michael Lindsay

One of the most anticipated district championship games in Tennessee needed overtime to decide a winner on Tuesday as the #2-seeded Jackson County Blue Devils (25-5) defeated #1 seed Pickett County (27-4) 59-56 in the District 7-1A title matchup.

The TSWA Class 1A #2-ranked Bobcats swept the regular season series against the #3 Blue Devils, but Jackson County avenged the losses with the district tournament championship on the line.

Jackson County’s Alex Meadows was named tournament MVP with a 23-point performance in the championship game. Will McCrary tacked on 14 points followed by 13 from Parker Patterson. Brody Pryor and Nathaniel Cobb scored 17 points each to lead Pickett County.

The Bobcats jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the first quarter before Jackson County answered with a 9-0 run to end the period with a, 11-7 lead. Pickett County flipped the script in the second quarter as they opened the quarter on a 17-4 run to lead 28-15 with 2:29 remaining in the first half. Jackson County battled back to single digits by halftime as they entered the locker room trailing 28-23.

Pickett County pushed their lead back to double digits (39-29) with 3:09 remaining in the third quarter, but Jackson County again closed out the quarter strong to pull within one possession (40-37) entering the fourth quarter.

The Bobcats didn’t relinquish their lead until a pair of Meadows free throws with 47 seconds left in regulation tied the game at 47-47. Neither team found the bottom of the net through the rest of regulation, sending the game to overtime knotted at 47-47.

Jackson County reclaimed their first lead since the second quarter as an Isaiah Thomas steal led to an Aden Netherton layup to open overtime. The Blue Devils led by 4 points (57-53) until a Pryor basket with 7.6 seconds left brought the game within one possession at 57-55. The Bobcats forced a 5-second call and drew a foul on the following possessions, but made only one of two free throws to preserve Jackson County’s lead at 57-56.

Netherton gave the Blue Devils some insurance via a pair of made free throws with 5.6 seconds remaining. The Bobcats had the final possession, but didn’t get a shot attempt off in time as Jackson County held on to win by a 59-56 final score in overtime.

Both teams advance to the Region 4-1A tournament quarterfinals on Saturday at 7 p.m. in their respective home gyms. Jackson County will host Trousdale County while Pickett County will host Merrol Hyde.