Dyersburg pulls away from Choctaws in fourth to secure three-peat

Jason Peevyhouse

JP Productions Sports

After taking a lead early on, the Trojans gradually built their advantage of the following three quarters to secure the team’s third straight District 13-3A Championship with a 73-51 win over Dyer County in the tournament title game on Thursday night in Newbern,

A back-and-forth opening quarter saw a pair of Devin Hayward free throws give the Choctaws a brief lead before Dyersburg went on a 5-5 run capped by a Jace Ward bucket to take an 8-6 lead. Both teams swapped buckets through the rest of the half as the Trojans took a 12-9 lead following a late AJ Higgins bucket.

A bucket from Jamin Gauldin and a three-pointer from Clay Dodds put Dyer County up two points early in the second quarter. Dyersburg answered with a jumper and a three-pointer by Treyvon Smiles to spark an 8-0 run capped by a three-point play by Jace Ward. Dyer County bounced back with a bucket from Ryker Hayes and a three-point play by Tristen Seabourn to cut the Dyersburg lead to 20-19. But, in a déjà vu moment from the teams’ first meeting, Breyden Turnage hit a pair of three-points which help the Trojans to a ten-point lead after a Ward three-pointer. Dyer County got the last word though, getting a layup and a three-pointer by Gauldin cut the Dyersburg lead to 34-26 at the half.

Dyersburg pushed its lead to ten early in the third quarter before Dyer County battled back with buckets from Hayes and Hayward as well as a Gauldin free throw to cut the Trojan lead in half. Dyersburg answered with a Turnage bucket and two free throws by Jeff Cobb to push the advantage back to 40-31. Again the Choctaws responded and again it was with Hayward and Hayes leading the way with buckets to cut into the lead. Dyersburg then outscored the Choctaws 11-4 before a late Hayes layup trimmed the Trojan lead to 51-41 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Trojans put the game out of reach in the final frame, getting an Isaiah Thomas bucket to open a strong quarter which saw the Trojans outscore Dyer County 22-10 to secure the team’s third straight district title.

Ward paced Dyersburg with 22 points and Turnage was right behind him with 20. Cobb added 12 in the win for the Trojans.

Gauldin led Dyer County with 21 points while Hayes added 14 in the loss.

Dyersburg will host Bolton on Friday night in the Region 7-3A Quarterfinals while Dyer County will play host to Bolivar Central. Tipoff for both games is set for 7 p.m.