Trojans headed to Region 7-3A Championship for the first time in 21 years

 

Jason Peevyhouse

JP Productions Sports

Thanks to a stellar second half which saw the Trojans outscore Haywood 45-23, the Dyersburg boys will play for a region championship for the first time since 2004 after the black and gold’s 68-55 win over the Tomcats on Tuesday night in Newbern.

"I think our kids were extremely engaged from the tip," Dyersburg Head Coach Blaine Mahaffey said. "I thought we rebounded well all night. 

"And then, in the second half, when we were able to play a little bit better offensively, I think it showed up more."

Trailing by nine at the break, the Trojans cut it to eight early in the second half but a three-pointer from Haywood put the Tomcats back up 35-24 with just over seven minutes left in the frame. Dyersburg went on a tear after a Breyden Turnage bucket was followed by a layup from AJ Higgins. This opened up four-minute stretch which saw the Trojans outscore Haywood 19-3 and was capped by a Jeff Cobb three-point play and two free throws by Jace Ward to give Dyersburg a 43-38 lead with just over three minutes left. Haywood hit a pair of three-pointers to counter a Ward trifecta but the Tomcats regained the lead late to take a 47-46 lead into the fourth quarter.

Dyersburg’s defense held the Tomcats in check through much of the first half of the fourth quarter. Scoreless, in fact. A Higgins free throw opened the scoring for the Trojans in the final frame and was followed by a Turnage bucket opened a 7-0 run to start the frame. Haywood finally scored with 4:17 left in the frame but Dyersburg answered with a three-point play by Higgins Haywood answered briefly but the Trojan defense and the black and gold in general were not to be denied. A pair of Cobb free throws opened a 12-3 run to end the game as several late stops by the black and gold defense sealed the semifinal win.

Haywood jumped out by five early on but Dyersburg was able to answer the initial surge by the Tomcats. A pair of Jeff Cobb free throws were followed by a three-pointer by Breyden Turnage later in what turned into a 9-0 run by the Trojans to take a four-point lead with 4:28 left in the first quarter. The Tomcats battled back, ending the opening quarter with a 14-2 run frame and take a 19-11 lead after one quarter.

The Tomcat run extended into the second quarter as Haywood scored the first six points of the frame. The Trojans clawed their way back, getting an AJ Higgins free throw and a Jeff Cobb three-pointer to get on the board and break a six-minute dry spell. A Haywood three-pointer followed but Dyersburg answered with back-to-back Jace Ward buckets as the Trojans went on an 8-2 run to help cut the Haywood lead to 32-23 at the half.

"The kids competed in the first half," Mahaffey added. "We got a little goofy offensively but just very happy for them and very proud for them.

"They played their guts out. There's no gameplan for that. When kids play their guts out and play together, good things happen. "

All five Trojan starters scored in double figures, led by Ward with 21 points. Cobb had 16 while Higgins added 11. Both Turnage and Marcus Wharton tossed in 10 in the win for the Trojans.

The Trojans will take on the winner of Tuesday’s second semifinal game, Fayette Ware, in the Region 7-3A Championship on Thursday night at 7 p.m. in Newbern.

"We're going to enjoy this one," Mahaffey said of Tuesday's win. "We're going to try to get into the ice baths a little bit, tell some jokes tomorrow, go eat together then come watch our girls play."

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