Trojans hold off surging Choctaws to get district win

 





Jason Peevyhouse

Editor, JP Productions Sports

With the renewed rivalry trending towards close and competitive games, the first edition of the 2025-26 Trojans-Choctaws tussle joined the group of thrillers between the two teams as Dyersburg recovered from losing a double-digit halftime lead to hold on for a 61-58 win over Dyer County on Friday night in the Terry Glover Gymnasium.


The Trojans took a 35-22 lead at the break but the Choctaws battled through a back-and-forth start to the second half to keep themselves in the game. A bucket from Tristen Seabourn opened a 9-3 run which cut the Dyersburg lead to six points. A bucket from Peyton Hill pushed the Trojan lead back to eight before a pair of free throws and a three-point play by Devin Hayward cut Dyersburg’s lead to 48-45 after three.

An early Dyer County bucket cut the Dyersburg lead to one then a Clay Dodds bucket with 6:41 left in the game tied it at 49-49. The Trojans responded with a Hill layup to start a run which Jace Ward capped with a three-pointer with 3:29 to go up 56-51. A Pereon Isom bucket cut the lead back to one possession before Cam Rhines answered with a three-pointer to push it back to six.

Dyer County stormed back with a three-pointer by Hayward and a Dodds bucket to trim the Dyersburg lead to a lone point. With Dyer County forced to foul, Demonte Johnson was sent to the line twice thanks to a missed opportunity by the Choctaws following his first 1-of-2 trips to the line. The second put Dyersburg on top 61-58 with about six seconds left in the game.


Dyer County was able to get across halfcourt before calling a timeout to set up a potential game-tying shot. The ball went to Bo Dodds as his shot just missed to give the Trojans the win.

Dyer County came out hot to start the game as a three-pointer from Tristen Seabourn as well as a three-point play by Grant West were the backbone for an 8-0 run by the Choctaws to start the game. But, after Clay Dodds capped the aforementioned run with a lauyup, Dyersburg took control. Two three-pointers from Jayce Ellerbrook as well as six points by Jace Ward helped build an 18-4 run by the Trojans. A late Dodds three-pointer cut the Dyersburg lead to 18-15 after one quarter.


The Trojans were able to push their lead to double-figures in the second quarter thanks to a trio of three-pointers by Ellerbrook (two) and Johson (one) to help the black and gold take a 35-22 lead at the half.

Ellerbrook led Dyersburg with 14 points while Ward added 13 in the win. Hayward led Dyer County with 18 while Seabourn added 17. Clay Dodds tossed in 11 in the loss.

Dyer County hosts South Gibson on Tuesday while Dyersburg hosts Obion County Central. Both nights of District 13-3A basketball begin at 6 p.m.

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