Choctaws rally to take overtime win over Dyersburg

 

Jason Peevyhouse

Editor, JP Productions Sports

Trailing by five heading into the fourth quarter and by as much as eight with 98 seconds left in Tuesday’s District 13-AAA matchup in Newbern, Dyer County rallied in the final minutes of regulation against rival Dyersburg and forced an overtime frame which led to the Choctaws’ 76-72 win over the Trojans to earn a split in the regular season series.

Dyer County’s rally had its roots in the late third quarter as a three-point play from Ryker Hayes was a big part of a quick 4-0 run in the latter moments of the quarter to cut the Dyersburg lead to three points with 35 seconds left in the stanza. Dyersburg did get a big play to end the frame with a Tylen Thomas bucket to go up 49-44 heading into the fourth frame.

Dyersburg got an early bucket from Jace Ward which began a back-and-forth battle which saw the Trojans and Choctaws trade buckets through much of the first half of the fourth stanza. Dyer County was able to take some of the momentum briefly with three free throws by Devin Hayward to cut the Dyersburg lead to three points. The Trojans countered with a bucket from Demonte Johnson which was followed by a layup and a free throw by Ward to put the black and gold on top 61-53 with 1:38 left in regulation.

A bucket from Talon Messer ended the brief Dyer County scoring spree then four free throws by Pereon Isom countered a Ja’Kaydn Parr free throw to get it back to a one-possession game with 57 seconds left. A technical foul sent Ward to the line where he hit both free throws but the game’s scoring leader was taken off the court when Bo Dodds was able to draw a charge on Ward moments later for his fifth foul.

Dyer County, though, was still forced to foul but made the most of it. Dyersburg hit only three of six free throws over the final 38 seconds of regulation. In the meantime, the Choctaws got a three-pointer and a free throw from Clay Dodds. With time running down, Dyer County forced overtime with a Hayes layup with time running out to tie the game at 67-67.

The Choctaws got on the board first in the extra four minutes with buckets from Jayden Tyler and Clay Dodds to go up four points before Dyersburg answered with a Cam Rhines putback to cut the Dyer County lead to 71-69 with 1:41 left in the overtime. Clay Dodds answered with two free throws but Rhines came back with a three-point play to cut the Choctaw lead to one points with 35 seconds left. After a pair of Clay Dodds free throws pushed it to a three-point lead, Dyer County’s defense came up with a big stop before a free throw by Hayes to seal the overtime win.

Clay Dodds led the way for the Choctaws with 21 points while Isom tossed in 14. Hayward scored 13 in the win.

Ward scored 30 to lead the way for the Trojans while Rhines tossed in 15 in the loss.

Dyersburg girls 68, Dyer County 38

The Lady Trojans kept themselves in the race for the District 13-3A lead, handing the Lady Choctaws a 30-point loss in the opening game of the night.

While Dyersburg didn’t come out firing like the Lady Trojans did in the first game back in January, the black and gold defense held the Lady Choctaws to just one field goal in the first quarter. Meanwhile, the Lady Trojans got a three-pointer and a bucket each from Bri Parr and Aerie Quinn to take a 14-6 lead after one quarter.

The Lady Trojans padded their lead in the second frame as Chelby Jordan scored a dozen points while Kay Kay Strayhorn added five to help Dyersburg take a 38-17 lead into the half.

The Lady Choctaws nearly doubled their output in the third quarter as Julie Codgill and Molly Roberts led the way for Dyer County with five points each. But, Dyersburg was able to match them point-for-point thanks to five-point frames by Strayhorn and K’Laya Currie as well as four points from Jordan. The Lady Trojans took a 54-33 lead into the final frame.

From there, the Lady Trojans outscored Dyer County 14-8 over the final eight minutes to seal the win.

Jordan led Dyersburg with 18 points while Strayhorn tossed in 10.

Cogdill led Dyer County with 14 points with Ava Pearson scored 10.

Dyersburg returns to action on Thursday as the Trojans and Lady Trojans travel to Troy to take on Obion County Central. Dyer County heads back on the court on Thursday as well, traveling to Medina to face South Gibson. Both District 13-3A doubleheaders begin at 6 p.m.

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