Dyersburg Middle girls fall in state semifinals

 

Jason Peevyhouse

Editor, JP Productions Sports

The Dyersburg Middle School girls’ pursuit of a TMSAA Class AA State Championship ended on Friday night at Rockvale High School in Murfreesboro as the Lady Trojans rallied to lead late, but fell 30-28 to E.O. Coffman in the state tournament semifinals.

The Lady Trojans fell behind early in the first quarter as the Lady Panther defense held Dyersburg to just four points from Taj Jones to take an 11-4 lead after one quarter.

The Lady Panthers ran their lead to as much an 18-8 during the second quarter. Dyersburg’s offense awoke late in the half and finished the half strong as a 10-0 run was supported by six points from Desleign Strayhorn and a pair of three-pointers by Jones to tie the game at 18-18 at the half.

In a low-scoring third quarter, each team’s scoring was limited to one player as E.O. Coffman’s Emma Surrat outscored Strayhorn 7-4 to give the Lady Panthers a 25-22 lead heading into the final six minutes.

Dyersburg was able to hold the Lady Panthers scoreless through much of the final frame and open the last six minutes on a 6-0 run, capped by a Strayhorn bucket to give the Lady Trojans a 28-25 lead late in the game. But, E.O. Coffman ended the game on a 5-0 run as Maddie Byrd hit a last-second bucket to seal the two-point win and clinch in the state championship game.

Strayhorn led the way for Dyersburg with 14 points while Jones added a dozen. Katherine Rogers scored the other two points for the black and gold.

Dyersburg will take on Prescott South Middle on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Stewarts Creek Middle in the TMSAA Class AA State Consolation Game.

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