Dyersburg moves into tie for first in 13-3A boys race

 

Jason Peevyhouse

Editor, JP Productions Sports

On a day when the District 13-3A boys schedule saw some unexpected results, Dyersburg was able to capitalize on them as the Trojans earned a split in the season series with South Gibson, handing the Hornets a 55-49 loss in the Terry Glover Gymnasium on Saturday night.

After trailing by five at the end of the first frame, Dyersburg’s defense stepped up in the second stanza. The Trojans held the Hornets to just eight points in the final eight minutes of the first half. In the meanwhile, a pair of three-pointers and a free throw by Jace Ward led the way for the black and gold as Dyersburg rattled off 19 points in the second quarter to take a 30-24 lead at the break.

Though the Hornets were able to get more of their offense going in the third quarter, Dyersburg was able to match South Gibson point-for-point through the frame. A three-pointer and a jumper by Jayce Ellerbrook helped Dyersburg take a 41-35 lead into the final frame.

A big fourth quarter by Jace Ward with seven points as well as Ellerbrook repeating his third-quarter performance helped Dyersburg again answer each point the Hornets scored in the final frame to seal the six-point win.

Ward led the way for Dyersburg with 19 points while Ellerbrook added 10 in the win.

The win answers South Gibson’s victory on the Hornets’ homecourt earlier this season and creates a tie at the top of the boys’ standings in the district with both Dyersburg and South Gibson heading into the final game of the regular season with 7-2 records. These will be the top two seeds in the district thanks in large part to Haywood, who was previously winless in district action, defeating Obion County Central on Saturday.

South Gibson girls 64, Dyersburg 50

South Gibson ended Dyersburg’s two-year reign atop the district regular season a 14-point win to clinch the district title for the first time since joining 13-3A before the 2023-24 season.

Through a back-and-forth opening frame, the Lady Hornets answered two Kay Kay Strayhorn three-pointers with a couple quick runs to take a 16-14 lead after one quarter.

South Gibson extended its lead early in the second quarter, opening the frame with a 9-2 run to go up eight points with 2:46 left in the half. A three-pointer by Lady Trojan K’Laya Currie ended the scoring spree but it was answered by a three-point play by Jade Reed. Dyersburg got back-to-back buckets from TSAA Class 3A Miss Basketball Finalist Chelby Jordan to cut the lead in half before a late Reed bucket put South Gibson up 30-24 heading into the half.

A Strayhorn three-pointer 39 seconds into the second half cut the South Gibson lead to three points. The Lady Hornets answered, outscoring the Lady Trojans 10-5 over the next three minutes to build their lead back to eight. Dyersburg got two more three-pointers by Strayhorn but both were answered, keeping the black and gold to cutting it to a one-possession game. South Gibson took a 48-40 lead into the final frame.

South Gibson was able to build its lead to double figures early in the fourth quarter on the way to the win.

Strayhorn hit seven three-pointers as part of a 23-point night to lead Dyersburg while Jordan scored 19 in the loss.

Dyersburg returns to action on Monday when the Lady Trojans and Trojans travel to Alamo to play Crockett County in the regular-season finale at 6 p.m.

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