LCMS Panthers advance to Area Championship

The Lewis County Middle School Panthers basketball team hosted the E.O Coffman Panthers in the semi-final round of the 2021 TMSAA Southern Area Tournament on Thursday, January 28, 2021.

This was the third meeting between Lewis County and Coffman on the season, and the second in a week.

The first quarter was a back-and-forth battle between the #1 seeded Panthers and the #3 seed Coffman, as each team put 10 on the board in the quarter, and the Panthers' Drew Ray hit 2 big 3-point baskets to fuel the period.

The Panthers opened up a lead in the second quarter as Steele Moseley knocked down a pair of threes and the Panthers took a 23-18 lead in at the half.

Both teams struggled offensively in the third quarter as Lewis County could only come up with 5 in the period, but they limited Coffman to 3 free throws and held a 28-21 edge heading into the fourth quarter.

The Panthers pulled away late in the fourth as Cade Lomax had 10, including 8 for 8 at the free throw line to seal the 44-29 win and send the Panthers to the Area Championship game on Saturday, January 30.

Cade Lomax had the high tally with 16 for the night, Steele Moseley added 11, Sam Moore 7, Drew Ray 6, and Dakota Hull had 4.

Quint Smith and Weston Brewer each had 8 for Coffman, Braxton Hardy had 6, Logan Clayton 5, and Jakiyah Englett 2.

Championship Game

The Panthers played the Summertown Eagles in the 2021 TMSAA Southern Area Championship game. This was the third meeting between the two teams on the year.

The Eagles set the tone early in the game, limiting the Panthers opportunities on offense while building a 10-4 first quarter lead.

The Panthers clawed back in the second quarter, outscoring the Eagles 12-9 in the period to move to within 3 at the half with a score of 19-16.

After the break, it was Lewis County that came out of the locker room and seized the momentum on the Eagles home court as Dakota Hull hit 2 three-point baskets and the Panthers took their first lead and built on it until time expired in the third with Lewis County leading 31-26. This set up an exciting fourth quarter.

In the fourth, Summertown chipped away the entire period, limiting Lewis County to 3 points in the period, and taking the lead with under 20 seconds to play. The Panthers missed opportunities late and put the Eagles at the line with under five seconds to play. The free throw fell off the rim no good, and Cade Lomax moved the ball to half court and his buzzer-beating three fell just short, and the Panthers fell in the Championship game 36-34.

Sam Moore led the Panthers with 12, Steele Moseley had 10, Dakota Hull had 6, Drew Ray 4, and Cade Lomax 2.

Cole Campbell and Kurt Burleson each had 14 for the Eagles, Braylon Perkins 6, and Jackson Bennett 2.

Steele Moseley was the lone Panther on the All-Tournament team, and the Panthers finished second in the southern area and qualified for Sectionals. The first round of the TMSAA AA Sectionals began on Monday, February 1st in Waverly. The Panthers faced the #3 seed from the northern area, the Waverly Tigers, on Monday night.