LCMS boys in State Tourney

The Lewis County Panthers Middle School boys’ basketball team travelled to Murfreesboro to take part in the James C. Haile State Tournament at Middle Tennessee Christian School on Thursday, January 29th. The Panthers faced the Winfree Bryant Middle Aviators from Lebanon.

The game began as a close, back and forth matchup as the teams matched baskets through the first quarter and Lewis County took a 9-8 edge behind 4 Dakota Hull points. The Panthers continued to build on their lead in the second quarter with Jalen Smith dropping 5 points in the quarter and the Panthers held a 24-21 lead at halftime. Jalen Smith led the Panthers in the third quarter as he contributed 8 in the period and Lewis County would pull out to a 36-28 lead as play moved into the final six minutes of regulation. But the Aviators would not go away, as they pushed the pace through aggressive defense and took the lead away late in the fourth on their way to a 48-44 win to end the Panthers season.

Jalen Smith led the Panthers in the loss with 16 points, Bo Banks added 8 points, Evan Mathis had 6, Drew Ray, Maddox Tanner, and Dakota Hull each had 4, and Kobe Feichtinger had 2.