Final Four FMS pair
No. 3-seeded boys stayed perfect
The post-game emphasis was “making the Final Four,” as the unbeaten Farragut Middle School boys basketball team rolled into the Knox County Middle School Girls Basketball Tournament “Final Four” this week following a decisive quarterfinal tourney home win.
The Admirals, a No. 3 seed despite having a perfect record, improved to 8-0 thanks to a 58-36 tourney victory against No. 6-seed Cedar Bluff in Bobby Henry Gymnasium Saturday afternoon, Jan. 16.
“Here at Farragut, we want to make going to the Final Four the standard,” Lynn Allen, FMS first-year head coach, said. “… The Lord has blessed us, we’ve got so many great kids.”
The Ads played at No. 2 seed Bearden Tuesday, Nov. 19 (after press deadline).
Tuesday’s winners play in the championship game at South-Doyle Middle School beginning at 8 p.m., tonight (Thursday, Jan. 21). The losers played in a consolation game Wednesday, Jan. 20 (after deadline) to determine the third team going to the middle school state tournament.
The Admirals were led by Parker Lane’s 19 points, followed by Dominic Vanacker with 16, Brodie Roberts seven, Kent Carbaugh six, Landon Collins four and two points each for Banks Duncan, Trey Slagle and Daniel Lanning.
While praising CBMS and head coach John Hicks, Allen said his team “got out to an early lead, then we got frustrated a little bit with some of the calls,” as the Admirals led 20-2 after one quarter and 33-15 at halftime. “But we maintained and played hard.”
But the Giants held FMS scoreless for roughly four minutes in the fourth quarter while cutting the lead to 50-34.
“Our guys never stopped fighting,” said Hicks, whose team finishes the season with an 8-4 record. “… We were down two starters today, and another guy who is a big contributor.
“But I was proud of them today.”
Bryson Frey led CBMS in scoring with 17. Isaiah Ratliff added 11 points.
