OT thriller: W-Valley slips past FMS girls in Knox title game
KNOXVILLE — Having the biggest post player by a few inches, an especially athletic power forward and a pesky guard that led all scorers in points, West Valley Middle School seemed to match up well against Devan McIntyre’s Farragut Middle School Lady Ads in the Knox County tourney title game Wednesday, Jan. 26.
But FMS proved scrappy, especially late in the fourth quarter, overcoming a four-point deficit with 2:32 to play in regulation to force overtime — and were one missed three-pointer at the buzzer from being Knox tourney champions.
But the Lady Wolves, Class AAA’s No. 2 seed, slipped past the top-seeded Lady Ads 51-43 in overtime to claim the county championship at South-Doyle Middle School.
“They pushed us to the end,” WVMS head coach Josh Ballard said about Farragut.
Guard Logan Connatser led West Valley (18-2) in scoring with a game-high 20, while post Katie Foster scored 15, as the Lady Wolves avenged a regular season loss to FMS.
The Lady Admirals (16-6) had three girls finish in double figures scoring, led by post Gracie King’s 11, followed by 10 each from wings Reagan Sheridan and Audrey Rust.
About her team, which ended its season in Sectional tourney play with a loss Saturday, Jan. 29, “McIntyre said, “I’m really proud how far they’ve come. They’ve overcome a lot of adversity this season. It’s obvious they really love this game.”
they play with so much emotion and passion.”
