Hampton girls, University High boys cruise into District 1-1A semis

ELIZABETHTON — Hannah Smith, fresh off joining Hampton's 1,000-point club, helped extend her senior season with the Lady Bulldogs at least one more week. Once Hampton seized control in the opening seconds, the fourth-seeded Lady Bulldogs never relinquished it, advancing to Friday's District 1-1A semifinal round with Thursday's 65-31 victory over No. 5 University High at Bayless Gymnasium. "They earned the right to play three more games, and they've got the opportunity to choose where they want to play it, go on the road or get another game at the 'dog house,'" Hampton coach Dewayne Humphrey said. Smith added 23 points to her career total Thursday night, shooting 9-of-13 from the floor (4-of-5 from 3-point range). Hannah Baird had a double-double with 18 points on 6-of-15 shooting, while grabbing 10 steals for the Lady Bulldogs (11-16). Payton Ramey tossed in eight points, and Lexie Potter seven along with a team-high seven rebounds. Less than 10 seconds after the opening tip, Baird had already knocked down her first of four 3-pointers, and she banked in a short jumper for a 5-0 lead 34 seconds in. Smith followed up her 3-pointer with an and-one, making it 11-0 at the 6:10 mark. By the end of the first quarter, Smith (14) and Baird (12) were already in double figures, and Hampton led 35-6. Baileigh Matthews hit a layup after two more 3s by Smith, giving the Lady Bulldogs a 51-15 halftime cushion. "We've talked all season about understanding the process, and how we want to be playing good basketball at the end of the season," Humphrey said. "They're a tough bunch." The only true concern for Hampton came in the second quarter, when Gracie Jenkins left with an ankle injury. Humphrey said he didn't know the extent but did indicate there was a sprain, rather than a break. Maggie Ryder scored 14 points to lead coach Bud Hazelwood's Lady Buccaneers. Emma Linkous scored eight of University High's 15 points in the first half, finishing with 13. BOYS University High 61, Cloudland 28 The Buccaneers, locked in a do-or-die matchup with Cloudland, used a 23-1 run in the fourth quarter to finally pull away and advance to Saturday's District 1-1A semifinal round. Coincidentally, or perhaps not, University High's two best quarters came when Janson West made at least one field goal — those being the first and fourth quarters. West recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Buccaneers (3-22), who led 23-9 after one quarter before Cloudland fought to stay close. "He's huge for us," University High coach Steve Hardin said. "We got kind of complacent (after the first quarter), but we did a much better job kind of figuring it out." Cloudland got within 28-20 in the third quarter. But fast-break layups by Ty Templin and Mason Francis, the latter resulting in an and-one, allowed the Bucs to lead 38-25 entering the fourth. Cloudland closed the gap to 38-27 before University High closed the game out. Francis joined West in double figures with 11 points. Brayden Penley and Templin both hit two 3-pointers and finished with eight points. Knox Poston hit two 3s and scored all seven of his points in the first quarter, before UH took a 28-17 lead to the locker room. "Mason Francis played really well for us," Hardin said. "He's a senior who's started since he's been a sophomore, but he'd been a role player. He was the only upperclassman who'd played any minutes coming into the year." Braydon Hughes and Gavyn Shell both scored six points for the Highlanders. Uriah Jarrett and Devin Balado had five apiece. UP NEXT The Hampton girls face Unaka in Friday's semifinals, before University High takes on Hampton in the boys semifinals Saturday.