They’ll be sanctioned by the TSSAA next year, but the Kingsport Tribe lacrosse team is already making waves.
Having won three of their four conference games, the Tribe had already clinched a spot in the Tennessee Scholastic Lacrosse Association playoffs. They’ll just have to travel, after Hardin Valley rallied for a 10-9 win at the Tribe Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon.
And it’s not like the sport is simply a hobby for these high schoolers from Dobyns-Bennett and West Ridge. All five seniors from this year’s squad will play lacrosse at the collegiate level.
Three of them will aide Emory & Henry as the Wasps bring back their lacrosse program — Collin Shell, Gabe Carter and Caleb Mims. Seth Smith is bound for Tennessee Wesleyan, and Brodey Belle for Coker.
“Kind of excited about (helping Emory & Henry get lacrosse going again) because I’m used to doing it,” said Shell, who joined the Kingsport Knights to begin his lacrosse journey in fourth grade. “(E&H) was actually a pretty prominent program back in the day. Then they lost lacrosse, but now they’re getting it back again. So it’s new and old at the same time.”
JUST SHORT
On three different occasions in the second half, Kingsport built a two-goal lead. Shell made it 8-6 with 10:27 remaining, but the Hawks answered less than 10 seconds later, beginning a string of four consecutive goals in a stretch of 3:50. Trever Kelley scored his fourth goal, and Kaden Cutcher’s second score made it 10-8 Hawks at the 6:28 mark.
Alex Goodwin converted his second goal with 3:37 remaining to make it a one-score contest. But Hardin Valley held firm from there.
Zane Huff completed a hat trick for the Tribe, as his third goal but Kingsport ahead 7-5 in the third quarter.
“That game could’ve really fallen either way at any time,” Kingsport coach Chris Belle said. “I felt like my defense did a good job holding on even when they were a man down (temporarily due to a penalty). But we knew we were still in the playoffs no matter what.”
Carter, Ricky Garcia and Carter Van Horn all scored for the Tribe.
FROM THE GROUND UP
Most of the current roster, including Goodwin, joined Kingsport’s lacrosse program before a high school team even existed. Chris Belle, who’s coached the squad for eight years, said this season marked the high school program’s fifth campaign after the younger players aged out.
Goodwin, a junior, indicated he’s been in talks with multiple college lacrosse programs. He and his classmates will be seniors for Dobyns-Bennett’s first TSSAA sanctioned team next season.
“We just want to do the sport right, just keep doing what we’re doing and keep pushing ahead,” Goodwin said. “Since we brought it up from the ground, it means a lot just seeing what we dreamed we could accomplish.”
As for coach Belle, coaching Brodey has allowed him father-son time he wouldn’t have otherwise had — even though Chris admitted he wasn’t sure about playing both the dad and coach roles together at first.
“I know my wife is laughing at me right now. She says I’ve got empty nest syndrome already and he’s not even left for college yet,” the coach said. “But I’m excited for next year, excited to see what he does in the future.
“I don’t know (if playing as a sanctioned school team) will be an extreme difference. For the guys already here, it’ll be business as usual … it’s unbelievable how fast (lacrosse) is growing nationally.”
UP NEXT
D-B heads to Nolensville for the TSLA playoffs on Saturday.
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