HIGH SCHOOL TEAM PAGES DOBYNS-BENNETT

Tribe Blasts Boone, Rolls into District 1-AAA Finals

Tribe Blasts Boone, Rolls into District 1-AAA Finals
Abiah Releford (20) collies with a Boone defender on a drive to the basket. TriCitiesSports.com photo by Allen Greene. More photos below and inside the TriCitiesSports.com photo gallery.
by STEVE WILMOTH
TriCitiesSports.com
February 16, 2019

GRAY, Tenn. -- Scoring the game’s first 20 points in just under five minutes, Dobyns-Bennett ripped host Daniel Boone, 77-47, in the District 1-AAA semifinals Saturday evening at Bobby Snyder Gymnasium.

With the win, the Tribe earns a spot in Tuesday’s championship contest against Science Hill and also secures a Region 1-AAA quarterfinal home game next Saturday night against either Morristown West or South-Doyle.

The victory was the 27th of the season for the Indians and coupled with last year’s 29 wins, represents the most in a two-year span since coach Steve Shipley’s teams won a combined 66 in 1991-92 and 1992-93.

The top-seeded Tribe put on an absolute basketball clinic in those first five minutes. 


The Indians hit lay-ups, mid-range jumpers and a pair of three-pointers in the spurt and were equally as sharp, physical, intense and focused on the defensive end.

“If you want to get where you want to go, you have to make sure you are playing well and focused this time of the year,” said Dobyns-Bennett coach Chris Poore. “I was pleased with our focus today.”

Poore, in fact, has been pleased with his team’s focus since the regular season ended a week ago.

“It didn’t start when we got here today, it started the entire week,” added Poore. We practiced for a week straight against each other and it was just as sharp, physical and intense.”

Dobyns-Bennett led 25-6 at the end of the first quarter and held the same differential at halftime, 45-26. Any thoughts of a second-half rally by the ‘Blazers were squashed in the third period as the Tribe outscored Boone, 17-4, to expand the lead to 62-30.

Marae Foreman led the Indians with a game-high 20 points while also coming down with seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. Many of his dished four 6-7 junior Charlie Browder who scored 15 points to go with ten rebounds and three blocks.

“I thought we were very unselfish,” added Poore. “We would drive and draw guys over and throw it up to Charlie and there’s really no match for him for Boone.”

Riamello Wadsworth knocked down a season-high three three-pointers to finish with 19 points. The senior also hauled down five boards, came up with two steals and dished out a pair of assists.

Brit Thomas chipped with with seven points while Abiah Releford and Braxton Kulbacki tossed in six each. Jared Strickland’s six rebounds helped the Tribe to a hefty 43-21 edge on the glass.

The ‘Blazers (12-13) were coming off a first-round win over Cherokee that saw the ‘Blazers pile up 86 points and produce three 20-point scorers in Judah Hilton (21), Chad Heglar (20) and Marshall Golden (20).

But against the Tribe stingy defense, Boone barely managed half its total against the Chiefs and Hilton, Heglar and Golden combined to score eight points.

In three games against the Tribe, the high-scoring Heglar just 11 points total while mostly defended by Wadsworth. Boone’s starters, yanked during the Tribe’s initial burst, totaled just 15 points on the night.

“Mello has done a phenomenal job on Heglar. He’s really struggled against us,” noted Poore. “Our other guys have done equally as good. I watched Boone play Cherokee and Golden had a really good night, but Brit (Thomas) did a really good job against him.”

Chase Jenkins was also key defensively despite playing on an ankle rolled during one of this week’s training sessions. The senior also dished out three assists.

“Chase is a tough kid and you are not going to keep a senior competitor like him out of the game this time of year,” smiled Poore.

Jared Atkins came off the bench to give life to the stalemated Boone offense with 15 points, two steals and two assists. Cade Norris and Zac Saul both finished with six points each.

Boone will start Tuesday’s action in a consolation contest against Tennessee High and will have to hit the road to either Morristown East or Sevier County in the first round of the region tournament.

DANIEL BOONE (47) -- Derek Percell 0 0-0 0, Chad Heglar 1 1-2 3, Judah Hilton 1 0-0 2, Marshall Golden 1 1-1 3, Zac Saul 2 1-1 6, Cade Norris 3 0-0 6, Chase McGonigle 0 0-0 0, Jared Atkins 6 2-2 15, Crowder Jones 0 0-0 0, Robbie Storen 2 0-0 4, Ayden Begley 1 0-0 3, Colby Bachus 1 0-0 2, Logan Rivers 0 0-0 0, Caleb Head 1 1-1 3, Totals 19 6-7 47.

DOBYNS-BENNETT (77) -- Marae Foreman 6 6-6 20, Chase Jenkins 0 0-0 0, Brit Thomas 3 0-0 7, Riamello Wadsworth 6 4-4 19, Charlie Browder 4 7-8 15, Zane Whitson 1 0-0 2, Abiah Releford 2 1-4 6, Jared Strickland 1 0-2 2, Jaden Alderson 0 0-0 0, Braxton Kulbacki 2 2-2 6, Jahson Dennis 0 0-0 0, Brody Potter 0 0-0 0, Garet Sherer 0 0-0 0, Totals 25 20-26 77.
 
Daniel Boone
6
20
4
17
-- 47
Dobyns-Bennett
25
20
17
15
-- 77
 
Three-Pointers - Daniel Boone 3 (Saul, Atkins, Begley), Dobyns-Bennett 7 (Wadsworth 3, Foreman 2, Thomas, Releford). Rebounds - Daniel Boone 21 (Heglar 5, Bachus 5), Dobyns-Bennett 43 (Browder 10, Foreman 7, Strickland 5, Wadsworth 5). Assists - Daniel Boone 6 (Atkins 2), Dobyns-Bennett 16 (Foreman 5, Jenkins 3). Steals - Daniel Boone 7 (Atkins 2), Dobyns-Bennett 6 (Foreman 2, Wadsworth 2). Blocks - Daniel Boone 1, Dobyns-Bennett 6 (Browder 3, Thomas 2). Turnovers - Daniel Boone 10, Dobyns-Bennett 18. Total Fouls - Daniel Boone 17, Dobyns-Bennett 12. Technical Fouls - Foreman. Fouled Out - Strickland.
 
 
 

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