By: Lee Ramsey
lee@seymourherald.com
What happens when two outstanding unbeaten basketball teams go head to head?  One team is going to lose and unfortunately it was the Seymour Lady Eagles as they came up short against the Lady Patriots of Jefferson County by a score of 55 – 53.
The larger school appeared dominant as the game went along and Seymour fought back brilliantly.
It was not a happy homecoming for Seymour Coach Brandi Stallings.  She is a graduate of Jefferson county High School where she was a star basketball player.  The loss wasn’t what she was looking for as she returned to her old high school for the first time as a head coach.
Coach Stallings had nothing to be ashamed of however.
The game was really close until early in the fourth quarter, when the Lady Patriots widened their lead enough that they could hold on at the end.
The game was somewhat controversial as 73 free throws were shot and both teams were in foul trouble.
Technicals were called on both coaches as frustration was evident.  The refs seemed to be as quick to call technical fouls as they were to call fouls.
 “I’m very proud of the girls and effort they put forth,” said Stallings. “They never gave up.”
Once again the Lady Eagles were led by senior Shaelyn Brown with 18 points.  She was followed by junior Brittany Seagle with 8 points, sophomore Kasie Norman with 6, Ashley McCarter and Jordan Ballard with 5 each and Hannah Moore and Kelsey Davis with 4 each, Lexi Justis 2 points and Erin Fine with 1.
 “We gave good effort. It’s a long season,” Stallings said. “Hopefully, we’ll have a better outcome at home.  We just couldn’t get the easy shots to go down.
“We dug ourselves in a hole when we went seven down in the fourth quarter.”
The Jefferson County loss was a district game which is another level compared to non-district games.  The competition will be tougher as the Lady Eagles get into the district part of their schedule.
Before the Jefferson County game, the Lady Eagles had reeled off seven straight wins including a win over Cosby 44-36 the game before.
They had a very successful tournament at Grainger.  The final game was an absolute rout as the Lady Eagles dominated 60-18 over Berean Christian.  Shaelyn Brown and Jordan Ballard were selected to the All-Tournament team.
Next up for the Lady Eagles is Morristown West at home followed by Cocke County away.

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