Lady Tigers win crown again

The Pigeon Forge Lady Tigers 6th Grade basketball team has captured the large school crown again for the second year in a row by defeating the Seymour Lady Eagles in the Sevier County Junior League Tournament Championship. The Lady Tigers remained in the winner’s bracket of the double elimination tournament. In the first round of the tournament, the Ladies met the Northview Cougars and handily defeated them by a score of 54-4. In the quarter final round the Lady Tigers breezed by the New Venter Rockets 35-12. The Lady Tigers met the Seymour Lady Eagles for the first time in the semi-final round. Setting up a rematch of the tournament finals from last season, the Lady Tigers handed the Lady Eagles their first loss in the tournament. At the end of the hard fought battle the Lady Tigers prevailed by a score of 40-26. Tiger post players Sarah Carr and Miranda Maples combined for 29 points while Kelsey Brooks tossed in 8 and Haley Doane added 3 more. Scoring for the Lady Eagles were Jodie Wood and Chaney Graham with 8 each, Samantha Gibbs 4, Hannah Moore 3, Kriestyn Baldridge 2 and Kayla Messer with 1. The Lady Eagles then had to win their way back to the Championship game against the impressive Lady Tigers. Jumping out to a half time lead of 18-5 the Lady Tigers had a victory in their eyes. Led by Kelsey Brooks with 14 points, Miranda Maples had 8 points, and 4 points each for Sarah Carr, Haley Doane and Olivia Frost. Also contributing to the game were Jessica Strickler with some key rebounds, Brittany Wood and Tabitha Mullins. With the final score of 34-18 these outstanding Lady Tigers never trailed the whole tournament. Seymour was led by Jodie Wood with 4 points and Chaney Graham with 3. Ashley McCarter, Courtney Erwin, Kayla Messer, Kriestyn Baldridge, Kerrigan Newport and Samantha Gibbs combined to pitch in 11 more points. Hannah Moore, Kelsey Cupp and Megan Gamble also contributed to the effort. The Lady Tigers , with a season record of 24-1, are led by long time coach Jim Carr and assisted by Ryan Huskey and Donnie Ball.