The Herald-News - News Story

The Spring City Middle School Bulldogs made quick work of their first-round opponents in the Southeast Tennessee Athletic Conference/Sequatchie Valley Conference region tournament.

The Bulldogs proved they were the alpha males in the first half of Monday's game with Chilhowee Middle School, taking a 31-10 lead into the locker room.

The Bullpups got their chance in the second half as SCMS Head Coach Cara Reed subbed out her starters almost immediately in the third quarter. The bench held its own against
Chilhowee's starters, who played the whole game despite trailing by as many as 22 points in the fourth quarter.

The Bobcats came back in the final minutes to make their loss by a more respectable 43-31 margin.

Spring City saw considerable minutes from second stringers Lee Hill, Jake Loden, Miller Bailey, Gage Barger, Tyler Pendleton and Drew Gunter, but Macay Hedrick still dominated the stat line with 12 points and five steals.

Dylan Pritchett added 11 points followed by Taylor Jenkins with 10 points and two blocked shots.

Seventh grader David Loden reeled in 12 boards to add to the effort.

The top-seeded Bulldogs will take on the winner of the Rhea Central Elementary, Ocoee Middle game on Thursday night at 8:15 p.m. All games are being played at Rhea Central Elementary School.

The Lady Bulldogs engaged in a much closer contest with the Chattanooga Christian School Lady Chargers, but still won by a final margin of 42-28.

CCS had several posts who controlled the boards for most of the game and recorded a number of steals.

Spring City's peristant press and depth of ball handlers helped secure the win, however, along with a combined eight blocked shots from Julie Brown, Kaite Loden and Tyra McClendon.

The hometown girls led 21-14 at the half and 32-23 after three quarters.

Traveling calls plagued the Lady Chargers, who had a number of unforced turnovers at the end of the game.

Spring City drained 14 of 18 free throws on the night and were led in scoring by Brown and Loden with 12 points apiece.

Hannah Dye followed with 10 points and led the team with five rebounds.

The Lady Bulldogs will face the winner of hte Rhea Central, Ocoee game on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Cathy Barnes can be contacted at cathy.barnes@rheaheraldnews.com.