Young Lady Lions win Dyersburg tournament

DYERSBURG - While many middle school teams utilized the Christmas break for relaxation, teams participating in the Dyersburg Middle School Christmas Tournament, including a few from Jackson and Madison County, remained focused on competition. 

The eight participating teams - Dyersburg, Community Montessori, Jackson Careers & Technology, North Parkway, Trenton, Bradford, Trinity Christian, and Northview - showcased their skills. 

TCA kicked off the tournament with a 39-18 win over crosstown rival North Parkway. Jenna Faith Warren and Hatley Vinson paced the Lady Lions with 12 points each, with Sophie Hatch scoring six points, Abby Porter adding four points, Chandler Graves notching three points, and Ellie Vance securing two points.

In the semifinals, TCA faced the Bradford Lady Red Devils and, despite trailing 30-25 in the fourth quarter, rallied to secure a 34-32 victory. TCA's aggressive full-court press applied pressure on Bradford during the game's critical final minutes, facilitating the comeback win. 

Warren topped all players with 18 points, followed by Porter with seven, Vinson with five, and Hatch with four. 

Advancing to the championship game, TCA set their sights on the undefeated host team, the Dyersburg Lady Trojans, whom they would need to defeat to capture the trophy.

In the championship game, Dyersburg started strong, securing an early advantage and heading into halftime with a 19-14 lead. 

TCA Coach Jenny Pritchett implemented adjustments at halftime, aiming to slow down the Lady Trojans. Trailing 23-20 early in the fourth quarter, Hatch made a crucial jumper in the lane, reducing the deficit to one point. Shortly after, a steal and lay-up by Porter gave TCA its first lead of the game, 24-23. Key free throws down the stretch by Warren, Porter, and Hatch sealed the win and secured the title for TCA, 35-29. 

Porter achieved a team-high 16 points, while Warren and Hatch contributed eight points each, and Vinson added two points. Farrah Carson delivered a strong defensive performance throughout the tournament, supporting the team's title win. Pritchett’s halftime adjustments proved pivotal, as TCA outscored the Lady Trojans by 11 points in the second half. 

Hatch, Carson, Porter and Warren (MVP) earned All-Tournament Team selections. This marks the third championship of the season for the TCA Lady Lions, who now hold a 17-2 record. 

The Lady Lions will conclude the regular season with matches against USJ and JCS before competing in the James C. Haile State Tournament.