Heritage trey enough to hold off Seymour
By Will Estep | (sports@thedailytimes.com)
Heritage looked to be in control entering the fourth quarter against Seymour on Monday night with a comfortable 10-point lead. Then, the Lady Eagles revved up their offense to make things interesting.
Seymour tied the game up late in the fourth, but could never take the lead. Heritage’s Jordan Johnson brought the home crowd to its feet by hitting her fourth 3-pointer of the night with only 25 seconds left giving Heritage a three-point as the Lady Mountaineers went on to win 51-50 to remain undefeated on the season.
Heritage (3-0) held Seymour (2-1) to 26 points through the first three quarters before the Lady Eagles found some success with 24 points alone in the final stanza.
“They (Seymour) had to fight back,” Heritage coach Rick Howard said. “We just lost our concentration and focus a little bit. They did a good job. On their behalf, they made the plays when they had to.”
Seymour’s Kasey Norman spearheaded the Lady Eagles comeback and the senior tied the game for the first time since the first quarter with a 3-pointer to knot the score at 45-45. Seymour would never lead in the fourth, but made it interesting.
“I just wanted to tie it to get us back in the ballgame so we had a chance to win,” Norman said. “I had an open shot so I took it.”
Norman finished with a game-high 17 points and her teammates Mariah Flynn chipped in 13 and Victoria Nelson added 12.
“At halftime, I challenged the kids not to give up and try to correct the mistakes and come out with a little bit more energy,” Seymour coach Brandi Stallings said. “Coming from behind like that is nothing new for our kids.”
Jordan Johnson, who finished with a team-high 16 points, wasn’t the only Heritage player to keep her team from falling in the final stanza. Three times in the final minutes, Heritage sophomore Kassi Knight made a bucket that allowed Heritage to stay on top. Knight finished with 10 points in the contest.
“Kassi Knight did a great job in the fourth quarter to carry us there,” Howard said.
Seymour’s last lead of the game was a 9-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.
EAGLES 61, Heritage 38
Seymour pulled away late in the boys’ game and knocked off Heritage on the road 61-38.
Heritage (0-3) got into foul trouble early and with the Eagles suffocating defense, the Mountaineers fell behind by 14 points at the intermission.
Seymour’s Peyton Lee, who led the Eagles with 23 points, gave his team momentum in the second quarter with a four-point play to go up 23-11 with 3:43 left in the half. Also in that quarter, Seymour (2-1) held Heritage to only five points.
“When you set a tone early in a game defensively, that sort of brings energy everywhere else,” Seymour coach Brian Jessie said.
Heritage didn’t lay down, battling all throughout the contest especially senior forward Jesse Huff. Huff dominated the glass in the second half and put up a game-high 25 points.
D.J. Griffin finished with 15 points for Seymour as the Eagles play again today in the Gibbs Thanksgiving Classic.
Both Heritage squads will play again on Friday in the Heritage Thanksgiving Classic.
