Gatlinburg Pittman Defeat Kingston 70-58, Advance to Fifth Straight State Tournament

On a Saturday night, when the Smoky Mountain Rain was falling outside of Jack A. Parton Gymnasium, the Lady Highlanders were scorching hot as they defeated the Kingston Lady Yellowjackets 70-58 to advance to their fifth straight state tournament which will kick off on Wednesday March 11th.

The Lady Highlanders would control the opening tip and start the game on a 11-0 run after their first basket 1:25 into the game. Kingston would quickly call a timeout with 6:04 remaining on the clock in the first quarter after the Lady Highlanders forced a pair of timeouts that resulted in quick, easy baskets to make the score 6-0. More defensive pressure from the Highlanders resulted in more Kingston turnovers and with 4:39 on the clock GP had stretched the lead to 10-0. The action picked up for Kingston offensively, who drew back and ended the quarter on a 12-5 run to make the score 16-12 Lady Highlanders.

The second quarter would go nearly 2 minutes before the first bucket was made, by Glasper underneath for a layup. Kingston would immediately call a timeout to try and settle back down. The timeout worked as MacKenzie Raymer would launch a three to make the score 18-15 with 6 minutes remaining in the half. Mejias would respond with a basket of her own to make it 20-15 before Maliyah Glasper would convert a steal into a bucket and the foul, the free throw was no good and the score stood at 22-15 with 5:30 remaining.

The buckets would stall until Cheyanne Byrd scored on the out of bounds play to extend the Lady Highlanders lead to 5. Kingston would take the next possession and Raymer would drive the lane and convert the layup and one to make it 24-18 with 3:39 left in the quarter. The Lady Highlanders would commit a pair of fouls to send Kingston into the bonus with 3:10 remaining. Foul trouble was mounting as Wear & Glasper had a pair, as well as Mejias playing with three fouls of her own. The mounting fouls dropped the defensive pressure from GP, and Kingston was able to take advantage, with some easy baskets to draw them within three with 2:13 remaining in the half. Both teams would swap baskets back and forth until the half, where they would enter tied at 28.

Gatlinburg Pittman would come out of the half hungry and stepped the defensive pressure and offensive pace up to begin on an 8-0 run in the first 2:27 of the half. Kingston would call the timeout, however the Lady Highlanders would extend their lead out to 10 on a bucket from Glasper on a tough layup. Glasper would pick up her third foul at the 3:30 mark in the period, followed by Reese Ogle picking up her second that allowed Kingston to stop the run from the free throw line to make it 38-29. Kingston would get a quick basket from Alexis Jenkins before both teams would go cold for the next minute before a three from freshman Caitlin Hamilton to extend the lead back out to 10, 41-31 with 2:45 remaining in the period.

Both teams would struggle to score the ball until Kingston got one to fall from Raymer once again. Mejias would come down the next possession and drain a jumper from the right side to make it 43-33, before a GP steal and layup from Mejias a few seconds later extended the lead to 45-33. Both teams would once again swap baskets the final minute of the third quarter and head to the final stanza 49-37 Lady Highlanders.

Kingston would get the opening possession but failed to convert before Mejias would get two more off the rebound from a missed layup from Byrd to make it 51-37. Jenkins would get the layup with 6:30 remaining in the game for Kingston to bring them back to within 11. Kingston would get the steal and Raymer would convert another basket, but missed the free throw to draw the Lady Yellowjackets back to within 10 at 52-43, before another quick bucket from Gamblin would bring them to within 9 at 52-43 following a Mejias free throw the possession prior.

Kingston would get a basket out of a timeout from GP from Jenkins to get within 7, with 4:37 remaining in the game. Mejias would grab another bucket and extend the lead back to 9. GP would run time and convert free throws the final two minutes to end the game and come home with a 70-58 victory. Mejias would lead all scorers with 32, with 22 in the second half. The Lady Highlanders will once again make the trip to the "Glass House" with games scheduled to begin on Wednesday.

Gatlingburg Pittman Lady Highlander Chloe Mejias drives for two of her game high 32 points.