Ooltewah Win Over Lady Raiders "Breath Of Fresh Air"

Without Boys' Team, Lady Owls Have The Spotlight

  • Friday, January 8, 2016
  • Larry Fleming

It may not have been the best show in town, but Friday night’s prep basketball game between Cleveland and Ooltewah was the only thing going for the host school.

Ooltewah, taking a welcomed respite from the ugliness of an alleged hazing rape incident in Gatlinburg involving three Owls and a 15-year-old teammates last month, turned its attention to the sound of basketballs bouncing off the floor, shoes squeaking, referees tooting whistles and applauding fans at Edward M. Foster Gymnasium.

In the end, the Lady Owls had a 61-46 District 5-3A victory over the visiting Lady Blue Raiders.

Ooltewah (3-9) was led by Kyra Reed’s game-high 16 points, 15 by Courtney Swafford and 11 by Hannah Henderson that helped produce the Lady Owls’ highest point total since Dec. 21, 2013, when they beat Northwest Whitfield 73-52 in the Smoky Mountain Classic in – yep, you guessed it – Gatlinburg.

“It would break my heart to have our season canceled,” Reed said. “Playing this season with a group they loved was all the boys talked about. All we’ve been thinking about has been the boys’ players and it was good to get that off our minds for a little while.

“It’s very strange to come out here after our game and not see the guys warming up to play.”

Henderson, also a standout volleyball player, said the Lady Owls also missed having the boys’ team in the stands lending their support.

“It was weird,” she said. “We’re so used to seeing the guys in the bleachers, but we’re all glad we got the support we did tonight from the school. It’s just us now. When I found out their season was canceled, I was thinking we have to play for them now.”

Approximately 300 turned out for the varsity game, which was preceded by a junior varsity contest, won by Cleveland, 48-29.

The crowd estimate included fans, coaches, players, coaches, Ooltewah’s Red Hot dancers, managers, four Ooltewah administrators, two scorekeepers, one clock operator, one public address announcer and one policeman.

“We had quite a bit more than I was expecting,” Lady Owls coach Jensen Morgan said. “We have great parents and fans who enjoy watching these girls play. I think we all needed an escape. We wanted to relax and play our sport.”

Also in the crowd total was Owls coach Andre “Tank” Montgomery, who was handling concession stand duties. His boys’ varsity and junior varsity teams are done for the remainder of the season. The Owls’ freshman team, minus three rookies who saw time with the varsity, will be allowed to play out the season’s schedule.

Among the administrators in attendance were principal Jim Jarvis and assistant principal/athletic director Jesse Nayadley.

“This week we’ve experienced a difficult period at our school,” Jarvis said. “Even though we have dealt with a great deal of controversy, I am confident we will remain a school recognized for our excellence in academics and athletics.

“This game tonight is a beginning of the healing process of our basketball program at Ooltewah High School. I am grateful to Cleveland High (Blue Raiders AD Eric Phillips was at the game) for the sacrifice they have made to make this game happen. I also appreciate all the parents and students that have turned out for tonight’s contest.”

Without question, the attendance would have been significantly higher had the Owls and Blue Raiders played. The rivalry between the two schools, as well as other teams in District 5-3A, has grown into a game that attracts big crowds.

“Not having the boys’ playing will definitely have an impact on our gates,” Nayadley said. “To give you a number of what our last gate was with Cleveland would simply be a guess on my part right now. But it’s not a guess to say we’re nowhere close to the gate we would have had with the boys taking the court tonight.”

Ooltewah has six home games remaining in the regular season.

There was a sense of loss in the gym Friday night and Cleveland girls coach Mindy Kiser said she could only imagine what Ooltewah’s going through.

“It’s a horrible situation,” she said. “No coach or administration wants to be in that situation. I hope every night after we play that our girls make good decisions until they’re home. I think Ooltewah’s girls are going to play hard until the last buzzer in every game the rest of this season.”

Lady Owls coach Jensen Morgan breathed a sigh of relief with Friday’s performance and the simple fact his girls were back on the court.

“That feels better,” he said. “We were all eager to get back out there and continue our season. We were ready to get the second half kicked off right and the girls needed not only the win, but just to play.

“We told them they’re in a unique situation. We’re the only game in town and they’re going to be playing every night by themselves. It’s kind of like we’re at a tournament or summer camp. We play and go home.”

After Cleveland’s Lauren Stutzman hit a 3 to open the game, Ooltewah scored 12 straight points – Reed started the run with a 3 – and had a 16-10 advantage after the first quarter.

The Lady Owls’ lead was 28-18 at halftime and despite Cleveland’s best quarter of the game, the Lady Raiders still trailed, 44-35, heading into the final eight minutes.

Ooltewah freshman Madalyn Mills and Courtney Swafford, another star on the Lady Owls’ state tournament volleyball squad, each hit quick field goals to push the lead out to 48-35.

Following a 3-pointer by Cleveland’s Sofia Stamatiadis, the Lady Owls outscored the Lady Raiders, 11-4 and had an insurmountable 59-42 lead with 73 seconds remaining.

Reed scored 10 points in the game-securing 11-point spurt.

“I think the team feeds off what I do,” Reed said. “I was just trying to keep us going.”

Cleveland, now 1-13 and riding an 11-game losing streak, was led by Emma Flowers’ 11 points and 10 by Stamatiadis.

“We played well at times,” Kiser said. “We have several lapses in the first half and dug ourselves a hole and that’s been our calling card this season. We’ve got to start making plays, especially early.”

LINESCORE

Cleveland                            10 8 17 11 – 46

Ooltewah                            16 12 16 17 – 61

Cleveland (46) – Emma Flowers 11, Stutzman 7, Colbaugh 5, Dasher, Franklin, Sofia Stamatiadis 10, Langford 8, Mastin 5, Thompson.

Ooltewah (1) – Cline 2, Kyra Reed 16, Courtney Swafford 15, Mills 9, Baker 4, Collake 2, Lemon 2, Hannah Henderson 11.

3-Point Goals – Cleveland 3 (Stutsman 1, Colbaugh 1, Stamatiadis 1), Ooltewah 1 (Reed 1).

(E-mail Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @larryfleming44)

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