Ocoee, McCallie Win TVAC Middle School Titles

  • Saturday, January 26, 2002
Ocoee Middle School's Alyson Butler dribbles hard against Cleveland's Alex Walker.
Ocoee Middle School's Alyson Butler dribbles hard against Cleveland's Alex Walker.
photo by Greg Davick

Saturday was championship day in the Tennessee Valley Athletic Conference. The Ocoee Middle School Lady Colts captured the girls basketball title with a 44-40 win over the host Cleveland Lady Raiders. In the boys division, the McCallie Blue Tornado upset the conference unbeaten Ocoee Middle School Colts 42-34 to win the boys championship.

Ocoee Lady Colts 44 Cleveland Lady Raiders 40

The Lady Colts opened the first quarter racing to a 13-5 lead. Ocoee's Alyson Bulter drained a 3 pointer at the buzzer that set the game's tone and closed the opening period. That shot came merely seconds after Cleveland's Shelley Williams had hit a 3 pointer keeping the Lady Raiders close.

Cleveland's cold shooting continued in the second quarter as Ocoee built a 28-12 halftime lead. The Lady Raiders refused to quit. The second half saw a furious rally by the Lady Raiders. Cleveland held the Lady Colts to six third quarter points and closed the gap to 34-27. Cleveland cut the lead to four several times down the stretch, but was unable to get any closer.

Ocoee was led by Alyson Butler who scored 13 points. Jackie Pickel and Kacy Suiter each added 10 points for the Lady Colts. Cleveland was paced by Shelley Williams who scored a game-high 16 points. Angie Wells added 11 points for the Lady Raiders.

Girls All League Team:
Abby Wakefield (Baylor), Callie Davenport (CCS), Jessica Kitts (Lake Forest), Melyn Thompson (GPS), Joanna Suddith (GPS), Angie Wells (Cleveland), Alex Walker (Cleveland), Alyson Butler (Ocoee), Jackie Pickel (Ocoee).

Girls All Tournament Team:
Leah Hartman (Baylor), Shelley Cooper (CCS), Jamie Bitzell (Lake Forest), Melyn Thompson (GPS), Angie Wells (Cleveland), Shelley Williams (Cleveland), Kacy Suiter (Ocoee), Lauren Cassada (Ocoee), Ashton Burrell (Ocoee).

McCallie Blue Tornado 42 Ocoee Colts 34

The boys final was a physical, intense battle from wire to wire. Ocoee handled the full court McCallie man press in the early going and managed a 13-9 lead at the close of the opening quarter. However, McCallie stuck to its game plan staying in the press despite several first quarter Ocoee layups. That proved to be the difference as the press forced multiple Ocoee turnovers in the next three quarters helping take the Colts out of their game. McCallie took a 17-15 lead to the locker room.

The Blue Tornado took control of the game in the third quarter and pushed the lead to 28-18 with a mere six minutes to play. McCallie maintained the lead despite a furious rally by the Colts who refused to quit. Ocoee managed to close the gap to five several times in the final two minutes before McCallie was able to seal the win from the free throw line. McCallie was 12-24 from the line in the fourth quarter alone.

Jarvis Spencer led the Tornado with 12 points. Bart Roark added 9 points, and Matt Wilson had 8 for McCallie. Ocoee was paced by Jacques McClendon who scored a game-high 13 points. Josh Carder and Adam Hunsucker each added 6 points for the Colts.

Boys All League Team:
Chris Bach (Baylor), Davis Eldridge (CCS), Corey Lovelace (Lake Forest), Jarvis Spencer (McCallie), Tanner Moore (McCallie), Colby Dodd (Cleveland), Kyle Clayton (Cleveland), Jacques McClendon (Ocoee), Lebron Caslin (Ocoee), Houston Phillips (Ocoee).

Boys All Tournament Team:
Chris Bach (Baylor), Beau Gilliland (CCS), Jeffrey Garrett (Lake Forest), Colby Dodd (Cleveland), Jacques McClendon (Ocoee), Josh Carder (Ocoee), Jarvis Spencer (McCallie), Matt Wilson (McCallie), Bart Roark (McCallie).

Sports
Covenant Athletics Holds Successful Highlander Cup Golf Tournament
  • 7/3/2025

Covenant College Athletics hosted its annual Highlander Cup Golf Tournament on Monday at Lookout Mountain Club, drawing alumni, supporters, and community members for a day of fellowship, competition, ... more

Lookouts Out Pitch Barons For Second Straight Night
  • 7/3/2025

After a series opening 3-1 victory on Tuesday night the Chattanooga Lookouts had another sterling effort on the mound Wednesday and beat the Birmingham Barons for the second consecutive night, ... more

Burns, Davis, Loftsgard, Walter Win In CWGA At Bear Trace
  • 7/1/2025

In CWGA net low-ball competition at Bear Trace on Tuesday, the results were: 1st place: Karen Burns, Hazel Davis, Phyllis Loftsgard, and Theresa Walter - 12 2nd place: Lisa Lowery-Smith, ... more