ATHENS, Tenn.
— Saving its best for last, Walker Valley trailed all but the final two minutes in Friday's 172-point District 5-4A first-place showdown at McMinn County, but took the lead and kept it when it counted. 

Coming back from a 16-point deficit entering the final frame, the 10th-ranked Mustangs erupted for 40 points in the final eight minutes, hitting 17-of-20 shots to flip the script, stopping the Tribe 87-85 to claim the district regular season crown. 

With the win, Walker Valley locked up the District 5-4A top-seed in next week's tournament, which kicks off at "The Stable" Thursday with girls action and Friday for the boys. 

In the Athens opener, the Lady Mustangs trailed the whole way, but chipped away at the deficit throughout the game, and were within four points early in the fourth. However, the McMinn was able to knock down timely shots to hold the Herd at bey for a 58-48 win. 

Both Walker squads end the regular season Tuesday with a makeup home doubleheader against Rhea County. 

MUSTANGS 87, CHEROKEES 85: McMinn County (17-10, 4-2 District 5-4A) won the first quarter 24-18 and the second frame 21-18, which put for a nine-point (45-36) halftime advantage. 

In that opening half, sophomore Zach Davis kept the Mustangs (24-3, 6-0) within striking distance with eight first quarter points and junior Turner Clayton carried the load in the second quarter with nine points.

With McMinn senior and Lee University signee Reese Frazier putting up 17 points, five rebounds and four assists in the first half and senior teammate Brady Mullins making four three-pointers, Coach Campbell said the Mustangs' plan coming out of the halftime locker room was to force anyone else but that senior duo to beat them. 

However, the hosts answered that challenge in the third period, opening up a double-digit lead throughout the third quarter thanks to McMinn's Joc Williams and Jaxson Gonzalez putting in nine and five points, respectively. 

The Cherokees outscored the Mustangs 18-11 in the third to open up the 16-point lead at 63-47. 

The Mustangs answered their coach's challenge to run the offense better in the fourth and then some. 

After what would prove to be a rare miss, Clayton cleaned up the glass for a putback two before senior Tucker Campbell stole a McMinn pass and fired it to twin brother Graham for a three for a quick five points to bring the difference to single digits.
 
From there, the Mustangs scored on 13 of its next 14 possessions. In that time, senior Landon Shirk - who transferred from McMinn in 2023 - splashed four three pointers to really put pressure on his former team. 

With the Mustangs whistled for several fouls throughout the fourth period, the Tribe left the door open with eight missed final frame free throws. 

The Valley took advantage with a 29-15 open to the fourth to trail at just 78-76.

After a McMinn turnover, Shirk nailed one of his four final frame triples to give Walker Valley its first lead of the game at 79-78. 

McMinn took the lead back briefly on a Frazier layup, Davis put in two free throws to give Walker Valley a lead and then Frazier made two free throws to put McMinn back in front 82-81 with 50 seconds left. 

The next time down the floor, Davis missed a short jumper, but Clayton cleaned it up for a bucket and-one, putting the Mustangs in front 84-82 with 25 seconds left. 

Frazier was fouled on a three-pointer on the other end, but made just one of three free throws, leaving the Mustangs ahead 84-83. As both teams fouled, junior Cael Coates split a pair with 6.3 to go to put Walker Valley in front 87-85. 

McMinn's Gonzalez fired a 35 footer at the horn, but the shot rimmed out to give the Mustangs the come-from-behind win. 

Clayton led the scoring for the 'Stangs with 24 points, and added six rebounds to his totals. Shirk put in 20 points, including six threes, while Davis had 14 points. 

Frazier's 30 points, nine rebounds and eight assists led McMinn. Williams helped out with  17 markers and Mullins a dozen.

LADY CHEROKEES 58, LADY MUSTANGS 48: Walker Valley (5-21, 1-4) found itself in an early hole that it never completely climbed out of. 

McMinn (6-21, 1-5) led 9-1 and 13-4 after the Lady Mustangs missed eight of their first nine shots, before going on a 5-0 run with two points apiece from seniors Maliyah Woods and Sariyah Cox and a free throw from sophomore Madi McDonald. 

A McMinn layup put the hosts in front 15-9 at the break. 

Cox started the second quarter burning the net with a triple to chop that Cherokee lead in half, but the Lady Tribe would respond with a 19-9 rest of the second quarter to lead by 13 at 34-21 when the halftime buzzer sounded. 

Not wanting to relent, Walker Valley fought back to start the third with a Woods' layup, a jumper by sophomore Mia Lindsey, plus juniors Kaitlynn McDonald and Lyla Sims drilled a three-pointer, all of which put WV down just 37-31 midway through the third frame. 

Even after McMinn punched back with six straight points to lead by 12 again, the Herd  ended the frame on a 9-2 run to trail just 45-40 going into the final frame. 

The Lady Mustangs made a free throw to start the fourth to cut the deficit to just four points at 45-41, but the Lady Cherokees had every answer the rest of the way, finishing  with a 13-7 close for the 10-point payback win after the Valley girls won the pervious meeting 55-49 three weeks ago. 

Cox and Woods paced the Lady Mustangs with 16 and 11 points, respectively.

A trio led the Tribe by netting double figures — Mia Sewell 15, Molly Trentham 12 and Hanah Clark 10. 

GAME SUMMARIES
Friday, Jan. 15
at McMinn County
Girls Game
Walker Valley             9   12   19      8 — 48
McMinn County       15   19   11   13 — 58
LADY MUSTANGS (48) – Sariyah Cox 16, Maliyah Woods 11, Madi McDonald 5, Mia Lindsey 5, Izzy Argauer 5, Kaitlyn McDonald 3, Lyla Sims 3, Trew.
LADY CHEROKEES (58) – Mia Sewell 15, Molly Trentham 12, Hanah Clark 10, Lily Sliger 7, Lilly Skidmore 6, Lady Dingess 5, Aven Hennessee 3
3-POINT GOALS: WV 4 (Sims, K.McDonald, Argauer, Cox); MC 8  (Sewell 3, Clark, Dingess, Skidmore, Hennessee, Trentham).
FREE THROWS: WV 15-of-21: MC 13-of-18.
RECORDS: Walker Valley 5-21, 1-4 District 5-4A: McMinn County 6-21, 1-5 District 5-4A.

Boys Game
Walker Valley         19    17    11    40 — 87
McMinn Central     24    21    18    22 — 85
MUSTANGS (87) – Turner Clayton 24, Landon Shirk 20, Zach Davis 17, Graham Campbell 9, Isaac Sausville 7, Tucker Campbell 5, Ashton Davis 4, Cael Coates 1, Green, Keeton. 
CHEROKEES (85) – Reese Frazier 30, Joc Williams 17, Brady Mullins 12, Jaxson Gonzalez 9, Bryson Womac 4, Maddox Frazier 3. 
3-POINT GOALS: WV 11 (L. Shirk 6, G. Campbell 2, Z. Davis, Sausville, Clayton); MC 8 (Mullins 4, Williams 2, Frazier, Gonzalez).
FREE THROWS: WV 14-of-16: MC 19-of-28.
RECORDS: Walker Valley 24-3, 5-0 District 5-4A: McMinn County 17-10, 4-2 District 5-4A.