Strong Leads First Team After Championship Run

Photo by Kailee Means / UC Sports Nation

The Clay County Bulldogs won their first State Championship in program history on Saturday by a defeating Memphis Academy of Health Sciences 62-52.

Junior Grant Strong was a major part of the run, as he scored 32 points in their quarterfinal win over Madison Magnet, 32 more against North Greene and 29 in the championship game.

In addition to being named the Tournament MVP, Strong was also named the Class A Mr. Basketball winner, and he led the First Bank First Team for last week.

First Bank First Team

Gunnar Silk (Clay County): Silk played a huge role in the championship game as well, as he knocked down three second-half three-pointers and scored 19 points to aid Strong. His play jump-started a 14-2 run in the fourth quarter to create some separation on the scoreboard.

Zach Amonett (Pickett County): Amonett put together two good showings in the State Tournament for the Bobcats. First against Cosby in the quarterfinals, he scored a game-high 27 points, and he followed it up with 20 against MAHS.

Will Amonett (Pickett County): Will Amonett played two good games of his own to aid Zach’s efforts, as he scored 16 and 17 points, respectively in the two games. He had it working from three-point range, as he knocked down eight of his 10 attempts in two games.

Alex Rush (Upperman): Rush was hard to stop as well in the Bees’ two games in Murfreesboro. He scored 21 points on 9/10 shooting from the floor against Pearl-Cohn, and led the team with 16 points against Greeneville.

Ellie Cripps (DeKalb County): Cripps has looked every bit the part of an ace as Head Coach Danny Fish has wanted, as she won both of her starts last week against York Institute (a shutout) and Anderson County. She also pitched a perfect inning against Gordonsville.

Dylan Whittenburg (Stone Memorial): Whittenburg got his season off to the best start imaginable, as he no-hit Bledsoe County and drove in a run in Stone’s 2-0 win.

Tucker Allen (White County): Allen is swinging a hot bat to start the season, as he hit .538 his first week and that included a home run and four runs batted in.