Andrew Pace
In a thrilling TSSAA Class AA girls basketball tournament game in 2019, Cheatham County emerged victorious over Grainger County with a final score of 49-41. Cheatham County, led by coach Jim Gibbs, utilised a strong defensive strategy and drew inspiration from the story of the Little Engine That Could to secure their win. This victory held significant importance as it marked the first time Cheatham County advanced to a state championship game in any sport. The game was a close contest, with Grainger County mounting a comeback in the third quarter, but ultimately Cheatham County pulled away in the closing minutes to seal their triumph.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | March 6, 2019 |
| Tournament | TSSAA Class AA girls basketball tournament |
| Winner | Cheatham County |
| Final Score | 49-41 |
| Leading Scorers (Cheatham County) | Emmy Nelson (14 points), Jorden Bumpus (10 points) |
| Leading Scorer (Grainger) | Abbey Hodge (12 points) |
| Cheatham County Coach | Jim Gibbs |
| Grainger Record | 30-7 |
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What You'll Learn
Cheatham County's win over Grainger
The game started with Cheatham County taking an early lead in the first half, ending the half with a score of 23-17. However, Grainger County mounted a strong comeback in the third quarter, outscoring their opponents and briefly taking the lead with a score of 34-33. The game remained close until the final minute, when the Lady Cubs of Cheatham County pulled away with a 6-0 run to secure their victory.
The win was attributed in part to the effective use of a 1-2-2 zone defense by Cheatham County, which disrupted Grainger's offense and resulted in 28 turnovers during the game. The Lady Cubs were also motivated by their coach, Jim Gibbs, who used YouTube clips of famous sports upsets to inspire his team and instill a belief that they could also achieve a victory as underdogs.
Leading the way for Cheatham County were Emmy Nelson, who scored 14 points, and Jorden Bumpus, who added 10 points. Abbi and Alli Douglas, great nieces of former Lady Vols coaching great Pat Summitt, also played a crucial role in the team's success. This win advanced Cheatham County to the state championship, where they would face Macon County, the tournament favorite.
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Cheatham County's road to the final
In their next game, Cheatham County took on Macon County, the tournament favourite. Cheatham County's strong defence sparked a 17-0 run in the first half and led to 28 turnovers in the game. They shot 57.1% from the field and defeated Macon County by a score of 75-51, booking their place in the Class AA state championship game. This win marked the first time that Cheatham County High School had reached a state championship game in any sport.
Prior to the 2019 tournament, the girls' basketball program at Cheatham County had a modest record in state tournaments, winning just three games in six appearances. However, with the motivation of coach Jim Gibbs, who used YouTube clips of famous sporting upsets to inspire his team, Cheatham County defied the odds to reach the final.
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Grainger's performance in the first half
Grainger County and Cheatham County faced off in the TSSAA Class AA girls' basketball tournament in 2019. The game was close throughout, with Cheatham County leading 23-17 at the half. However, Grainger County came out strong in the third quarter, outscoring their opponents 17-10 to take a 34-33 lead into the fourth.
In the first half, Grainger struggled to get their offense going, scoring just 17 points. Their usually potent attack was stifled by the Cheatham County defense, which forced several turnovers and made it difficult for Grainger to get open looks at the basket. Grainger's defense kept them in the game, however, as they were able to hold Cheatham County to just 23 points in the first half.
Grainger's star player, Abbey Hodge, was well-marked by the Cheatham County defenders in the first half and was unable to get going offensively. She managed to score just 4 points in the first two quarters and found herself in foul trouble, picking up two early fouls that limited her playing time. The rest of the Grainger team also struggled to find the basket, with no other player scoring more than 2 points in the first half.
Despite their offensive struggles, Grainger County kept the game close going into halftime. They knew that they would need to pick up their offensive intensity in the second half if they wanted to come back and win the game. The Grainger County coaches made some adjustments to their offensive sets during halftime, looking to create more open shots and easy scoring opportunities. The third quarter would prove to be pivotal in the outcome of the game.
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The game's top scorers
The TSSAA Class AA girls' basketball tournament in 2019 saw Cheatham County beat Grainger 49-41. The game was close until the final minute, when the Lady Cubs went on a 6-0 run to seal their victory.
Cheatham County's top scorers were Emmy Nelson, with 14 points, and Jorden Bumpus, with 10. Grainger's Abbey Hodge was the game's overall top scorer, with 12 points.
Abbi and Alli Douglas, great nieces of former Lady Vols coaching great Pat Summitt, were also key players for Cheatham County. Alli Douglas recalled how she and Abbi would "wear cheerleading costumes and high-five all the players when they would come out" when they attended Lady Vols home games and NCAA tournaments.
Cheatham County's win over Grainger took them to their first state championship game in any sport. They then defeated Macon County 75-51 to reach the Class AA state championship game. Cheatham County's success was attributed in part to their effective 1-2-2 zone defense, which led to 28 turnovers in the game.
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Cheatham County's strategy and motivation
Cheatham County's strategy in the TSSAA Class AA girls' basketball tournament against Grainger County was to employ a strong defensive approach. Their 1-2-2 zone defence proved effective, helping them secure a victory of 49-41 over Grainger County. This strategy sparked a 17-0 run in the first half and contributed to 28 turnovers in the game.
Cheatham County's motivation for the game was fuelled by their coach, Jim Gibbs, who used YouTube clips to inspire his team. Prior to the game, the team watched clips of famous sports upsets, including the "Miracle on Ice" in 1980 when the U.S. hockey team defeated Russia in the Olympics. Coach Gibbs wanted to instil the mindset that "the favourite doesn't always win," and this strategy clearly paid off.
Additionally, Cheatham County players Abbi and Alli Douglas, great nieces of former Lady Vols coaching great Pat Summitt, may have drawn extra motivation from their family connection to basketball success. The presence of Pat Summitt's legacy at Cheatham County High School, where she played basketball and where the gym is named after her, could have also been a source of inspiration for the team.
The team's strategy and motivation contributed to their success in the tournament, leading them to their first-ever Class AA state championship game in any sport, demonstrating the effectiveness of their preparation and mindset.
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Frequently asked questions
Cheatham County won the game with a final score of 49-41.
Emmy Nelson and Jorden Bumpus were key players, scoring 14 and 10 points respectively. Abbi and Alli Douglas, the great nieces of former Lady Vols coaching great Pat Summitt, also played for Cheatham County.
Abbey Hodge was a key player for Grainger County, scoring 12 points.
Cheatham County led throughout the first half, with a score of 23-17 going into the third.
