The Stone Memorial Panthers split their first two games this past weekend in the 5-Star Preps Holiday Basketball Classic in Knoxville.
SMHS, still trying to find the right combination of players and rotations after the first half of the season, opened the prestigious tournament with an 80-69 victory over Clinton. The Panthers then dropped their second round game, 64-44, to McMinn Central.
In the opener against Clinton, Stone Memorial used a solid second half to blow the game open and secure the win.
Jack Cordell and Evin Moseley helped the Panthers come out of the gate quickly to open the game. Stone Memorial led 19-15 at the end of play in the first period.
Bryson Maddox set the pace for Clinton, helping CHS keep pace.
Tanner Bowman and Briggs Lowe scored in the paint, and Kadyn Page nailed a jumper from outside to give the Panthers a 36-31 advantage at halftime.
Hunter Haney and Moseley came out on fire in the third quarter as Stone pushed its advantage to 59-43 as the teams prepared to head into the fourth quarter.
Cordell and Lowe kept the pressure on for the Panthers in the final eight minutes. Haney and Page contributed buckets, and Stone Memorial cruised to the 80-69 victory.
The Panthers were led in scoring by Cordell and Lowe with 26 points each. Moseley chipped in 11, and Page had seven. Charlie Vanwinkle scored five, while Haney had four. Bowman scored one.
Maddox led Clinton in scoring with 28 points. Ben Tockett chipped in with 15, and Tristan Lundy had 10.
Stone boys drop 64-44 decision to McMinn Central
The Stone Memorial boys struggled offensively in their second round contest with McMinn Central.
Stone had one player in double figures and the cold shooting proved costly as SMHS fell behind and eventually lost by a score of 64-44.
McMinn Central rushed out to a 19-11 lead after the first eight minutes of play. Maddox Frazier caught the hot hand for MCHS, along with Abe Reinhold scoring from inside.
McMinn pulled away in the second period to lead 37-25 at halftime and eventually 53-37 after three full quarters.
Page led Stone in scoring with 10 points. Lowe scored eight and Vanwinkle had seven. Moseley and Haney tallied five points each. Bowman scored three, while Jake Hennessee and Cordell scored two points apiece.
Frazier led McMinn with 20 points, while Reinhold scored 18.
Stone, 5-5 on the year, will hit the court again Dec. 29 when the Panthers take part in the Music City Hoopfest in Nashville. SMHS will open with Ravenwood.