It was the upset that could very well change a season for the Lady Bulldogs.
Hampton (9-8) picked up a 61-45 victory over No. 2 South Greene on Tuesday night in Greeneville.
In the boys’ contest, Hampton was unable to hold onto a fourth quarter lead as they fell 59-54 to the Rebels. It was South Greene’s second victory over Hampton this season.
For Hampton’s girls, who move to 2-2 in league play, celebration was on the mind after their trip to Rebel Hill, a place where they team has never won before.
“I am tickled,” Lady Bulldogs Head Coach Bud Hazelwood said. “I am proud of everyone of them.”
Hampton edged ahead 7-6 at the end of the first quarter, and used a strong offensive quarter to take a 22-18 lead into the locker room.
“We played great on both ends tonight,” Hazelwood said. “We rebounded well, and it was just a good all around performance. Everyone who came in tonight contributed. That is what it takes to pull it off. “ I have the utmost respect for South Greene, and Coach Gregg does a great job. You go in and you wonder if you can hang with them. We got off to a slow start but our defense kept us in the game early in the first quarter then our offense started coming around. You could just feel the girls start believing they could do it.”
The Lady Bulldogs continued to limit the Lady Rebels, and that allowed Hampton to extend the lead to 13 points entering the fourth quarter. From there, Hampton kept South Greene at bay to take the win.
“Alexus Grubbs (16 points, nine rebounds) played a steady game and Shyanne Tuelle hit some big shots for us in different times of the games,” Hazelwood said. “Kim Swearingen brought it again tonight, and she got in the lane and got a couple easy buckets and got fouled on a couple of them. Alexis Bowers played a good floor game. She didn’t shoot much but she got the ball to people who could.”
Bowers finished with double-digit assists with 10 and added four rebounds and a trio of steals
For the Lady Bulldogs, the win over No. 2 South Greene should be just what the doctor ordered.
“Hopefully it will give us a boost,” Hazelwood said. “Hopefully they realized what they can do if they play together and play smart. We are hoping it will carry over. We are starting to believe in ourselves.”
In the boys’ game, Hampton jumped out to an early lead, and then took a 32-28 advantage into the locker room at the half. The Bulldogs extended that lead to eight points entering the fourth.
However, it was a case of deja vu as South Greene battled back in the fourth to take the lead and hold on in the final seconds for the win.
