BRAVE EFFORT; Defeated Braves hoops programs claim county tournament championship hardware
No. 1 seed Lady Braves topple GJHS for tournament crown, 40-27
COUNTY ELEMENTARY BASKETBALL TOURNEY GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
Defeated 40, Gordonsville 27
By Shea Haile, Terry Collins Courier Sports
CARTHAGE — The top prize in the Smith County Elementary girls bracket was on the line last Saturday evening at Smith County High as the No.1 seeded Defeated Lady Braves battled the second-seeded Gordonsville Junior High Tigerettes.
The Defeated program added another piece of hardware to their trophy case as the back-to-back James C. Haile State Champions also claimed the 2026 county championship with a 40-27 triumph over Big Blue.
The Lady Braves completed a 24-3 campaign. The Tigerettes ended their county runner-up performance with a 10-6 overall record.
Lady Braves head coach Chris Nixon, who concludes his second year at the helm, reflected on the physical championship game that featured hustle plays from both squads.
“They are good team and we just played our game — played hard,” said Nixon. “Everyone did their job and that is always my message is to do your job 150 percent. They gave it their all on both sides of the ball. They played hard and did their job. They played good and fundamentally sound basketball.”
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Top-seeded Braves survive title game encounter with Tigers, 26-21
COUNTY ELEMENTARY BASKETBALL TOURNEY BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP
Defeated 26, Gordonsville 21
By Shea Haile, Terry Collins Courier Sports
CARTHAGE — In a low scoring defensive battle, the top-seeded Defeated Braves captured their second consecutive Smith County Elementary basketball tournament boys title and third in four seasons with a 26-21 victory over No.3 seed Gordonsville last Saturday.
The boys title game capped off the 2026 county tournament at Smith County High School as the Braves concluded a 17-6 campaign with a county crown.
Gordonsville’s 2025-2026 campaign came to close with a 7-8 final record.
Defeated head coach Wayne Young discussed the Braves’ resiliency as the unit played two narrowly contested games last Saturday, surviving a 35-30 semifinal scare from Forks River earlier in the day and holding off a scrappy Tigers squad in the championship game.
Postponements in the tournament forced two semifinals to be played on championship Saturday.
“They played two games today and they struggled — could have very easily gave up the first game,” said Young. “But they fought back, you could tell they were a little tired during this game. That Gordonsville team is a really goos one.”
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