AT DOORSTEP

BOYS 2A STATE TOURNAMENT SEMIFINALS

Westview 47, Owls 37

By Terry Collins Courier Sports

MURFREESBORO — The Smith County High Owls basketball team faced off against Westview out of Martin, Tennessee last Friday morning in the Class 2A state tournament semifinals in Murfreesboro.

The Chargers and the Owls were battling for their schools’ first ever appearance in the championship game as both teams were in their initial semifinal appearance. 

The Chargers used a big second half to end the Owls’ season with a 47-37 triumph at MTSU’s Murphy Center. 

Westview improved to 25-7 overall and faced Chattanooga Prep in Saturday’s championship game. 

The Owls’ magical season ended with a 24-12 mark under second year Layne Bussell. 

The Black-and-Gold led 20-16 at half and increased that to six points at 27-21 with 3:40 to play in the third quarter. 

Unfortunately for the Owls, they made only four field goals in the final 11:40 which saw Westview go on a 26-10 run to end the game.

“We had a good game plan and tried to be patient on offense and we executed that for the first two and a half quarters,” said Bussell. “We got the shots that we wanted but just did not knock those down in the final quarter and a half.”

Bussell continued, “Their physicality on defense really wore on us and that showed in the final part of the game. They were a very athletic team but our guys went toe-to-toe with them and had a chance going into the fourth quarter.” 

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