Seal Team Six

The Rebels strike in historic rout

By Stefan Cooper
Editor
Blount Press Row

Maryville is that good. Alcoa is not that bad.

The two combined for a night of biblical proportions basketball as the Rebels routed their rivals, 102-51, on Monday at Maryville’s James Campbell Gymnasium.

The margin of victory is believed the largest in the history of the series.

Both teams now turn their attention to district tournament play, the top-seed, No. 3-ranked Rebels (25-3) opening District 2AAAA tournament play against William Blount on Friday at Sevier County High School.

Tipoff is 6 p.m.

“We pride ourselves on our defense,” Maryville coach Wes Lambert said, “and I really think our defense was unbelievable tonight. Alcoa is so skilled individually, one-on-one.

“We knew we were going to have to guard our yard, and that’s what we talked about.”

The Tornadoes (15-13) own the top seed in District 5AAA and await Thursday’s Sequoyah/South-Doyle winner in a Friday semifinal at Heritage.

Tipoff Friday is 5:30.

Jonathan Woodlee led the onslaught for Maryville on Monday, blowing up the Tornadoes for a triple-double of 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Backcourt mate Eli Owens finished a bucket back of Woodlee with 22 points, connecting on three 3-pointers on an evening the deep ball would play a big part.

The Rebels hit 14 of them in the contest.

“It was really just a fun game,” Woodlee said. “Everybody was hitting shots at the beginning. We were swinging the ball. Everybody was getting touches. Everybody was having fun.

“It’s what basketball is all about.”

On a night Maryville shot a genuinely stunning 74 percent from the field, big man Luke Sigmund went for a double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds. When the Rebel coaching staff breaks down the video, he probably joins Woodlee in the triple-double house when all his blocks are counted.

Unofficially, he had six of them in the opening half.

Alcoa’s 15-13 record isn’t too terribly impressive on its face, but the Tornadoes have played the best of competition this season. Coming off back-to-back losses to highly-ranked, Class 4A power Bearden, 76-75, and Division II beast Webb, 78-53, Alcoa simply couldn’t find the switch emotionally when the Rebels kicked hard late in the opening quarter.

Jamir Dean paced the Tornadoes with 13, with point guard Condis Cherry adding 10. Jabriel Koko, Jay Kirk and JaColby Cooper finished with nine each.

It was all a blur after the Rebels bolted to a 31-12 lead after the first eight minutes, but a few things stand out.

Woodlee’s behind-the-back dribble on Cherry to get the lane and pop was savage.

Dunks from Sigmund and Owensby had a pro-Maryville crowd in a frenzy for much of the night.

Topping it was something we’re calling “the Kai Stowers Sequence.”

Early in the second frame, Stowers poked the ball away from an unsuspecting Tornado, the rock landing in Owensby’s hands as Stowers took off. Taking the quick pass from his teammate, Stowers roared home for a two-handed slam that brought the house down.

When you watch the video, check out his reaction when he gets back on defense. Check out Owensby. Check out Sigmund.

It was over.