Montgomery, Vikings Edge Dobyns-Bennett

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Danielle Montgomery raised her arms toward the ceiling. A maroon-and-white crowd inside Viking Hall stood up. It was over.

Montgomery’s game-high 22 points guided the Tennessee High Vikings to a 43-37 victory over the Dobyns-Bennett Indians on Friday evening in a Big Nine Conference contest before an estimated crowd of 1,500.

“We came out and played hard and [were] able to match their intensity,” said Montgomery, a senior guard who has signed a letter of intent to play basketball for the University of Massachusetts. “We’re just really happy.”

Cheyenne Thornsberry added 10 points and six rebounds for the Vikings (19-2, 12-1 Big Nine).

Tennessee High outscored the Indians 14-8 in a decisive fourth quarter. The Vikings trailed 31-29 heading into the final period.

Megan Devine’s team-high 15 points topped the Indians (17-6, 10-2), while D-B guard Holly France contributed six points on two made 3-pointers.

Tennessee High turned to Montgomery in the final period. The senior guard delivered, scoring 11 points in the fourth quarter. Montgomery’s swished 3 from the left wing gave the Vikings a 34-33 lead with 4 minutes, 3 seconds to go. And she sank six free throws in the game’s final four minutes.

“What we’re doing is what we do in practice,” Montgomery said. “We’re going to come out here and compete every day, and that’s what we do.”

While Montgomery penetrated and sliced through the Indians’ zone defense, Thornsberry pounded away inside. Teaming with sophomore post Rachel Huneycutt (two points), Thornsberry gave Tennessee High a presence in the paint Dobyns-Bennett could not counter. In addition, Thornsberry and Huneycutt paired together to shut down Indians junior post Blaine Frohlich, who was held to four points, all of which came on free throws.

“Honestly, we look at [Thornsberry and Huneycutt] as one person,” Vikings coach Barry Wade said. “Tonight, we felt like we could challenge [Dobyns-Bennett] inside and we were successful.”

DOBYNS-BENNETT (37) – Osborne 6, Head 1, France 6, Lilly 2, Clark 3, Megan Devine 15, Frohlich 4.Totals 10 14-24 37.
TENNESSEE HIGH (43) – Burleson 1, Vance 0, Grinnell 0, Danielle Montgomery 22, Wood 6, Keen 0, Cheyenne Thornsberry 10, Baker 0, Huneycutt 2. Totals 13 16-29 43.
Dobyns-Bennett 11 6 12 8–37
Tennessee High 12 8 9 14–43
3-point goals – D-B 3 (France 2, Clark); TH 1 (Montgomery).

Dobyns-Bennett 71, Tennessee High 59

Some things, you just can’t beat. Right now, the Vikings boys basketball team can’t touch the Indians.

Tennessee High fell behind 20-9 in the first quarter to a sharp-shooting Dobyns-Bennett squad, and the Vikings never led in the contest.

“As much as we prepare for these basketball games, it kind of knocks you down a little bit to have a team come out here and shoot like they did,” said Tennessee High junior forward Taylor Harmon, who scored 15 points. “They shot the lights out.”

Corey Young scored a game-high 18 points to lead the Vikings (17-8, 11-2), while Tre’ Webb added 14 points and Denzel Gilmore contributed seven.

Dustin McConnell scored a team-high 17 points and knocked down five 3-pointers to top the Indians (19-4, 10-2).

“It’s that time of year when we need to gel together and make a run as a team,” said D-B guard Justin Sylvester, who poured in 14 points.

Down 36-22 at halftime, the Vikings turned to a 2-3 zone defense to briefly tighten the game in the third quarter. Tennessee High outscored Dobyns-Bennett 20-19 in the period, and a 3 from the left wing by Webb brought the Vikings within 52-42 late in the quarter.

But McConnell nailed a 3 at the end of the third period. And when he sank another 3 at the start of the fourth, Dobyns-Bennett stretched its advantage to 58-42 with 7:35 left in the contest.

“They shot the ball very well from the perimeter and they’ve got a really good post game,” Tennessee High coach Roby Witcher said. “We let them get off to a really good start offensively. … I wish we had that first quarter back.”

The Vikings outscored D-B 37-35 in the second half.

DOBYNS-BENNETT (71) – Todd Halvorsen 7, Justin Sylvester 14, Dustin McConnell 17, Jordan Edwards 15, Denison 8, Ashlon Adams 10. Totals 27 10-17 71.
TENNESSEE HIGH (59) – Corey Young 18, Cook 0, Gilmore 7, Stacy 0, Taylor Harmon 15, Tre’ Webb 14, Canty 5, Linnen 0. Totals 24 6-8 59.
Dobyns-Bennett 20 16 19 16–71
Tennessee High 9 13 20 17–59
3-point goals – D-B 7 (McConnell 5, Adams, Halvorsen); TH 8 (Young 3, Webb 3, Gilmore).

btsmith@bristolnews.com|(276) 645-2569