Rhea County Lady Eagle Ava Travis makes pass under pressure vs McMinn.(Photo:GaryBolden/TCM)

Cherokees and Lady Cherokees Win vs Rhea County

1/31/23

Evensville, TN --Rhea County continued a very tough part of their schedule with home games vs McMinn County on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. McMinn came into the game with wins back in early January over Eagles and Lady Eagles. Rhea had played a very good non-district game vs Cleveland and then took on district foes Walker Valley, and Bradley Central coming into the McMinn games. The girls varsity team began with a 22-8 first quarter and never fully recovered. McMinn hit six 3-point baskets in the quarter. Lady Eagles leveled off their play in the second quarter with a 15-14 advantage, but still trailed at the half by a 36-23 score. McMin kept a double-digit lead throughout the game. Gonzales finished with strong 12 point 4th quarter in a 28 point scoring night. Ava Travis lead Lady Eagles with 16 points.

The Eagles played close early and trailed 11-8 with 3:26 left in first quarter and trailed at end of the quarter 19-14. McMinn kept a similar advantage in the second quarter with a 22-14 advantage for a 41-28 lead at the halftime buzzer. Tucker Monroe had five 3-point baskets in first half to power the Cherokee offense. The Eagles cut the lead down to 10, at 46-36 with 4;51 left in third, but McMinn took a big 60-41 lead at end of 3rd quarter and finished with a 73-57 win. Tucker Monroe led the Cherokees with 19 points and Reese Frazier(16), Hester(12), and Trent Peak(11) all hit double figures. For the Eagles, Bryce Dupre had 20 to lead the Eagles and Kyler Akin(16) and Caleb Carr(11) hit double figures. Dupre had 8 rebounds to lead the Eagles and Zach Howard(4) and Kyler Akin(3) led the Eagles in assists.

Rhea County will host Red Bank on Friday night with the girls' game at 6:00 and boys' game to follow at 7:30 pm. Eagles will be looking to even the season series after losing 75-59 back in early January. The Lady Eagles won their previous game at Red Bank, 67-33.

Bryce Dupre 20, Kyler Akin 16, Caleb Carr 11, Hank Logsdon 4, DeShawn Smith 2, Michael Truax 1.

Tucker Monroe 19, Reese Frazier 16, Hester 12, Trent Peak 11, Davion Evans 8, Hayden Smith 4, Brady Mullins 3.

McMinn 19 22 19 13 = 73

Rhea 14 14 13 16 = 57

Gonzalez 28, Elliot 12, Moses 10, Stinnett 5, Goforth 3, Sliger 2.

Ava Travis 16, Lakyn Lockhart 12, Summer Jenkins 7, Ruehling 6, Hayla Patton 3, Jenna Burchard 2, Emma Reeves 2.

McMinn 22 14 14 16 = 66

Rhea 8 15 11 14 = 48