7A SE SEMIS: Smiths Stations drops Jeff Davis out of tourney

Jeff Davis is defeated by Smiths Station in the 7A Southeast Region semis on Wednesday. (Tim Gayle)

By TIM GAYLE

For the better part of the first half, it was a challenge for the Smiths Station boys to figure out how to stop Jeff Davis junior Ketwan Reeves from shooting them out of the Southeast Regional.

The Panthers figured it out in the second half. Better rebounding on both ends of the court reduced the opportunities for both Reeves and the Volunteers.

Smiths Station controlled the boards and the game in the second half, rallying from a fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Vols 63-60 in Garrett Coliseum on Wednesday morning. 

Smiths Station (24-8) will advance to the regional finals, while Jeff Davis ends the season at 20-9.

“We went to the regionals last year and the year before that,” Smiths Station coach Steven Davis said. “Before that, it was probably like 1994. We’re constantly trying to build history at the school. This is the first time the school has ever been to the Elite Eight, first time we’ve probably won the area championship, first time since being in 7A we’ve won the area during the regular season outright.

“Right now, we’re trying to make history with this senior group.”

The Panthers’ dominance on the boards (44-24) offset the performance of Reeves, the Vols’ shooting guard who single-handedly kept Jeff Davis in the game with 31 points and five steals.

“He’s been doing that for us all year,” Jeff Davis coach Lakenya Knight said. “He can shoot.”

Dre Weathers led the Panthers with 17 points and six rebounds, while Ahmari Peabody struggled with his shot and managed just three points but had 10 rebounds. Trevon Taylor added 14 points and four rebounds and Tre’Quan Tuner had 13 points and eight rebounds. 

“We wanted to get it down to Dre early,” Davis said. “We were doing it, but were slow doing it. We weren’t moving the ball a lot to get it him, but in high school basketball, a ‘big’ like him is a luxury. So we wanted to make sure we used him. They’ve got a few more guards than us, so we knew that was going to be a problem, their quickness, but we’re pretty quick, too.”

Later in the third quarter, the Panthers picked up the pace and began to assert themselves in the paint.

“We picked up the energy,” Weathers said. 

The Vols, meanwhile, were forcing turnovers, but couldn’t build a lead as they committed turnovers on the other end of the floor.

“Too many turnovers, we missed easy bunnies, we missed layups,” Knight said. “But they fought hard.”

“In the second half, we weren’t communicating as well and we were rushing,” Reeves said. “Instead of slowing down, we were speeding up.”

The Panthers finally forged into the lead with three minutes left, then had to withstand the Vols’ repeated efforts to reclaim the lead in the final minute.

“It was scary,” Weathers said. “My heart was beating pretty fast.” 

For Jeff Davis, it’s back to the basics as the Vols hope to advance farther in the tournament next year. 

“Go out in the weight room, watch basketball more and learn the game,” Reeves said. “Just build a bond stronger than we had this year, so that when we’re on the court, it’ll be easier when we play everybody else.” 

For Smiths Station, there’s still another chapter in the 2021-22 season left to write.

“It feels great,” Weathers said. “It feels good to be able to make history with my teammates.”