District 13 Playoff-Push (3A)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: Dyersburg High team.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dyersburg stepped his foot down forcefully Saturday, defeating Dyer County and establishing a real standing lead atop District 13-3A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Dyer County - Dyersburg (1/27)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dyersburg senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1382741' first='Ace' last='Mahaffey']</strong> did not play his best game, but his hand justifiably held high after his late three-pointer separated the game, 68-57, with 2:37 left.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dyersburg won, 72-66.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2266379' first='Jamin' last='Gauldin']</strong> (Dyer County) scored five of the game's first nine points. First, he hit a pull-up three-pointer and he followed that up with a penetrating lefty drive past also-quick <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1382741' first='Ace' last='Mahaffey']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The hosting Choctaws doubled and, at times, tripled <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2274856' first='Breyden' last='Turnage']</strong>. Dyersburg's star forward astutely kicked the rock as the walls closed in on him, but <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2337679' first='Jeffery' last='Cobb']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1382741' first='Ace' last='Mahaffey'] </strong>could not punish the defense with three-pointers. That terrible outside shooting continued into the second quarter. DHS played well offensively, until that final shot. They worked to get open shots; they just missed open shots. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Trailed 27-19 late 2Q.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Travon Smiles</strong> (Dyersburg) wonderfully disrupted a dribble-hand off, exploding the play like a blitzing edge rusher. Though DHS Head Coach Blaine Mahaffey subbed him out shortly afterwards, he infused the visiting Trojans with some positive spirit. <strong>Will Short</strong> (Dyersburg) made an and-1 to close the first half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Halftime: </strong>29-24, Dyer County led.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gauldin (Dyer County) paid special attention to a diving Turnage, giving him two defenders. The help left <strong>Mikey McLin</strong> alone. Patiently, he nailed a three-pointer. Gauldin ran to the baseline, rounded to the far corner, caught a pass, took a simple stab-step, and hurled a three-pointer into the net. Seconds later he hit a more impressive three-pointer, giving back the Choctaws their lead, 37-34 with 4:20 left in the third.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Thadd Hill</strong> (Dyersburg) dropped two deep shots late in the third, turning to the crowd with a bouncing, confident head bob after his second make. His success opened it up to 48-41 in DHS' favor. In an iso set, 3Q clock dwindling, Thadd slipped a probing pass to the low block for a buzzer-beating layup. Dyersburg sat atop DCHS, 50-45 after three quarters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dyer County thrilling guard<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2266379' first='Jamin' last='Gauldin']</strong> stood alone, received a left-handed bounce pass from the ref. Set himself. Missed a free throw. Made a free throw. Gauldin was administering the punishment to <strong>Thadd Hill</strong> (Dyersburg) for setting the basketball in the lap of a defender he bowled over a second before. It was a silly gesture, almost certainly done out of frustration at the charging call assessed. Hill's infraction and the ensuing split free throws moved the game to 60-54 in Dyersburg's favor with 4:30 left.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dyer County started: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2266379' first='Jamin' last='Gauldin']</strong>, <strong>Pierre Isom</strong>, <strong>Marcus Martin Jr</strong>., <strong>Justice Mosley</strong>, <strong>Devin Hayward</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dyersburg started: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1382741' first='Ace' last='Mahaffey']</strong>, <strong>Thadd Hill</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2337679' first='Jeffery' last='Cobb']</strong>,<strong> Mikey McLin</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2274856' first='Breyden' last='Turnage']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Dyersburg Roster</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#0 [player_tooltip player_id='2274878' first='Jace' last='Ward'] (2027)<br>#1&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1382741' first='Ace' last='Mahaffey']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ace-mahaffey/"></a>&nbsp;*<br>#2 A.J. Higgins (2025)<br>#3&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2266348' first='Ka'Reeson' last='Thomas']</strong><br>#4 Justin Sawyer (2025)<br>#5 Travon Smiles (2025)<br>#10 Thadd Hill*<br>#11 J'vonta Payne (2026)<br>#12 [player_tooltip player_id='2675259' first='Marcus' last='Whorton'] (2025)<br>#14 [player_tooltip player_id='2337679' first='Jeffery' last='Cobb']* (2025)<br>#22 Will Short (2025)<br>#24 Mikey McLin*<br>#32 [player_tooltip player_id='2274876' first='Jayce' last='Ellerbrook'] (2027)<br>#34 [player_tooltip player_id='2274856' first='Breyden' last='Turnage']* (2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Dyer County Roster</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#1 Jayden Taylor (2026)<br>#2 Devin Hayward*<br>#3 Pierre Isom*<br>#10 [player_tooltip player_id='2335709' first='Marcus' last='Martin Jr.'] *<br>#11 Seth Larue (2025)<br>#12 [player_tooltip player_id='2266379' first='Jamin' last='Gauldin']* (2025)<br>#14 Justice Mosley*<br>#20 JT Brandeberry (2025)<br>#22 Talon Messer (2026)<br>#24 Grant Powers (2025)<br>#30 Triston Sebourn (2026)<br>#42 PF Ryker Hayes (2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2266379' first='Jamin' last='Gauldin']</strong> earned 13 AAA All-District Team last year, as a sophomore. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2335709' first='Marcus' last='Martin Jr.'] </strong>also earned All-District. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><br>South Gibson Roster (2023-2024)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anticipated Starters*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><thead><tr><th></th><th>Name</th><th>Pos</th><th>Cl</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>00</td><td>Gabe Lovorn</td><td>PF</td><td>Jr.</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Trevor Lemings*</td><td>G</td><td>Sr.</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Landon Dowdy</td><td>SG</td><td>Sr.</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Sam Tritt</td><td>SG</td><td>Jr.</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Koen Thomas</td><td>PG</td><td>So.</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Kale Marcum*</td><td>F</td><td>Sr.</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Aiden Adams</td><td>PG</td><td>Fr.</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Collin Lockett</td><td>F</td><td>Jr.</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Cade Allen</td><td>SG</td><td>So.</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>Richard Addo</td><td>G</td><td>So.</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>Cade Beaver</td><td>W</td><td>So.</td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>Tommy Baker*</td><td>PG</td><td>So.</td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td>Noah Clouse*</td><td>W</td><td>Sr.</td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td>Gavin Crawford*</td><td>W</td><td>Jr.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Obion County starters</span><br>#10<br>#1<br>#43<br>#23<br>#4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Crockett</span><br>#3 Antuan Hobson<br>#10 Baker Jones<br>#11 Lane Simmons<br>#12 Xavier Jones (2025)<br>#15 Preston Lambert (2025)<br>#20 Demo Pickens (2026)<br>#22 Rhett Butler<br>#50 Corey Savage (2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#0 Greyson Lambert (2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">2023 Postseason</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><thead><tr><th>Date/Time</th><th>Matchup</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Feb. 19, 2023</td><td><strong>Dyer County 50</strong>, Dyersburg 45</td></tr><tr><td>Feb. 22, 2023</td><td><strong><strong>Dyer County </strong>67</strong>, Crockett County 62</td></tr><tr><td>Feb. 26, 2023</td><td>Dyer County 62, <strong>Munford 72</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">District 13 Teams</span><br>Crockett County<br>Dyer County*<br>South Gibson* <a href="https://prephoops.com/2023/10/team-preview-south-gibson-hornets/">Team Preview: South Gibson Hornets</a><br>Dyersburg* <a href="https://prephoops.com/2023/11/team-preview-dyersburg/">Team Preview: Dyersburg</a><br>Obion County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->