By Jason Fite

The 3rd Grade Panthers TVBA team traveled to Killen, Alabama for games at Brooks High School on Saturday, February 19th. The 3rd Grade Panthers had games against the Brooks (AL) Orange and West Morgan (AL).

In their first game of the afternoon, Lewis County faced one of the Brooks (AL) 3rd grade teams, the Brooks Orange. The Panthers’ defense was tough from the opening tip as they limited Brooks to only 2 first-half points while Haven Ray led the offensive attack with 8 of the teams 13 points as Lewis County led 13-2 at halftime.

The second half was more Lewis County dominance as the Panthers outscored the Brooks Orange boys 14-7 in the half, led by Ray again with 6, and the Panthers cruised to a 27-9 win in their first game of the day.

Haven Ray finished the game with 14 points to lead the Panthers in scoring, Dominick James added 6 points in the win, Cooper Johnston, Kayden O’Neal, and Cash Creasy each had 2, and Kanon McDonald had 1.

In their second game of Saturday afternoon, Lewis County took on the 3rd grade boys’ team from West Morgan (AL). West Morgan jumped on the Panthers from the tip as they took an early lead and sprinted out to a big 21-4 lead as the teams reached the break at halftime.

But Lewis County would battle back after the break. Haven Ray would lead the second half charge for Lewis County with 6 points in the period. But the big first half lead built by the team from West Morgan proved too much for Lewis County to overcome as West Morgan took the win 30-18.

Haven Ray had 6 points for Lewis County in the loss, Dominick James and Kanon McDonald each had 4 points, and Cooper Johnston and Kayden O’Neal each had 2.

The 3rd grade Lewis County Panthers ended the day 1-1 in TVBA action.