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SEYMOUR- The third time was not the charm for the Seymour Eagles.

Grainger and Seymour had met other times this season prior to Monday night’s game with the Grizzlies winning both. Grainger won by 14 in the first contests at The Den and then it took a last second three-pointer by Brady Smith to defeat the Eagles at the Pigeon Forge Christmas tournament. Monday’s contest was never in doubt as the Grizzlies cruised to an 81-29 road victory.

The season-high point production for Grainger was thanks in large part to 13 three-pointers they hit against the Eagles. Grizzlies’ head coach Adam Wolfenbarger was very pleased with the offensive punch his team meted out on Monday. “That’s obviously the best we have shot all year. I kind of kidded with our guys at halftime and asked them ‘who are you and what have you done with my team?’ We shot the ball very well and our defensive pressure was really good in the first half as Seymour shot less than 30 percent from the field and every shot they took was challenged. I think this bunch is starting to understand what we are capable of when we defend like that.”

In a game with so much scoring, many players contributed to the victory. Drew Branson was his usual self as he led Grainger with 20 points but he didn’t have to carry all the load. Logan Johnson scored 13 points which included a trio of three-pointers. Kade Williams added 10 points, Ryland Burchett was a menace on defense and Jaxon Maxey had the highlight of the night with a reverse layup that put the Grizzlies up 42-14 in the first half. Wolfenbarger was thrilled to see a total team effort in the big win. “Logan has had some really good games but he hasn’t been able to score as much as he wanted to but he really shot the ball well tonight. Jaxon had a chance to get in there as he has been a little banged up and he is just now getting his legs back so it was good for him. Ryland is guarding the other team’s best player every night and he and Kade are always going to put their bodies on the line so it was good to see him get involved on the offensive end as he doesn’t always get those opportunities.”

The Grizzlies jumped out to an early 8-0 lead on a three pointer by Branson. That was a foreshadowing of what was to come as the senior sharp-shooter finished the first eight minutes of play with four triples and 14 total points as Grainger was in command with a 27-11 lead. Kade Williams produced the first five points of the second period with a steal and layup and a shot from downtown. Brody Wells closed out the first half scoring with five points, three of which came on a three to push the score to 57-17 at the end of the second period. Kade Williams started the third period the same way he started the second period as he netted five points. The Grizzlies kept pouring it on as Wells’ arc shot at the buzzer sent the game to the final frame with the Grizz rolling, 69-23. With such a huge lead, the clock in the fourth rolled but Johnson took advantage with a pair of three’s and then Grant Jarnigan closed things out with two triples of his own to produce the 81-29 final.

Wolfenbarger said before the game, he was a little worried the contest against the Eagles could be a trap game with such a short turnaround after the game at Greeneville on Friday, Monday’s road tilt at Seymour and Tuesday’s game against Cherokee but his team quickly put his mind to rest with the start they had. “We were out of school today for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and that can throw off your routine a little bit but I was really happy with the way we responded. Hopefully, we are staring to make a few of those strides we have been hoping for.”