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SEVIERVILLE — The Jefferson County Lady Patriots proved themselves on Friday night as they came back to beat the Sevier County Bearettes in the district semifinals, 43-42.

The Bearettes came into the tournament as the number one seed. Jefferson County held the number four seed. This is the first district game the Bearettes have lost this season.

“As a coach, it’s fantastic to see a result like that for your girls and your team knowing how much hard work they put into the process and to the season,” Jefferson County girls head coach Bo Lewis said.

“To be able to come on the road and play the number one team and win here is amazing. It’s a hard place to play anyways.”

Makenzie Alvey and Madi Hawk both led their team with 15 points each.

“Those two have been our leaders all season,” Lewis said about Alvey and Hawk. “I don’t feel like we’ve gotten rattled a whole lot this season, and it’s due to their leadership.”

Other scorers included Brooke Satterfield with eight points, Kamry Bolin with three, and Adalyn Arnstrom with two.

Sevier County started the game off with dominance, leading the entire first quarter. Hawk pitched in two free-throw shots, and Alvey hit one basket with 30 seconds left in the first, ending the quarter with a score of 8-4, Sevier.

Jefferson County warmed up to the Sevier County goals in the second quarter, outscoring the Bearettes by four. Alvey got a quick bucket at the beginning of the second, followed by Hawk, who drained a three-pointer and added in another basket.

“After the middle of that first quarter I felt like we settled in and really executed our game plan.” Lewis said.

With a tie ballgame, Bolin pitched in a shot to give Jefferson County their first lead of the night with six minutes left in the first half.

Sevier County fired back with one shot and four free-throw baskets. But Satterfield came back with an answer and shot a three-pointer with less than 10 seconds left in the half to tie the ballgame 16-16 at halftime.

The Lady Patriots seemed to slow down in the third quarter, as the Bearettes outscored them by six. Alvey worked to keep her team in the game, making two three-pointers. Arnstrom also added in a basket.

The quarter ended with a score of 30-24, Sevier. Jefferson County needed quick buckets.

“When they went on that little run at the end of the third, the wheels started to come off a little bit,” Lewis said. “But thankfully we kept our composure. We had opportunities and we capitalized on them.”

Tensions were high as both teams attacked the basket in the fourth quarter. Hawk scored a basket along with a three-point shot to start off the fourth, along with one free-throw shot by Bolin.

Alvey added in a bucket, giving Jefferson County the lead for about 30 seconds, until the Bearettes found their way to the goal again, taking their lead to five points.

Satterfield kept her team alive with a three-pointer, followed by two free-throws from Hawk.

Down by four with less than a minute to go, Alvey found her way to the three-point line, sinking a shot. Satterfield sealed the game with a quick basket with only 25 seconds left in the game. This brought the final score to 43-42, Jefferson County.

“I thought our defensive effort tonight was perhaps, maybe the best that we’ve played all season collectively as a team,” Lewis said.

“They’re a tough team to guard and match up with but I thought our girls answered the challenge tonight.”