Mules, Lady Mules both lose at Dyersburg

DYERSBURG, Tenn. — The Dyersburg Trojans took a double-digit lead into the halftime break on the way to an 82-66 win Friday over the visiting Poplar Bluff Mules.

Though Poplar Bluff scored the first four points, a Malik McLin 3-pointer quickly cut the lead. The Mules put a couple of more points on the board, but again McLin cut the game to one with a 3 at 8-7 with three minutes left to play in the opening frame.

The Mules led 14-11 at the end of one quarter.

The Trojans completely changed the tone in the second quarter. Ace Mahaffy got the team fired up with an acrobatic layup. A pass from McLin to Breydon Turnage gave Dyersburg its first lead at 15-14 with 6:48 remaining in the half.

From there the Trojans got rolling as they were beginning to see their shots fall. Jaylon Brown found Turnage in the lane for a one-handed flush to put the Trojans up 28-20 with 2:24 to go. Turnage then extended the lead to double digits with an offensive putback as Dyersburg led 30-20.

With a little more than 30 seconds to play in the half, the Trojans turned a 12-point lead into a 38-20 halftime lead by scoring off three straight turnovers.

Dyersburg was able to hold off any attempt by the Mules to come back after halftime. Poplar Bluff came out hot to start the third quarter, slowly chipping away at the lead with good two-point shots. However, Dyersburg was able to maintain their production, keeping the lead in double digits.

The Trojans eclipsed the half century mark with about three and a half minutes left in the period thanks to a pair of Lowrance free throws at 51-36. Ka’eeson Thomas extended the lead to 20 points with a 3-pointer at 56-36 with 2:56 remaining in the third quarter.

Dyersburg led 58-45 going into the final eight minutes of action.

The Trojans stayed ahead of the Mules throughout the fourth quarter despite the Mules best efforts. Turnage scored the first two points for Dyersburg to begin the frame, followed by two strong blocks on the other end. The Trojans held their position to the end.

Darius Graham led the Mules with 22 points, while Terrance Williams added 11.

Jaylon Brown led four scorers in double digits with 24 points. Mahaffey and Lowrance both scored 13 points apiece while Turnage added 12 more in the victory.

GIRLS

Dyersburg 69, Poplar Bluff 28

In Friday's girls game, the host Lady Trojans put on an offensive clinic against Poplar Bluff, jumping out of the gate with their foot on the gas and never looking back, outscoring the Lady Mules 69-28. In the third quarter, sophomore Joya Crawford scored her 1000th career point.

The Lady Trojans struck first blood with a runner and a mid range shot from Chelby Jordan to put Dyersburg up 4-0. Crawford began her pursuit just under the six minute mark with a pull up jumper to put the Trojans up 6-0. The Lady Trojans held a 10-point lead going into the second quarter at 16-6 with Crawford scoring half of Dyersburg’s total.

At the top of the second frame, Dyersburg scored five quick points to go up 21-6. Poplar Bluff finally got on the board, but then Aeire Quinn blocked a shot on back-to-back possessions. Quinn also ended the period on back-to-back three pointers to put the Trojans up 34-16 over the Lady Mules at halftime.

With the clock running in mercy rule, the Dyersburg girls put the game far out of reach as they cruised to a 41-point home victory.