Ads boys hoop season ends in 1st round vs. BHS

MARYVILLE — When Farragut High School and Bearden High met in the first round of the 4-4A Boys’ District Tournament at Maryville High Wednesday night, Feb. 14, it was the third time in 12 days the longtime rivals played each other. 

Unfortunately for the Ads, there was no third-time charm. The Bulldogs’ 57-39 win brought the FHS season to a close. 

“They’re a really good team,” Farragut head coach J.P. Burris said. “They’re well-coached; they’re sixth in the state for a reason. Credit to coach (Jeremy) Parrott for having them ready.” 

“I’m very thankful for the way we managed that game down the stretch ...,” Parrott said.

King Hubbard was high for Bearden with 15 points. Sean Capshaw added 13.

“Our defense got us through this game,” Capshaw said. “Our offense started going on in the third and fourth.”

“We don’t have a lot of size, but I thought Berkley played like a man tonight,” Burris said. Naro led FHS scorers with 15. Teammate Dom VanAcker added 10.

Overall this season, “We lost five or six games in overtime, three games off buzzer-beaters, a couple of games to state-ranked teams,” Burris said.

About his four seniors, the Ads skipper labeled Naro, Aiden VanAcker, Tony Spadafora and Brevin Swartzentruber a “phenomenal group of four guys. They’re not the most vocal, but they lead by example.”

“It was a rough year, didn’t end like we wanted,” Aiden VanAcker said.