Middle School Basketball Teams Sweep Championship

Both the girls and boys Middle School basketball teams won the Greater Nashville Athletic Conference championship this past weekend to conclude two awesome seasons!

The Lady Bears clinched the title with a 27-12 win over the Harding Academy Generals, finishing their season 19-5 overall and 16-2 in district play. The team was led by 8th graders Emma Marshall, who was named to the All Conference Team; Chloee Tinnin, named All-Conference Honorable Mention; Ashleigh Crabb; Valencia King; Rainey DeSha; and Trinity Thornton.

The 7th-grade squad will certainly be a force to be reckoned with next year as they defend the 2017 championship title with players Presley Rader, K. J. Johnson, Kailee Tolbert, Carly Spicer, and Gracie Wimsatt.

Congrats to Coaches Stacy Swinea and Jana Litton.

The boys, coached by DA alumnus and faculty member Mac Swann ('08), finished the season with a record 22-2, one of the most successful seasons in program history (16-1 in league games). The Bears avenged one of their two regular losses when they, too, defeated Harding Academy 33-27 in the championship game.

Three Bears players were recognized for their contributions as A. J. Quinn was named to the All Conference Team, and Jared Vetetoe and Austin Flynn garnered Honorable Mention. Quinn was also the team's leading scorer, averaging 12.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Flynn was second on the team scoring 9 points a game while also leading the team in assists (69) and steals (88). Seven other players averaged at least 3 points per game, including Caleb Shaw (6), Vetetoe (5.5), Caleb Smith (4), Eli Litton (4), Adam Urquhart (3.7), Brown Norton (3.5) and Griffin Swinea (3.2).

Statistically, DA dominated their opponents all season long, averaging 49.3 points per game while holding their opponents to 23.6 points.

Their JV team, coached by Taylor Trotter, finished 10-1. Like the girls' team, the future of DA boys basketball looks bright. Way to go, Bears!