Basketball Recap: Elisabeth Byington's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Volunteer over Grainger

Volunteer lost against Grainger back in February, and unfortunately they wound up with the same result on Saturday. The Volunteer Falcons fell 52-39 to the Grainger Grizzlies. While losing is never fun, the Falcons can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Tennessee basketball rankings (they are ranked 245th, while the Grizzlies are ranked 101st).

Elisabeth Byington

Rebounds

02/22/25 vs Grainger	13
01/24/25 vs Cherokee	13
12/13/24 @ Cherokee	10
01/17/25 vs Claiborne	9
12/03/24 @ Sullivan East	9
+ 25 more games

Volunteer's defeat came despite a true team effort with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Elisabeth Byington, who dropped a double-double with 12 points and 13 boards. Byington is becoming a predictor of Volunteer's success: when she posts at least ten rebounds the team is 2-1 (and 12-16 when she doesn't). Emilee Mailloux was another key player, putting up ten points and three steals.

Grainger's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Adison Hayes, who posted 19 points. Hayes continues to improve, besting her previous point total in each of the last three games she's played. Another player making a difference was Brookelyn Roach, who earned eight points along with eight assists and seven boards.

Volunteer has been struggling recently as they've lost six of their last eight games. That's put a noticeable dent in their 14-17 record this season. The victory made it two in a row for Grainger and bumps their season record up to 18-13.

Volunteer wasted no time getting back out on the court and has already played their next match, a 60-42 win against Cherokee on the 24th. As for Grainger, they also didn't take long to hit the court again: they've already played their next contest, a 64-40 loss against Greeneville on the 24th.