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<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"MANCHESTER \u2014 The Williamsburg Yellow Jackets put together one heck of a run this past week to capture the 13th Region All \u2018A\u2019 Classic Tournament championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Yellow Jackets came into Tuesday\u2019s matchup with the Harlan Green Dragons already defeating both Barbourville, and Oneida Baptist to get the opportunity to play in the title game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Williamsburg rallied from a first half deficit to pull out a 54-51 win over Harlan, who entered the tournament ranked No. 10 in the region, and as defending 13th Region All \u2018A\u2019 Classic champions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUnbelievable,\u201d Williamsburg coach Anthony Hibbard said. \u201cNot one person outside our team believed we could pull this one off. Our guys understood the assignment and put together three great games with the last game knocking off four-time defending champion, Harlan. So impressed by our composure down the stretch, especially when I think about the previous month. \u201cOur guys have grown so much, individually and collectively,\u201d he added. \u201cOverall, this victory means so much for our community. Our guys know that. Special things happen when people put selfish ambition aside and play for the name on the front instead of the name on the back. This team is a perfect example of that. We got a bunch of guys that a month ago did not even believe in themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow, they can call themselves champions,\u201d Hibbard continued. \u201cWe just keep reiterating, \u2018When things go good, we work hard. When things go bad, we work hard.\u2019 They have allowed us to coach them and have worked extremely hard. Our community can celebrate because these guys represented them well and played for the name on the front of the jersey.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Yellow Jackets trailed throughout the first half but remained within striking distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Williamsburg trailed 17-11 after the first quarter, and 30-23 at halftime before making its move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHarlan jumped on us early and pulled out to a 8-0 lead to start the game,\u201d Hibbard said. \u201cWe were down seven at the half. We made adjustments at the half and responded. During the second half, we did not panic. We just gradually chipped away at the lead. Eventually, we gained the lead and finished the game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHenry and Andrew are slowly becoming two of the top players in the region,\u201d he added. \u201cHenry is really blossoming into a great lead guard. Andrew has been a double-double machine for us. Conner Saylor and Cooper Prewitt made some big shots for us all tournament. Zach Bowen, Dalton Henderson, and Lakin Cunagin also gave us some big minutes. Overall, just incredibly proud of these guys and I\u2019m excited to see how much we can improve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Andrew Smith scored 11 points in the third quarter while Cooper Prewitt added five points to help the Yellow Jackets take a slim 41-40 advantage stage into the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The game remained tight throughout the final eight minutes, but Williamsburg managed to hold off Harlan to get the championship win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Smith led the Yellow Jackets with 21 points while Henry Bowling added 13 points. Prewitt added nine points. <\/p>\n\n\n\n