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Little Milligan falls in region play

By Tim Chambers

GRAY — Little Milligan was hoping to play the part of Hickory High School in their semi-final game against undefeated Mary Hughes but a picket fence nor a Jimmy Chitwood-like effort could bring down the 24-0 Lions.

The Buffaloes gave Coach Mark Mason’s team a scare for three and a half quarters but capsized down the stretch 56-42 in the small school’s regional played a Ridgeview Elementary School on Tuesday afternoon.

The Buffaloes must now win the consolation game tonight at 7:30 to advance to Saturday’s state sectional tournament in Pigeon Forge. It was obvious that the Lions and Buffaloes were clearly the two best teams in the tournament.

“We had them scared a little bit and had a chance,” said Little Milligan’s coach J. R. Campbell. “They have two great coaches in Mark Mason and John Johnson. That’s an excellent elementary basketball team.”