Gallatin had effectively turned the Regional semifinal basketball game into their style of round ball when in the second half, a war of attrition where defense reigned supreme.  The fourth quarter would be one that Wave would have in their favor, but it would not conclude as the Green and Gold and Head Coach Bobby Luna would have liked. Said Luna, We struggled offensively but we had a chance, three chances, there at the end to win it.  I am really proud of the way our players handled themselves tonight.”

Gallatin worked to absorb a seven point halftime deficit during the third and fourth quarters to eventually take the lead late in the fourth quarter only to see Clarksville Northeast reestablish their advantage and maintain a two point lead until the final buzzer.  Gallatin’s season came to a close, 51-49.  

However, the game did not begin as closely contested.  Clarksville won the opening tip off and quickly establish an 11-5 advantage over the Wave; a lead that prompted a Luna timeout.  Until the timeout, Gallatin senior DaRonte Clark had scored all the points on the board for the Green and Gold.  After the break in play, Gallatin received scoring contributions from its other members on the court.  By the end of the first quarter, the Wave deficit stood at seven point, 21-14.  

Northeast maintained their seven-point advantage throughout the second period until senior point man Cody Matthews got the hot hand.  

Matthews hit a three pointer to close the gap to one point, 21-20, then converted a four point play towards the end of the second.  Clarksville did maintain to regain their advantage in the final two minutes of the second period to enter the halftime break, 36-29 ahead of Gallatin.  

Matthews led all scorers at intermission with sixteen points.  Clark managed only a single point after scoring the Wave’s opening five to enter halftime with six.  Anthony Woodard scored three points while Tremaine Smith and Zach Perry each had two points.

Woodard began the third period with a turn around eight-foot jumper to close the distance, 36-31.  Clark closed the gap further shortly thereafter by hitting a three point basket.  DeVonn Fields had a chance to knot the score at 45 apiece with a buzzer beating layin to close the third, but it would not find the bottom of the basket.  At the end of three periods, the disadvantage stood at two, 45-43.  

Clark brought Gallatin within one point with a fourth quarter steal.  In his drive to the basket, Clark was fouled and stepped to the line.  With one of two baskets made, the distance was a single point, 45-44.  Gallatin captured their first lead of the night with five minutes to play, as Woodard sank a jump hook under the basket, 46-45.  

Woodard secured a three point Gallatin lead, as he was assisted by Clark, 48-45.  DeVante Ray fouled out of the game with two minutes to play.  With Ray out of the game, Clarksville took a 51-48 advantage over the Wave.  

Matthews was fouled with thirteen seconds to play.  After missing the first, a lane violation was called on Northeast.  Matthews then converted in his first attempt but missed the second.  The game was a two point contest, 51-49.

Gallatin sent Northeast to the foul line with 5.4 seconds remaining.  Clarksville missed the front end of a one and one.  

Clark grabbed the rebound and rushed upcourt.  Unable to get a shot off, Clark found Woodard.  Woodard, in traffic and amidst heavy traffic put up a fifteen foot shot for the tie.  The shot would not fall.  Shocked that foul was not called, and rightly so, the Gallatin Green Wave saw their season end, 51-49 to Clarksville Northeast.  

Luna said, “We don’t get the benefit of the doubt in big time games.  We don’t look like big time players, so it seems like we don’t get those calls in close games.  I am proud of our kids but upset at the way the game ended.”

Matthews ended the night with a team high nineteen points.  Clark finished with twelve.  Woodard had eleven on the night.  Smith netted five points and Perry finished with two points to round out the scoring for the Green and Gold.  

Luna continued, “You know offensively we struggled, but we had a chance there at the end and that is what you want.”

“This is one of the better battling teams that we have ever had here at Gallatin.  We played really well defensively.  We were able to keep them off the glass and not allow very many second shot attempts.  These are a great group of young men.  It should not ended like this,” concluded Luna.