By Steve Williams
From Coach Bob Dagley’s team in the mid-1960s that included Tommy Everett, Leslie Spitzer and David Widner to Zach Turner’s high-scoring games the last two or three years, Gibbs has had good basketball teams over the years.
But the Eagles in Corryton are currently rebuilding under new head coach Matthew Granville.
Gibbs’ record dropped to 2-11 with its 54-35 loss to Cocke County last Monday afternoon in the 2025 McDonald’s Faris Christmas Shootout at the Jim Williams Gymnasium hosted by Carter High.
By the way, the Eagles didn’t attempt a single free throw in the game. This longtime sports reporter can’t recall ever seeing that.
The Fighting Cocks from Newport slipped out to a 12-8 lead in the first period and steadily added to it by outscoring Gibbs 19-9 in the second quarter, 15-11 in the third and 8-7 in the final frame. Both teams started subbing with about four minutes left.
Zach Williams led Cocke County (6-10) with 13 points. Eli Roberts chipped in 10 and Maddox Holt eight.
Gibbs’ Lee Wolosik scored eight of his game-high 12 points in the first period. Gage Walker added six and Kaleb Lafleur five.
The Eagles made five 3-point shots and the Fighting Cocks three.
Cocke County had a 7-0 run at the start of the second period to quickly take an 11-point lead.
Lafleur hit a 3-pointer for Gibbs and Walker scored inside on a rebound to start the second half and get within nine (31-22), but the Eagles couldn’t get any closer.
Coach Granville felt “turnovers” was the difference in the game. “That’s when they really went on a run,” he said. “When we cleaned that up we were much more competitive.”
Granville, who coached in Panama City, Fla., the past six years, believed Gibbs “graduated 85 percent of its production from last season” and Turner, who signed with Milligan, was a big part of that.
“I think we’ve got a lot of guys who are filling new roles,” added Granville. “If we keep building, our first district game is Jan. 9. So we have everything in front of us. If we continue to grow and guys keep filling their roles and get better each and every day, I feel we’ll be ready to go come district time.”
