BY JEFF CATE (TEAM FYN SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR)

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Walker Valley boys’ basketball team has had a good start to their 2024-2025 season, winning 9 out of their first 10 games with the only loss coming by 1 point at Maryville on December 3^rd. The Mustangs would utilize a Kevin McAllister / “Home Alone” styled gameplan on Silverdale with a convincing 60-34 victory over the Seahawks on Tuesday evening at the Silverdale Center.

Graham Campbell and Landon Shirk led the way for the Mustangs in the first quarter, with Campbell scoring 9 points and Shirk netting 8 points which included a pair of three pointers. The defensive end of the floor is where Walker Valley would flex their muscle and give everyone in attendance a glimpse of what the rest of the game would look like. Silverdale was just under double digits on the scoreboard until Tanner Bayne connected on a 3 at the buzzer, cutting the Walker Valley lead at the end of the first quarter to 20-11. Shirk led the way in the second quarter, including another bomb from the 3-point line, to help extend the Mustangs lead while holding Silverdale to just 8 points in the quarter to take a 34-19 halftime advantage. Silverdale’s first basket of the second quarter didn’t fall through the net until there was about 4 and a half minutes left in the half.

Jake McGhee drives into the lane for Silverdale

Zach Davis led the way in third period with 7 points as the Mustangs got scoring from Shirk, Wyatt Keeton, Turner Clayton, and Campbell in a 17-point effort offensively. Defense would set the tone in the final 8 minutes as Silverdale had another long scoring drought like the Seahawks had in the second quarter, not getting their first points until there was 2:29 left in the game on a Connor Jenne basket. The Mustangs would allow just 5 points in the final quarter while getting 3 pointers from Davis and Shirk put the wrapping paper on the Christmas present. Shirk (18 points) and Davis (17 points) scored in double figures for Walker Valley while Parker Holland (7 points) while Bayne and Briggs Hoewischer had 6 points each to lead the Seahawks.

The Silverdale Seahawks during a timeout on the floor during the game against Walker Valley

Walker Valley improves to 10-1 overall and will take on Cumberland County on December 19^th. Silverdale falls to 3-7, snapping a 2-game winning streak. The Seahawks will have a pair of games on Friday (vs. Columbia Academy) and Saturday (vs. Battle Ground Academy) at Franklin Road Academy in Nashville before the Christmas holiday.

Follow Jeff Cate on “X” at @TheJeffCate