NEWPORT-The Cocke County Lady Red claimed their first regular season district championship since the 1986-87 season after a 55-26 victory over South Doyle on Friday.

The Lady Red had already clinched the number one seed in the upcoming District 2-AAA tournament which begins next week, but the win on Friday capped off what has been an outstanding year under first year head coach Jeremy Byrd.

"I had a vision. We have exceeded that vision and expectations," Byrd said. "We're beyond where my goal was. I'm just at a loss for words now. I just can't express how proud I am of these girls and how hard they've worked. I just think the world of them. They're just a good group of girls."

"I look at other teams and I see the way they act and these girls are so disciplined and respectful towards me. They do anything I ask them to do and they don't talk back. It makes a coaches job a lot easier when you have coachable kids," Byrd said.

For the full story, see the February 9-10 Weekend Edition of the Newport Plain Talk.