Commanders swarm past Yellow Jackets

Trousdale County was within three points of host Friendship Christian midway through the second quarter Tuesday.
But the Commanders scored 10 straight points to end the first half and kept swarming in the second to open a 67-34 District 8-A swatting of the Yellow Jackets at the Sportsplex.
Friendship led all the way. But Trousdale was within 15-13 at the first quarter break and trailed 21-18 following a layup by Terrian Luster.
But the Commanders closed the half with a 13-1 run to lead 34-19 at the break. They extended their run to 12-0 to start the second half.
"(We) didn't execute very good defensively early, gave them too many easy shots under the basket where we don't roll up defensive pressure we're trying to apply," Friendship coach Matt Bradshaw said after his Commanders climbed to 7-3 for the season and 2-0 in the district. "Struggled at times putting the ball in the basket.
"Garrett McKnight stepped up and had a big stretch in the first and second quarter when we needed some big shots. Michael Teeter stepped up during that stretch in the second quarter."
Teeter scored a game-high 16 points and blocked four shots. McKnight closed the first half with his second three-pointer which gave him 12 points. He tossed in another three early in the third quarter to finish his 15-point scoring spree.
Taylor Ferraro fired in two threes as he and John Doak (who supplied six assists) each knocked down nine points. Cameron Spaulding scored seven off the bench in the post while Adam Stephens, John Hatcher, Jonathan Dunn, Matt Goodner and Isaac Wilson each tossed in two and Eddie Doss Eatherly a free throw.
Hatcher also had five steals as Trousdale County committed 19 turnovers to Friendship's nine. Many of the steals seemed to come during the third quartrer which ended with Ferraro's three-point play off a steal for a 55-25 lead.
"Not everything that happens on the floor that's a positive is done in points," Bradshaw said. "John's a big offensive-rebound guy. He gets a lot of steals. He makes some things happen."
Kaleb Holland tossed in 10 points for the Yellow Jackets, who shot 32 percent from the floor (Friendship made 44 percent) in falling to 4-7, 2-1.
Friendship will travel to district rival Gordonsville on Thursday.

Buffaloes pull away from Purple Tigers
CLARKRANGE — Clarkrange's boys pulled away in the fourth quarter of a low-scoring game to defeat Watertown 44-32 Tuesday night.
The Buffaloes led 13-5 following the first quarter, 18-12 at halftime and 26-23 through three periods as Watertown fell to 4-11.
Clarkrange connected on 16 of 40 shots while Watertown hit 14 of 45. But the Buffaloes were 11-of-18 from the free-throw line while the Purple Tigers were 1-of-4.
Brandon Upchurch, Clarkrange's 6-4 guard, scored 17 points while Chris Snow tossed in 12 from inside.
John Kneisel knocked down 11 points for the Purple Tigers while Aaron Fountain and Ben Smith each scored seven; Justin Breece, Victor Loza and Dalton Phillips two apiece and Levi Tschaekofske a free throw.
Watertown will travel to Westmoreland on Friday for a District 8-A matchup.

Underwood's 1,000th point lifts MJCA to victory
MT. JULIET — Victor Underwood's 1,000th high school point isn't memorable just for the milestone, but also for its circumstance.
Coming on a putback with 20 seconds to play Tuesday night, the milestone basket put Mt. Juliet Christian ahead by a point in a game the Saints won 50-48 over District 8-A rival Merrol Hyde. The junior post added a free throw as MJCA improved to 6-5 for the season and 2-2 in the district.
Mt. Juliet Christian led 14-6 following the first quarter before falling behind 23-22 by halftime. The Saints were back in front 35-28 going into the fourth.
Bryce Middleton scored 18 to lead the Saints while Underwood finished with 14, Austin Wortman and Daniel Shedd a three-pointer apiece and Blake Marsh and Chris Frazier two each.
Rob Kolp, Merrol Hyde's 6-9 post, scored 17 for the Hawks while guard Braxton Wilson tossed in 12.
Mt. Juliet Christian will travel to Huntingdon on Thursday to take on Carroll Academy.
Sports Editor Andy Reed can be reached at 444-3952 ext. 17 or by e-mail at andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com.