FCS defense fuels win over Watertown

WATERTOWN — It was Senior Night for the Watertown Purple Tigers Tuesday. But it was a Friendship Christian senior who made his personal history.
Michael Teeter became the seventh boy in school history to score 1,000 career points in FC's 59-44 win in the District 8-A matchup.
After trailing 12-11 at the end of the first frame, Watertown's only lead came when the Purple Tigers took a 13-12 lead with 7:58 remaining in the second quarter. They would tie the score at 16 with 5:24 remaining, but FC's 21-6 run to close the half proved to be enough.
"We struggled a bit offensively early. Twelve points in a quarter is not normal for us," FC coach Matt Bradshaw said. "We heated up and started scoring a lot of points off defense and putbacks. Our defense is big for our offense."
With a 41-22 lead at halftime, Bradshaw used much of the second half to rest his first team and provide his younger players with experience. Due to early-season re-schedulings related to the Commander football team reaching the BlueCross Bowl, Friendship plays six games in the next 10 days, starting with Thurday's trip to Trousdale County.
Teeter, who led all scorers with 17 points, went into Tuesday's game with 986 points for his career and passed 1000 with a fourth-quarter jump shot. Teammate John Doak was the only other player to reach double figures, netting 14. Cameron Spaulding had eight points and Teeter's younger brother, Parker, scored six. Eddie Doss Eatherley, Matt Goodner, John Hatcher and Adam Stephens had three apiece for the Commanders, with Lee Maason rounding out the scoring with two.
The trio of Ben Smith, John Kneisel and Nick Lennox led the Tigers with eight points apiece. Aaron Fountain had seven. Levi Tschaekofske added six, despite playing with four fouls from the 4:45 mark of the second quarter. Justin Breece scored four, Victor Loza two and Seth Pritchett added a free throw for the Tigers.
FC improved to 15-5 overall, with a 7-1 district mark. The Tigers fell to 8-15 and 2-9 in the district. In contrast to the Commanders' NBA-like schedule, Watertown's next game isn't until next Tuesday's district clash at Gordonsville.

Underwood's 32 leads Saints' inside domination of Trousdale County
HARTSVILLE — Mt. Juliet Christian pounded the ball into the posts Tuesday night and Victor Underwood responded with 32 points as the Saints soared past Trousdale County 66-47.
The Saints led 18-7 following the first quarter, 29-21 at halftime and 44-36 through three periods as they improved to 11-13 for the season and 3-8 in District 8-A.
"When we feed he posts, we always seem to play good," Mt. Juliet Christian assistant coach David Kitchen said. "Our posts just worked their butts off tonight and whenever we score 40 points with our posts, it's usually a good night."
Point guard Bryce Middleton scored 16 for the Saints while Blake Marsh added eight, Zach Womble four, Chris Frazier three, Trey McNeil two and Daniel Shedd a free throw.
Guard Craig Brown threw in three 3-pointers on his way to 15 for Trousdale County.
Mt. Juliet Christian will travel to White House on Saturday to take on Community Christian.
Sports Editor Andy Reed contributed to this story.