Golden Bears take control of 'Cats in third qtr.

GLADEVILLE — After trailing the entire first half Tuesday, Mt. Juliet scored all of the third-period points but two as the Golden Bears took control in a 53-40 win at Wilson Central.
Central held off a late Mt. Juliet surge to cling to a 21-20 edge at the break. But the Bears pushed the Wildcats over the cliff with a 15-2 third quarter to take command 35-23.
Despite nine fourth-period points from center Travis Adkins, the Wildcats could climb no closer than seven in the fourth as Central slipped to 16-10 for the season and 6-5 in District 9-AAA. Mt. Juliet improved to those same records.
Demond Craig scored six of his game-high 12 points in the decisive third period for Mt. Juilet while Jonta Bowman added 11 and Ryan Overstreet 10 off the bench. Antwuan Majors sank six free throws to match Berek Lunn's scoring total while Cory Payne finished with four, Robert Hill three and Jeremy Dixon, in the starting lineup for the first time after undergoing surgery for a fractured elbow, a free throw.
Adkins muscled in 11 points for Central while JaJuan Brooks added eight, Kelten Stewart and Kody Woodard seven each; Daniel Palmer, Teraes Clemmons and Arcavius McMurray two apiece and Preston Jenkins a free throw.
Woodard's three-pointer began the scoring and he finished with five first-period points to send Central into the second quarter ahead 13-8.
Payne's one-hander in the lane brought the Golden Bears into a 13-13 tie in the second period before Adkins put the Wildcats back into the lead with a leaner. Central scored six straight, capped by a fastbreak layup from Woodard, for a 19-13 lead.
Two free throws by Stewart made it 21-15 before Mt. Juliet scored five straight to draw within one. Only a pair of missed free throws in the final minute kept the Wildcats ahead at halftime.
Bowman's driving layup 1:14 into the second half put Mt. Juliet ahead for good. Palmer's putback drew Central within 24-23 before the Bears reeled off the final 11 points of the period.
Both teams will wrap up their district schedules Friday night. Central will travel to Hendersonville while Mt. Juliet hosts league-leading Gallatin at Tommy Martin Gym.

Slow-starting Commanders crush Saints in fourth quarter
While Friendship Christian couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, Mt. Juliet Christian took the early lead on the No. 10 Commanders Tuesday night at the Sportsplex.
But the Commanders found their range in the second half and routed the Saints 75-42.
Mt. Juliet Christian led 15-6 following the first quarter as the Commanders connected on just 2 of 12 shots. The Saints were up 28-22 at halftime before Friendship inched in front 38-35 through three periods.
"When you don't go and hit the basket, it doesn't go for you," Friendship coach Matt Bradshaw said after his Commanders climbed to 19-5 for the season and a league-leading 10-1 in the district with only a Friday trip to Merrol Hyde left. "We picked up the defense in the third quarter. Finally, we hit some shots in the fourth quarter.
"We forced 38 turnovers, but we couldn't convert them for a long, long time."
Michael Teeter scored 18 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter for Friendship while senior point guard Adam Stephens knocked down a career-high 19. Garrett McKnight tossed in 12, John Doak and John Hatcher five each and Parker Teeter and Isaac Wilson three apiece.
Victor Underwood threw in three 3-pointers on his way to 24 points for Mt. Juliet Christian. Austin Wortman and Bryce Middleton each scored six, Blake Marsh and Trey McNeill two apiece and Devon Bradshaw and Zach Womble a free throw each.
The Saints are finished with their district schedule at 3-9. Mt. Juliet Christian will carry an 11-15 season mark into a Thursday home game against Lighthouse Christian.

Blue Devils pound Pioneers
MCMINNVILLE — Lebanon broke from a first-quarter tie Tuesday night and rolled to a 64-39 rout of last-place Warren County in District 7-AAA.
The Blue Devils broke open a 13-13 tie to lead 30-23 at halftime and 58-29 through three as they improved to 15-12 for the season and 7-6 in the district.
"We played hard the entire game," said Lebanon coach Doug Keil, whose Blue Devils will close their district schedule Friday at Siegel. "We struggled at first.
"But in the second half, we finished well and our press paid off for us."
Ken Walton came off the bench to throw in a game-high 13 points for Lebanon while O'Keefe McCarver added 11, Conner Burger nine and Xavier Smith two three-pointers on his way to eight. Terrence Logue scored seven before going out in the second quarter with an injured ankle. Robert Crudup finished with five, Michael Edwards and Herschal McCathern four each, Casey Nunley two and Alex Johnson a free throw.
Chris Weitzel threw in 13 for the Pioneers, who fell to 0-13 in the district.

Purple Tigers denied at Gordonsville 62-60
GORDONSVILLE — Watertown missed several point-blank chances to tie Gordonsville in the final seconds before succumbing 62-60 Tuesday night.
David Scudder's foul-line runner put Gordonsville in front 61-60 in the final half minute.
Watertown was fouled, but missed the free throw and a couple of ensuing putbacks. Gordonsville's Jake Dillard dropped in a final foul shot to finish his 19-point night and drop the Purple Tigers to 7-16 for the season and a final 2-10 in District 8-A.
Gordonsville led 25-13 through the first quarter, 37-31 at halftime and 51-48 through three periods.
Dillard knocked down 19 points for Gordonsville despite falling into foul trouble trying to guard Watertown's John Kneisel. Josh Harris, who gave the host Tigers a brief lead in the final 30 seconds with his fourth three-pointer, added 18 while Scudder tossed in 12.
Point guard Aaron Fountain, whose basket put the Purple Tigers ahead by two with 30 seconds left, totaled 28 points, including a trio of triples and 5-of-6 from the foul line. Kneisel stepped outside to drop in two treys for half of his 12 points. Dalton Phillips added eight on putbacks and 4-of-6 free throws. Justin Breece, coming back from the flu, and Levi Tschaekofske each finished with five and Ben Smith two.
Watertown will return to Smith County on Thursday when the Purple Tigers close their regular season at Carthage.
Sports Editor Andy Reed can be reached at 444-3952 ext. 17 or by e-mail at andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com.