Jenkins carries Lady 'Cats past improved LHS

Wilson Central was never threatened by Lebanon in a 55-27 Lady Wildcat win Monday night at Campbell Brandon Gym/Hester Gibbs Court.
But to those watching the game, the rebuilding Devilettes played better than the score indicated against the No. 3 Lady Wildcats.
"Lebanon's probably one of the most improved teams I've seen all year," Central coach Bud Brandon [whose dad/assistant has his name painted on the LHS gym's wall] said after his Lady Wildcats concluded a 26-3 regular season. "Coming in here this late in the season, you better come in here and bring your A-game if you're going to win."
Lebanon wrapped up a 10-19 regular season. But those 10 triumphs matched the total from the three previous seasons combined.
"I'm not that disappointed in the way we played defensively," first-year Lebanon coach Darian Brown said. "I thought we did a good job on them. Tierney [Jenkins] had 23, but an Alabama signee, you expect she's going to have a big game
"But I thought we did a good job on everybody else. The same thing all year, a hard time putting the ball in the hole."
Jenkins also took down 12 rebounds while guard Jessyca Christopher tossed in 10 points.
Lauren Wasson knocked down three first-half three-pointers for her nine for Central. One of those triples came after her father fell while going down one of the gym steps as the second quarter was about to begin. He was taken to University Medical Center while his daughter remained in the game. While he was being attended to, a young girl seated in the Lebanon section appeared to pass out and was carried out of the warm gym.
"Lauren Wasson did a really good job," Brandon said. "Her dad fell and she had to overcome that. She hit some big shots in the first half that opened things up.
"Of course, Tierney, she had a great night."
Central led 14-9 following the first quarter, 26-14 at halftime and 35-19 through three periods.
Sara Williams supplied six points for Central while Kelsey McGee finished with five and Jasmine Hassell two.
"They just come at you in so many different directions and they can score in so many different ways," Brown said of the Lady Wildcats.
The Lady Wildcats were without guard Chelsea Burroughs, who is recovering from a concussion sustained in a collision with the floor at Hendersonville last Friday. Brandon said there's a chance she could play at 7 p.m. Thursday when Hendersonville visits Central for the first round of the District 9-AAA tournament.
"The doctor at first said three weeks," Brandon said. "Now they've gone to about a week. She's going to go back Thursday. She may play Thursday and may not. Just take it a day at a time and see how she feels."
Thursday's winner will play at 7 p.m. Saturday in the semifinals at Beech against the LaVergne-Smyrna winner. Top-seed Mt. Juliet, which slipped to No. 2 behind Greeneville in the latest Associated Press poll released Monday, received a first-round bye and will play at 4 p.m. Saturday against the Gallatin-Beech winner.
Crystal Howse tossed in points for Lebanon while Jasmin Brooks scored six, sisters Icelyn and London Elie four each and Kim Ha a three-pointer.
Brandilyn Callis, who blew out her ACL during the early days of fall practice, saw her first action of the season in the final minute to a loud ovation from the Lebanon fans. She missed a corner three-pointer on her only shot.
"I wanted so bad for that shot to go in," Brown said. "I'd have given anything for that shot to go in for her. You just hate for a senior that wants to play so bad and just who loves her teammates and basketball so much, she doesn't have that opportunity to play her senior year. But it was sure was great to see her in uniform."
She could play Thursday when the fifth-seeded Devilettes open District 7-AAA tournament play at No. 4 Oakland with the winner catching top-seed Riverdale at 6 p.m. Saturday on the Lady Warriors' floor in the semifinals.
"Our main concern is Thursday night," Brown said. "This game, in the grand scheme of things, doesn't mean a lot. It means bragging rights. But as far as your ultimate goal, and even their ultimate goal, it only means bragging rights over the summer."

Lady Saints swarm past Curry-Ingram
MT. JULIET — Mt. Juliet Christian closed out its regular season Monday with a 47-19 crushing of Curry-Ingram.
Christine Humes threw in three 3-pointers on her way to 21 points for the Lady Saints, who will take a 15-13 record to Watertown at 6:30 p.m. tonight for the first round of the District 8-A tournament. The winner will advance to Friday's 6:30 p.m. semifinal against top-seed Westmoreland at Gordonsville.
The Lady Saints led 16-5 following the first quarter and 23-6 at halftime.
Ashley Hudson had 10 points and five assists for Mt. Juliet Christian while Paige Hudson finished with five points, Holly Morgan four, Lauren Bean three and Anna Haley and Leanna Sanders two apiece.
Bean bagged eight rebounds off the bench while Haley also had five assists. Cali Beard swiped six steals as Mt. Juliet Christian forced 34 turnovers.
Laura Shipley sank a pair of threes on her way to 11 points for Curry-Ingram.
Sports Editor Andy Reed can be reached at 444-3952 ext. 17 or by e-mail at andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com.