Lady 'Cats overcome Burroughs injury to take out Hendersonville

HENDERSONVILLE — After their big win over rival Mt. Juliet earlier in the week, the Wilson Central Lady Wildcats avoided a letdown against Hendersonville in a district match-up.
After a slow start, the No. 4 ranked Lady Wildcats (25-3; 10-2 District 9-AAA) defeated the Lady Commandos (6-20; 0-12 District 9-AAA) 64-40 Friday behind Tierney Jenkins' game-high 21 points.
Hendersonville's 2-3 zone seemed to frustrate Wilson Central early, as miscues and poor shooting from the defending state champions allowed the home team to hang around and the first quarter ended deadlocked at 10.
Poor passing wasn't the only obstacle WCHS had to overcome in the early going. A hard foul from HHS's Brandi Phillips during a battle for a rebound sent Wildcat junior guard Chelsea Burroughs to the floor. She left the game with what appeared to be a head injury and would not return.
Lady Wildcat coach Bud Brandon said Burroughs was taken to Summit Medical Center with a severe concussion.
"I think she's going to be okay," Brandon said after going to Summit following the game. "It was a serious moment on the floor. She took a serious blow to the floor.
"She doesn't remember whether she started or not. She doesn't even remember coming to the game."
Even without Burroughs, the Lady Commandos couldn't hold the Lady Wildcats back forever and the second quarter was dominated by Wilson Central. Crisper passing and better shooting in the period were the difference in the half and proved to be the difference in the game. Outscoring the Lady Commandos 25-10 in the second session gave the Lady Wildcats a 35-20 halftime advantage, a lead they would never relinquish.
Hendersonville did its best to fight back after halftime, cutting the Wildcat lead to 10 three times before LeeAnn Phelps' three-pointer with 25 seconds remaining in the third quarter brought the Commandos to within nine.
The Wildcats would stiffen up defensively and put HHS away in the last period. The Lady Commandos had no field goals in the fourth quarter and managed just three points altogether, all on Phelps free-throws, two of which came after the final buzzer sounded as she was fouled on a last-second desperation heave.
Rebounding might have been the difference in the game as the Wildcats ouboarded the Commandos 29-10, including 11 offensive rebounds which netted 14 second-chance points.
Neither team will have to spend the five days before the district tournament preparing for a new opponent. With Wilson Central finishing second in the district and the Commandos finishing seventh, the two squads will meet again Thursday night in a first-round game at Wilson Central. But first, the Lady Wildcats will travel to Lebanon's Campbell Brandon Gym/Hester Gibbs Court to face the neighboring rival Devilettes at 6:30 p.m. Monday to end the regular season.
In addition to Jenkins, Jasmine Hassell managed double figures for Central with 12 points. Lauren Farmer and Lauren Wasson had nine apiece. Jessyca Christopher added seven and Sara Williams had six.
Hendersonville was led offensively by senior Katherine Keffer, playing in her last regular-season home game, with 15 points. Phelps added 13.
Sports Editor Andy Reed contributed to this story.