Beech edges Devilettes in overtime

Lady Bucs win battle for 9-AAA second place

By Andy Reed

andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com

Beech's girls seized the inside track on the No. 2 seed in the District 9-AAA tournament Tuesday night with a 50-47 overtime win over host Lebanon at Campbell Brandon Gym/Hester Gibbs Court.

But on a night which saw the upcoming top seed Mt. Juliet get upset at Station Camp and the way the district race is shaping up, the loss probably won't hurt Lebanon in the long run as Beech moved to 9-4 in the league [20-7 overall] while the Devilettes dropped to 8-5, 13-12.

"At this point, the seedings really don't matter because once we get to the tournament, it's one and done," said Lebanon coach Courtney McFarlin, whose Devilettes will close their regular season at 6:30 p.m. Friday at home for Senior Night against Portland and, barring a bizarre turn of events, host a first-round tournament game next week. "Anybody can beat anybody.

"Just like tonight, the game was up and down. And that's how our district goes. It's back and forth, back and forth, like the game tonight... Our goal was to finish in the top four and we're still hanging onto that goal."

The teams literally traded baskets during an 8-8 first quarter.The Lady Buccaneers, though tied numerous times, didn't take their first lead until Falon Baker drove the lane to break a 14-14 tie. Madison Sloan's short baseline jumper drew the Devilettes within 18-17 by halftime.

More of the same followed in the third, though Beech gradually started to get somewhat of a handle on the scoreboard as the second of Shelby Brown's two three-pointers in the period put the Lady Bucs up by five, 32-27, the largest margin of the night. Two free throws by Julia Fox capped her 10-point period and drew the Devilettes within 32-29 going into the fourth.

Two free throws by Abby Wright put Lebanon in front 33-32 nearly three minutes into the fourth. It turned out to be the Devilettes' final lead as Beech went up by as much as three.

But Fox stole an inbounds pass and swished a free throw with 21.1 seconds to tie the game 43-43 and force overtime.

Brown, who led the Lady Bucs with 16 points, scored from inside to break the tie and McKenna Taylor tossed in two free throws for a four-point lead with some 70 seconds left, forcing Lebanon into catchup mode.

Beech bagged 13 of 17 free throws for the night while the Devilettes dropped in 12 of 15.

But the Lady Bucs were much more efficient in the paint, hitting 13 of 15 shots. Lebanon had the same number of baskets inside, but on 22 attempts.

"They cut some kids in there when we held over and they got some easy baskets in there and they made us pay underneath," McFarlin said. "We did the same to them."

Baker finished with 14 points for Beech.

Fox led all scorers with 19 points, sinking 6 of 8 free throws, for Lebanon while Kelsey Yarbrough added 11 inside. Sloan scored seven, Wright six and Faith Rushing and Kristen Dedman two apiece.

Lady 'Cats crush Portland

GLADEVILLE — Wilson Central had little trouble with Portland in a  67-27 triumph Tuesday night.

The Lady Wildcats led 10-5 following the first quarter, 26-11 at halftime and 42-30 through three as they climbed to 13-12 for the season and 8-5 in District 9-AAA.

Rachel Bean buried two of Central's six three-pointers in leading the Lady Wildcats with 12 points while guard Autumn Hopkins tossed in 10. Rachel Burkett notched nine points, Kendal Spray eight, Hailey Averitt and Hannah Brewer seven each, Sydney Comer and Dominique St. Louis five apiece and Megan Kurth and Kayla Jackson two each.

No one scored in double figures for the Lady Panthers, who will return to Wilson County on Friday to visit Lebanon while Central travels to Mt. Juliet for a 6:30 p.m. tipoff.

Gordonsville dominates Watertown in fourth quarter

GORDONSVILLE — Watertown was all but even with Gordonsville for three quarters Tuesday night until the home team dominated the fourth in a 64-46 victory.

A 22-5 fourth sent the District 8-A leaders to victory and dropped Watertown to 12-14 for the season and 2-5 in the district. Watertown led 15-12 following the first quarter and 24-21 at halftime before falling behind 42-41 through three.

Charli Vaden scored 17 points, Arielle Davis 13 and Jacqueline Crawford 10 for Gordonsville.

Alicia Jennings tossed in 22 points from Watertown's backcourt while senior Kirstin Vantrease sank two of the visitors' three 3-pointers on her way to 13. Shelby Mofield finished with five points, Bay Cole four and Katie Dalton two.

Watertown will close out its district schedule at 6 p.m. Friday at home against Trousdale County.

Station Camp beats Lady Bears for first time

GALLATIN — Since joining District 9-AAA three years ago, Station Camp has brought an uptempo attack to the floor in contrast with Mt. Juliet's post-dominant halfcourt style.

The Lady Bison finally beat the Lady Bears, in convincing fashion, 77-64 Tuesday night.

Station Camp led 25-15 following the first quarter, 45-32 at halftime and 62-46 through three as the Lady Bison, which lost the 9-AAA final to Mt. Juliet on a Caya Williams buzzer-beater two years ago, improved to 17-9 for the season and 7-6 in the district.

Mt. Juliet had already clinched the top seed for the upcoming district tournament and slipped to 18-7, 11-2.

Belmont-signee Kia Perry poured in 25 points and Savanah Keele 23 as each dropped in two of Station Camp's eight three-pointers. Janasia Williams finished with 15 points while Alli Fulcher flred in the other four triples for her 12.

Mt. Juliet was able to score plenty in the post with Sally McCabe totaling 29 points and Ronjanae DeGray 28. Savannah Sanders scored the Lady Bears' only seven points from the backcourt.

The Lady Bears will play host to Wilson Central at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

Lady Saints turn back Zion in season finale

MT. JULIET — Mt. Juliet Christian took control early, weathered a Zion Christian rally before reasserting control in a 51-31 victory to close the regular season Tuesday night.

The Lady Saints led 10-3 following the first quarter, 19-17 at halftime and 35-25 through three as they wrapped up a 10-13 regular season.

Lynnze Ethridge led the Lady Saints with 24 points while Lauren Wankel added 11. Shelby Leech tossed in two three-pointers on her way to nine while Amanda Wall finished with four, Liz Russ two and Carly Hummel a free throw.

Otin Aderoba threw in 13 points for Zion.

Mt. Juliet Christian is seeded fourth for the upcoming Division II District 1-A tournament and will play host to King's Academy at 4:30 p.m. Thursday with the winner advancing to face top-seed Knoxville Webb in Knoxville.