Blackman outlasts Mt. Juliet in OT

By Andy Reed

Sports Editor

MT. JULIET — Blackman freshman Crystal Dangerfield hit three free throw for the only overtime points as the Lady Blaze remained undefeated with a 41-38 win over Mt. Juliet in the Chick-fil-A Classic.

Ashley Roby's leaner with 2:48 left in regulation brought the Lady Bears into a 38-38 tie and Mt. Juliet did no more scoring as the hosts fell to 7-3.

Blackman, young but athletic, kept Mt. Juliet out of rhythm for much of the game as the Lady Blaze improved to 11-0.

The Lady Bears' only lead was 2-0 as they struggled to score, trailing 10-5 at the first-quarter break and 18-12 at halftime. But Mt. Juliet forged several ties as its normally potent post game got untracked in the second half.

"That's the way Blackman wants you to play," Mt. Juliet coach Chris Fryer said. "They're a low-scoring, tug-of-war team. You got to fight for every possession, grab every basketball and hold onto every rebound because they really crowd the lane up. They pack it in there and they've got some good athletes. They get a lot of deflections and a lot of tips.

"I didn't think we posted very deep. We weren't very physical early in the game. In the second half, we got a little bit closer to the basket and were able to get some opportunities inside. I thought we had a real chance once our offense started clicking... There were times where the game was tied and we had the possession and had the shot and missed the shot. I know in overtime we took five shots and none of them fell. Sometimes, as deliberate as we are, we don't take five shots in a quarter. I thought one of those shots would go in and it didn't and it wasn't our night."

Dangerfield dropped in 18 points while guard Micah Norris notched 12.

Ronjanae DeGray scored 17 inside for Mt. Juliet while fellow post Sally McCabe collected all 10 of her points in the second half. Ashley Roby scored six, Tyia Waller three free throws and Raeyana DeGray two.

Mt. Juliet will play host to Columbia at 6:30 p.m. tonight as the Classic wraps up.

"[Columbia] is more athletic, and older," Fryer said of the Lady Lions. "We're not playing a soft schedule."

Tigerettes advance to Florida final

ORLANDO, Fla. — Watertown opened a working lead in the second quarter of a 57-33 win over Ranney School [N.J.] in the semifinals of the KSA Events Tournament at the Disney ESPN Sports Complex.

The Tigerettes widened a 14-11 first-quarter lead to 34-20 by halftime ad 46-25 through three as they advanced to today's final with a 7-4 record.

Bobbi Staats scored 17 points from inside and Kirstin Vantreast 16, including four three-pointers, from downtown for Watertown. Alicia Jennings notched nine points, Jasmine High seven and Bay Cole, Katie Dalton, Jenna Haun and Hannah Zackary two apiece.

Friendship dominates BGA

FRANKLIN — Friendship Christian dominated host Battle Ground Academy 56-30 Friday night.

The Lady Commanders led 16-5 following the first quarter and 25-9 at halftime as they climbed to 6-2.

Center Deja Jones totaled 22 points for Friendship while guard Taylor Patterson popped in a pair of three-pointers on her way to 10 with five steals. Kristian Watkins scored six points.

Forward Kaitlyn Teeter took down 20 rebounds, supplied seven assists and blocked three shots as she and Aubrey Hawks each had five points. Courtney Petty pitched in with four points and Rachel Jones and Caroline Terry two each.

Allison Cowie's 15 points paced Battle Ground Academy.

Friendship will hold the Mid-State Christmas Classic at the Bay Family Sportsplex next week. The Lady Commanders will open against White House at 1:30 p.m. next Thursday.

Lady Saints succumb to Gordonsville

GORDONSVILLE — Mt. Juliet Christian was little match for Gordonsville in a 62-29 loss Friday night.

The Lady Saints trailed 19-4 in the first quarter and 36-10 at halftime.

Jacqueline Crawford fired in four three-pointers in leading Gordonsville with 16 points while Charlie Vaden threw in 13.

Lynnze Ethridge led all scorers with 19 points for the Lady Saints. Lauren Wankel scored six and Caroline Scott and Amanda Wall two each.

Mt. Juliet Christian will take the remainder of the holidays off before resuming the East-Middle Region grind Jan. 4 when Ezell-Harding comes to MJCA for a 6 p.m. tipoff.

Sports Editor Andy Reed can be reached at 444-3952, ext. 17; or by email at andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com