Central boys hand Cavs first loss

By Andy Reed

Sports Editor

GLADEVILLE — Wilson Central landed the first punch on unbeaten Cookeville on Tuesday night. And although the Cavaliers climbed off the canvas, the Wildcats got in additional shots to deal the visitors a 55-46 setback.

The Wildcats scored the first 10 points as Jacob Williams was on fire. He scored eight of his game-high 20 points in the first quarter as the Cavs closed with a 9-2 run.

Cookeville climbed into a 12-12 tie early in the second quarter. But the Wildcats righted their ship to go up 26-20 by halftime and 36-31 going into the fourth as they climbed to 4-1.

"Our kids played really hard tonight, especially on the defensive end," said Central coach Troy Bond, whose Wildcats were coming off a two-point loss at Marshall County [Ky.] last Saturday. "We did a good job executing our offense and understanding tempo.

"It always helps when you hit the basket early."

Ben Palmer posted up for 10 points in the paint for Central while Blake Huffman had eight, Jon Rosshirt six, Matthew Hall four, A.J. Franklin three and Casey Brandon and Andre Corder two each.

Huffman had six rebounds and Williams five. Hall fouled out.

"Our bench came in and played well," said Bond, citing the play of Franklin, Corder and Preston Reed in reserve. "It was a good, quality win for us."

Lucas Ledbetter, Cookeville's 6-foot-7 post, led the Cavs with 17 points as the visitors slipped to 7-1.

Central will play host to Hendersonville in the District 9-AAA opener Friday.

Blue Devils hang on for road win at Shelbyville

SHELBYVILLE — Shelbyville has been a tough place for Lebanon to play through the years. But the Blue Devils led from start to finish in a 68-55 win Tuesday night.

Lebanon led 21-13 following the first quarter, 41-30 at halftime and 60-48 through three. Shelbyville cut the margin to eight in the fourth before the Blue Devils improved to 2-5.

Zimmer Hunn hit four three-pointers in leading Lebanon with 15 points. KeShawn Abston stroked in a pair of threes as he and freshman post Yalen Reed each racked up 14. DaShawn McMurry scored seven, Kadarian Garnett and Zach Santana six each, Eddie McDaniels four and J'Quan Jackson two.

"I was really proud of Zimmer," Lebanon coach Jim McDowell said. "He hit some shots. KeShawn really did a good job of attacking the basket.

"Yalen did a good job of setting the tone in the paint. He did a good job of turning around and scoring. He attacked shots, got a lot of loose balls and rebounding."

Holt Parsons picked up 14 points, Taust Allison 11 and Tyias Allison and Sterling Smith 10 each for Shelbyville.

Lebanon will travel to Mt. Juliet on Friday for the District 9-AAA opener.

Unbeaten Purple Tigers take seventh win

GAINESBORO — Watertown's unbeaten boys overcame a slow start to take its seventh win 57-50 over Jackson County.

The host Blue Devils led 8-6 following the first quarter as the Purple Tigers hit just 2 of their 11 shots. Watertown went up by 10 in the second quarter before Jackson County connected on a three-pointer at the buzzer to pull within 24-17. WHS was up 40-32 going into the fourth.

"We had a little slow start, didn't shoot the ball well in the first quarter," Watertown coach Matt Bradshaw said after his first game at Jackson County. "Did a better job shooting in the third and fourth quarters.

"It's a tough place to play, a tough atmosphere. The court's a little shorter. It's an older gym."

Macieo Gaines thrived in the gym, though, with 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting as Watertown finished the game at 51.1 percent from the floor. Gaines also had five rebounds and four steals.

Guard Ethan Moss missed the game with the flu. But Hunter Warren came off the bench to score 13, including three 3-pointers. He also had five assists.

Josiah Smith supplied nine points, six rebounds and five steals while Ty Jobe added eight points, seven rebounds and five assists. Dylan Speck finished with five points, Ben Bain four [with four rebounds] and Zach Edwards two.

"We missed Moss' three-point shooting tonight," said Bradshaw, whose Tigers will host Monterey on Friday night.

Football players rejoin Commanders for road win

WESTMORELAND — With its full complement of football players, Friendship Christian led from the first quarter on Tuesday night as the defending state champion Commanders outlasted Westmoreland 55-47.

Nine players from the newly-crowned football state champs joined basketball for a practice Monday and suited up Tuesday.

But it was basketball specialist Allen Heaston who led Friendship with 22 points while guard Zac Anderson, another hoops-only player, added 11.

Football lineman Andrew Wood joined basketball-specialist Anthony Williams with six points apiece while footballers Colton Gaines and Dillon Hodges each had four as the Commanders climbed to 1-1.

Dillon White dropped in four three-pointers to lead Westmoreland with 20 points. Steven Johnson roamed the baseline to add 11.

Friendship led 16-12 following the first quarter, 28-24 at halftime and 39-35 through three.

FCS will travel to Battle Ground Academy in Franklin for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff in a boys'-only date Thursday.

Balanced scoring, tough interior defense lift Bears

MURFREESBORO — Mt. Juliet focused its defense on the paint while the Golden Bears had balanced scoring in a 62-56 road win over Riverdale at Johnny Parsley Gym Tuesday night.

The Bears led 9-8 following the first quarter, 25-22 at halftime and 39-33 through three as they pulled even at 3-3.

Point guard Nolan Chowbay hit a pair of three-pointers in leading Mt. Juliet with 19 points while Daniel Schroder matched him inside with 19 and fellow big man Reagan Johnson tossed in 12. James Womack scored six, Hunter Gilbert four and Thomas Sharpe two.

Stephen Wilson fired in five three-pointers in leading Riverdale with 17 points while  Anthony McGrone threw in 13. But the Bears held 6-8 big man Lance Thigpen, averaging 14 points per game, to two.

"Schroder did a good job guarding [Thigpen] and our kids a god job helping out on him," Mt. Juliet coach Troy Allen said. "Made them shoot outside, which they made some threes."

Mt. Juliet will host Lebanon in the District 9-AAA opener Friday night.

Saints outscore Providence in uptempo game

MURFREESBORO — Mt. Juliet Christian led from the first quarter on in a 75-53 win at Providence Christian on Tuesday night.

The Saints were up 25-19 following the first quarter, 41-29 at halftime and 57-40 through three as Mt. Juliet Christian climbed to 4-3 for the season.

Zach Jones tossed in 22 points from the post for the Saints while Jackson Harrell and Trevor West posted matching 16-point, four three-pointer nights.

Mt. Juliet Christian coach Paul Christensen said the Saints' offensive night was partially a byproduct of their defense, or lack thereof.

"If you give up quick shots and quick baskets, you get the ball more," Christensen said. "We happened to score a lot.

"Our offense was okay, but our defense was not. If we're going to compete in our league, we're going to have to step it up a lot on defense."

Alex Graves supplied seven points, Brandon Wall six, Nathan Green four and Wyatt Oberg and Brant Lamberth two apiece for the Saints.

Guard Payton Thomas drove to the basket for 27 points to lead the Lions, coached by former MJCA coach Mike Jones.

Mt. Juliet Christian will travel to Bell Buckle on Friday to take on Webb.

Fox beats buzzer with three as MCA edges Franklin Classical 42-41

MT. JULIET — Brandon Fox's buzzer-beating three-pointer lifted McClain Christian's boys past Franklin Classical 42-41 Monday night at the community center in Charlie Daniels Park.

It was McClain's first home game here after Immanuel Baptist Church's gym was made unavailable due to renovations.

Fox led McClain with 17 points while Austyn Laude added 11. Weston Rountree racked up 12 rebounds.

"[This] was one of the most exciting games I've been a pair of," McClain coach Tony McLeod said. "The guys were really focused in the last huddle and executed the play great.

"I was really proud of how the team persevered until the end and came up with the win."

The Bulldogs will bring a two-game winning streak into Thursday's home game against Clarksville Christian at the Gladeville Community Center. The girls will also play that night.

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