Gordonsville girls overtake Tigerettes

By Andy Reed

andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com

WATERTOWN — Gordonsville's girls closed the third quarter with a tie-breaking run, then played keep-away for much of the fourth in a 41-36 victory over Watertown.

Jacqueline Crawford's baseline jumper with just over three minutes left in the third snapped a 29-29 tie. Arielle Davis scored the next five points for a 36-29 advantage. Gordonsville milked the clock during much of the fourth, helping the Tigerettes overcome 1-of-8 free-throw shooting during the period as the defending District 8-A champions improved to 10-7 for the season and 3-0 in the league.

Watertown led for much of the game, including 11-7 at the first-quarter break on Bay Cole's turnaround basket in the post. Gordonsville closed the first half with a 6-0 spurt to go up 22-19.

"We should probably have had a bigger lead, we missed a lot of easy layups and free throws in the first half," Watertown coach Lane Price said after his Tigerettes slipped to 8-10, 0-3. "Coming out in the third quarter, they out-physicaled us a bit on the boards and took control of the game. In the fourth quarter, we got the physicality back and boarded better. Just couldn't finish some shots. We were 11-of-20 from the foul line, missing easy opportunities.

"The effort was tremendous. We got after them. Gordonsville has a bunch of seniors back from a team that won the district championship last year, so those kids know how to win."

Charli Vaden finished with 14 points and Crawford 10 for Gordonsville.

Alicia Jennings, Watertown's only junior, and sophomore Bay Cole each tossed in 10 points while freshman Bobbi Staats finished with five, Katie Dalton and lone senior Kirstin Vantrease four apiece and Jasmine High three.

Watertown will play host to Pickett County at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Lebanon wins battle for first place in OT

HENDERSONVILLE — Julia Fox scored five overtime points as Lebanon won a first-place battle at Beech 49-43.

The win put Lebanon at 5-1 in District 9-AAA, tied with Mt. Juliet, and 10-8 overall. Beech fell to 4-2 in the league.

"It was a huge, huge win," Lebanon coach Courtney McFarlin said. "It was a defensive battle. Faith Rushing came off the bench and played outstanding defense for us."

Fox finished with 19 points, including three 3-pointers, while Abby Wright added 11. Kelsey Yarbrough played the second half with a cut which required stitches after the game as she scored nine points. Madison Sloan finished with four, Morgan Bruce a three, Rushing two and Taylor Lebo a free throw.

Falon Baker and Shelby Brown each tossed in 12 points for Beech.

Lebanon led 15-13 following the first quarter and trailed 22-21 at halftime before the teams were deadlocked 35-35 at the third-period break and 41-41 at the end of regulation.

Lebanon will travel to Portland to wrap up the first half of the district schedule at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Bean's 27 leads Lady Wildcats to road win

PORTLAND — Wilson Central pulled away from Portland in the second quarter and opened up a 63-33 win Friday night.

The Lady Wildcats widened a 12-11 first-quarter edge to 29-17 by halftime and 45-31 going into the fourth as they pulled even at 8-8 for the season and 4-2 in District 9-AAA.

Portland had no answer for Rachel Bean, who totaled 27 points in the post as Central was without center Dominique St. Louis, who's been out since last week with a back injury.

Kendall Spray sank three 3-pointers on her way to 17 points while Autumn Hopkins scored seven, Hailey Averitt six and Kayla Jackson, Sydney Comer and Hannah Brewer two each.

Macy Gregory led the Lady Panthers with 14 points in the post.

Wilson Central will play host to arch-rival Mt. Juliet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday as the first half of the district schedule ends.

Friendship celebrates homecoming by toppling Trousdale

Friendship Christian celebrated homecoming Friday night with a 59-50 victory over Trousdale County at the Bay Family Sportsplex.

The Lady Jackets led 15-13 following the first quarter before Friendship's Taylor Patterson surprised them with 14 points, including four three-pointers, in the second as the Lady Commanders climbed in front 38-31 by halftime. It was 47-37 through three as Friendship improved to 10-4 for the season and 3-0 in District 8-A.

Deja Jones finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds in the post for Friendship while point guard Kristian Watkins supplied 11 points and seven assists. Aubrey Hawks had eight points while Kaitlyn Teeter supplied seven points, 14 rebounds and four blocks. Courtney Petty and Brianna Stovall chipped in with two points apiece.

Sydney Shoulders sank a pair of triples in leading the Lady Jackets with 19 points while Ashley Cornwell swished home six triples for her 18.

Friendship will travel to Smyrna to take on Lancaster Christian at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Lady Bears post up Station Camp in 61-50 victory

MT. JULIET — Mt. Juliet dominated Station Camp in the post as Ronjanae DeGray and Sally McCabe each scored 20 points in a 61-50 victory.

The Lady Bears led 14-10 following the first quarter, 30-24 at halftime and 48-35 through three as they improved to 12-6 for the season and tied with Lebanon [which they hold a tiebreaker over] first the District 9-AAA lead at 5-1.

Ashley Roby supplied seven points, Raeyana DeGray six, Tyia Waller five and Karly Dyer a three-pointer for Mt. Juliet.

Janasia Williams scored 16 points, Alli Fulcher 12 [on four three-pointers] and Kia Perry 10 for Station Camp.

Mt. Juliet will travel to Wilson Central on Tuesday for a 6:30 p.m. tipoff to wrap up the first half of the district schedule.

Lady Saints surrender big lead in fourth

DONELSON — Donelson Christian wiped out an 11-point Mt. Juliet Christian lead in the fourth quarter Friday night, overtaking the Lady Saints in a 49-46 victory.

The Lady Saints led 40-29 going into the fourth before DCA outscored the visitors 20-6. Mt. Juliet Christian took a 15-3 first-period lead and was up 27-17 at halftime before falling to 5-9.

Andrea Grigsby threw in three 3-pointers in leading the Lady Wildcats with 17 points.

Lynzee Ethridge led the Lady Saints with 12 points while Amanda Wall and Lauren Wankel each tossed in 10. Liz Russ scored six, Shelby Leech five and Meredith Orr three.