Lebanon boys pull away from Green Wave

From staff reports

Lebanon's boys pulled away from visiting Gallatin in the second half of a 46-31 victory Tuesday night at Campbell Brandon Gym/Hester Gibbs Court.

Gallatin led for the first three minutes until Jemel Officer took a transition pass from Zimmer Hunn to put Lebanon up 7-6. But Marcus Williams' putback at the first-quarter buzzer brought Gallatin into a 13-13 tie, and his basket early in the second put the Green Wave up 15-13.

But Gallatin scored only two more points in the second period as Lebanon moved in front 19-17 by halftime.

Lebanon's offense came alive in the third quarter for a 33-25 lead going into the fourth as the Blue Devils improved to 6-11 for the season and 2-3 in District 9-AAA.

"The first half, we really played well, we just weren't finishing," Lebanon coach Jim McDowell said. "We were getting the shots we wanted, we just weren't getting them to fall.

"The second half, the guys did a good job of maintaining pressure when we went to the zone trap. It definitely gave Gallatin problems."

Hunn hit two three-pointers in leading Lebanon with 19 points. DaShawn McMurry notched nine points, Eddie McDaniels and Zachary Santana four each and Officer, KeShawn Abston, Julian Crutchfield, Kadarian Garnett and J'Quan Jackson two apiece.

"Zimmer Hunn and Jemel Officer were good leaders for us; they set the tone for our basketball team tonight," said McDowell, noting that freshman post Yalen Reed started, but did not score as he was slowed by an illness. "DaShawn McMurry stepped up as well.

"This was a much-needed win."

No one scored in double figures for the Green Wave, who fell to 10-6, 2-3.

Lebanon will travel to Beech on Friday night.

Wildcats roll past Station Camp

GALLATIN — Wilson Central rolled to an unusually easy 78-44 win at Station Camp on Tuesday.

The Wildcats jumped to a 19-9 first-quarter lead, widened it to 35-21 by halftime and 62-32 going into the fourth as they moved to 14-4 for the season and tied with Hendersonville atop District 9-AAA at 4-1.

"We played pretty well defensively, made some shots," Wildcat coach Troy Bond said. "Station Camp didn't make some shots early."

Big man Ben Palmer, who had hampered by foul problems in recent games, stayed on the floor in this game as he and guard Jacob Williams scored 18 points apiece while guard Blake Huffman had 16. Jon Rosshirt racked up seven points, Matthew Hall five, A.J. Franklin four and Jamie Hinchman, Fred Alpert, Casey Brandon, Cortez Owens and Tyler Rogers two apiece.

Trae Hatcher hit three 3-pointers in leading Station Camp with 13 points. But Kyle Anderton and Ryan Hardin, who join Hatcher as averaging in double figures, were held to two points apiece.

"We did a good job of containing their big three guys," Bond said. "We wanted to keep the pace kind of slow, but still push the ball. They really like to speed it  up."

Central will return to Sumner County on Friday when the Wildcats travel to Portland.

Friendship D shuts down Red Boiling Springs

Friendship Christian's defense shut down visiting Red Boiling Springs in a 41-19 Commander conquest Tuesday night at the Bay Family Sportsplex.

The Commanders led 10-4 following the first quarter, 22-6 at halftime and 34-13 going into the fourth as they climbed to 4-7 for the season and 1-1 in District 8-A.

"They tried to be deliberate," Friendship assistant coach Jason Miller said. "We threw a couple of presses at them and it definitely bothered them.

"They're young like we are."

Forward Allen Heaston had 15 points and guard Anthony Williams added 12 with several steals off the press. Andrew Wood finished with five points, Marshall Taylor four, A.J. Long three and Colton Gaines two.

No one scored in double figures for Red Boiling Springs.

Friendship will play host to district rival Trousdale County on Friday night for homecoming.

Bears fall short to Hendersonville

MT. JULIET — Mt. Juliet missed a late three-point shot and couldn't get another attempt Tuesday night as the Golden Bears fell short to Hendersonville 53-50.

The Bears got the ball out of bounds with eight seconds left, missed a three, got the offensive rebound and tried to kick it out but couldn't get off a second shot as they fell to 3-2 in District 9-AAA and 8-8 overall.

But the shot that did fall was the three at the halftime buzzer by Hendersonville's Jacob McCullough which may have been neither, but did pull the Commandos into a 26-26 tie.

"I don't know if it was a two or a three, and I don't know if it came before or after the buzzer," Mt. Juliet coach Troy Allen said of McCullough's shot. "I haven't seen the film, yet."

But Allen didn't need to see film to see his Bears get off to slow starts in the first and third quarters, trailing 15-9 after eight minutes and 39-32 with eight minutes to play. In fact, the Commandos, who are tied with Wilson Central atop the district at 4-1, charged to a 12-3 lead out of the gate.

"They scored a bunch in transition on us," Allen said of the start. "They went zone to start the second half and it took us a while to get adjusted."

David Sheehan scored 16 points and John Davis 13 for Hendersonville.

Nolan Chowbay tossed in two three-pointers in leading Mt. Juliet with 15 points while Hunter Gilbert threw in three triples on his way to 11. Reagan Johnson racked up 10 from closer in. Christian Bell scored seven points, Thomas Sharpe six and James Womack a free throw.

Mt. Juliet will play host to Station Camp on Friday night.

Short-handed Saints succumb to Davidson

NASHVILLE — Steven Davis dropped six three-pointers on Mt. Juliet Christian on Tuesday night to lead Davidson Academy past the visiting Saints 68-32.

Davis delivered 24 points as the Bears dropped the Saints to 5-9 for the season.

"We knew what his game was, we just didn't close out well on him," Mt. Juliet Christian coach Paul Christensen said of Davis.

Davidson led 20-11 following the first quarter, 38-13 at halftime and 53-21 going into the fourth as Davis was the only Bear to score in double figures.

"We had beaten them the last three years, and they got those players back," Christensen said. "Obviously, they were motivated to beat us."

Mt. Juliet Christian was also dealing with the flu-induced absence of Jackson Harrell and injuries to four other Saints.

Trevor West hit a pair of threes in leading Mt. Juliet Christian with 19 points. Zack Jones scored six points, Brandon Wall four and Justis Willis a three.

Mt. Juliet Christian will return to Division II, District 1-A action Friday night at Donelson Christian.