Purple Tigers fall to 6th in AP poll

From staff reports

Last week's lost at Pickett County and overtime win at home over Gordonsville led to a four-spot drop to sixth for Watertown in the Boys' Class A Associated Press poll released Monday.

The Purple Tigers were No. 2 in the season's first poll last week, believed to be the highest in school history.

Watertown [15-2] totaled 91 points this week, three in front of No. 7 Clay County [15-3], the only other team in Region 4-A in the poll. The Tigers were 20 points behind No. 5 Booker T. Washington [10-3].

Columbia Academy [15-2] is No. 1 with 12 first-place votes and 171 points. Wartburg [14-3] is second with 146 points and three firsts. Trinity Christian [14-1] is third with 138 points and three firsts. Mt. Pleasant, last week's No. 1, fell four spots after suffering its first loss to 13-1 with 128 points, including one first-place tally.

Middle Tennessee Christian [12-4], coached by former Friendship Christian player and coach Jason Piercey, is No. 8, Cloudland [13-5] ninth and Union City [12-5] 10th.

Richland, with 18 points, is 11th and Greenfield [12] is 12th.

Watertown, which has played the last two games without shooting guard Josiah Smith due to a shoulder injury, is scheduled to play host to Pickett County tonight with the girls tipping off at 6 p.m.

Free throws lift Yellow Jackets past Friendship in overtime

Visiting Trousdale County made itself at home on the free-throw line Friday night in a 65-61 boys' overtime victory over Friendship Christian, spoiling the Commanders' homecoming at the Bay Family Sportsplex.

The Yellow Jackets dropped in 40 of 50 free throws, including 11 of 12 in overtime after regulation ended in a 54-54 tie, and just 12 field goals as Friendship fell to 4-8 for the season, 1-2 in District 8-A.

Wing Christian Lauderdale dropped in 14 of 15 from the line in topping Trousdale with 20 points while post Dylan Hurst had 16, including 10-of-13 from the stripe; and point guard Cody Sircy 13, including 9-of-11 charity tosses.

Five Commanders scored in double figures while three fouled out. Point guard Zac Anderson threw in 13 points while forward Allen Heaston had 12.

Big man Andrew Wood also had 12 before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Guard Anthony Williams fouled out in overtime as he and post Colton Gaines added 11 points apiece. Sam Gatlin tossed in two points while A.J. Long, held scoreless, was sent to the bench with his fifth foul in the fourth.

Friendship led 15-14 following the first quarter, 30-22 at halftime and 42-38 going into the fourth.