Purple Tigers take 20th triumph

From staff reports

WATERTOWN — Watertown reached the milestone 20-win mark Tuesday night with a 76-57 victory over Jackson County.

The Purple Tigers led 19-13 following the first quarter, 36-28 at halftime and 55-46 through three as Watertown moved to 20-3.

Point guard Macieo Gaines earned the game's triple crown with 23 points, eight rebounds and six assists to lead Watertown in each category. Shooting guard Ethan Moss was on fire from outside with four three-pointers on his way to 16 points. Wing Ty Jobe threw in 13 points, grabbed four rebounds and swiped three steals.

Josiah Smith supplied nine points, George Theragood five, Nick Sackman four and Zach Edwards and Ben Bain three each.

Peyton Ragland threw in three triples and scored nine of his 17 points in the second quarter for Jackson County. Brent Davidson and Conner Hall each had 12 and Jordan Allen 10 as the Blue Devils dropped to 13-11.

The Tigers were coming off a 75-60 win at Monterey on Monday night.

Watertown used a 29-13 second quarter to widen a 19-13 lead to a 48-26 halftime margin.

Gaines paced the Purple Tigers with 25 points, eight rebounds and six assists while Jobe tossed in 23, including six three-pointers, with five rebounds and a pair of steals.

Sackman added eight points while Smith supplied seven [with four steals and three assists], Dylan Speck five, Moss three [with three steals] and Theragood [four rebounds after missing the two previous games with a knee injury] and Bain two each. Jake Belcher didn't score, but finished with five assists.

Watertown will play host to defending state champion, and county arch-rival, Friendship Christian on Friday night.

Late layup drops Devils

GALLATIN — Travis Bush's driving layup with six seconds left lifted host Station Camp past Lebanon 46-44 Tuesday night.

Lebanon missed a last-ditch three-point attempt as the Blue Devils dropped to 8-15 for the season and 4-7 in District 9-AAA, including a pair of two-point losses to Station Camp.

"Both teams really defended well in the halfcourt," Lebanon coach Jim McDowell said. "It was a real physical battle.

"It came down to one possession. They were able to get some dribble penetration and score."

Lebanon led 9-8 following the first quarter before trailing 21-20 at halftime and 32-28 through three.

Bush and 6-foot-4, 240-pound sophomore post Kyle Anderton each tossed in 12 for Station Camp while forward Ryan Hardin added 11 as the Bison remained tied for second place in District 9-AAA with Wilson Central going into Friday's game at Gladeville.

Lebanon's 6-3, 260-pound sophomore Julian Crutchfield sank all six of his free throws in leading the Blue Devils with 12 points in his personal duel with Anderton.

DaShawn McMurry, who hit a couple of tying baskets late in the fourth quarter, and KeShawn Abston added eight points apiece while Jemel Officer scored six, Zimmer Hunn five and Yalen Reed two.

Lebanon will return to the area to take on nearby Gallatin on Friday night.

Williams goes over 1,000 points as Central holds off Green Wave

GALLATIN — Jacob Williams went over 1,000 points for his career Tuesday as Wilson Central emerged from a grind with Gallatin 63-55.

Williams, a junior, tossed in 23 points, including a pair of three-pointers, as Central led 12-8 following the first quarter, 29-29 at halftime and 46-33 through three.

"It was close enough to keep you on your toes," Central coach Troy Bond said after his Wildcats climbed to 18-6 for the season and 8-3 in District 9-AAA. "We just couldn't put them away."

Blake Huffman had 15 points in a supporting backcourt role for Central while Ben Palmer put in nine, Matthew Hall added eight, A.J. Franklin six off the bench and Casey Brandon two. Brandon and Deante Miller filled in at point guard while Jon Rosshirt sat out with a sprained ankle.

Point guard Robert Clayton connected on a pair of three-pointers in leading Gallatin with 21 points while backcourt partner Marcus Williams added 11.

Central will play host to Station Camp in a battle for second place in the district Friday night while Gallatin entertains Lebanon.

Heaston's 31 leads Friendship to win at RBS

RED BOILING SPRINGS — Red Boiling Springs had no answer for Allen Heaston, who scored 26 of his 31 points in the first half of a 59-44 Friendship Christian win Tuesday night.

The Commanders led 16-8 following the first quarter, 36-18 at halftime and 49-32 going into the fourth as the defending state champions climbed to 6-12 for the season and 3-4 in District 8-A.

Anthony Williams added nine points while Colton Gaines and Andrew Wood each scored six, Zac Anderson five and Cody Walker two.

Alex Mullinix and Ty Tuck each tossed in 12 for the Bulldogs, who buried eight three-pointers.

The Commanders were coming off a 62-47 home loss to Gordonsville on Monday night at the Bay Family Sportsplex.

Friendship fell behind 17-13 in the first quarter but fought back to lead 30-27 by halftime. Gordonsville dominated the third period 16-4 to assume control 43-34.

"The first half was a well-played half for both teams," Friendship assistant coach Jason Miller said. "We came out the third quarter, we didn't box out... got in foul trouble.

"We dug a hole we couldn't get out of."

Hunter Woodard tossed in 20 points, Kaleb Bush 13 and Colt Nokes 12 for Gordonsville.

Heaston fired in 15 points for Friendship while point guard Anderson zipped in a pair of three-pointers for half of his 12. Williams added eight points and Gaines and Wood six each.

Friendship will travel to Watertown on Friday night.

Saints succumb to St. Andrew's in overtime

SEWANEE — St. Andrew's-Sewanee emerged with a 66-61 overtime win over Mt. Juliet Christian on Tuesday night.

The teams were within a point of each other at the end of each quarter. St. Andrew's was ahead 10-9 in the first quarter and 20-19 at halftime before falling behind 37-36 going into the fourth.

Mt. Juliet Christian missed two free throws with a second left in regulation with the score tied 55-55.

"It was a hard-fought battle," Mt. Juliet Christian coach Paul Christensen said after his Saints slipped to 8-14 for the season and 2-7 in Division II District 1-A. "They hit a unbelievable percentage of shots.

"Our kids played hard, but we didn't shoot well enough to win it."

Alex Tinsley tossed in 20 points and James Beasley 18 as each hit two three-pointers for St. Andrew's. Point guard Eric Baynard supplied 16.

Brandon Wall scored 17 points and Trevor West 13 as each sank three triples for the Saints. Posts Alex Graves and Zack Jones each added 11 while Jackson Harrell had four, Wyatt Oberg a three and Brant Lamberth two.

The Saints were coming off a 64-46 home win over Webb School of Bell Buckle on Monday night.

Mt. Juliet Christian fell behind 17-11 in the first quarter and 26-20 at halftime before a 17-8 third period propelled the Saints in front 37-34 going into the fourth.

West poured in 24 points for Mt. Juliet Christian while Harrell hit a pair of three-pointers on his way to 13. Graves added eight points, Jones seven and Brandon Wall two.

Mt. Juliet Christian will play host to district rival Donelson Christian on Friday night.