Purple Tigers tear into title tilt

Watertown boys 13-0 after pummeling Page

By Andy Reed

Sports Editor

WATERTOWN — Watertown's boys went on a run midway through the first half, survived a mid-game dry spell and pulled away from Page 73-57 to arrive at tonight's Christmas Tournament title game with a 13-0 record.

Page led 12-8 before Watertown closed the first quarter with a 9-0 run to lead 17-12. The Purple Tigers continued the run into the second quarter before Page took advantage of foul trouble to Ty Jobe and Josiah Smith to pull within 29-24 by halftime.

But the Tigers re-asserted themselves with a 22-15 third quarter for a 51-39 lead to punch their ticket in tonight's 8:30 p.m. final against Cheatham County.

"The kids played really hard, really well," said Watertown coach Matt Bradshaw, noting the improvement in play from the night before when the Tigers were playing their first game in a week. "We were attacking the basket well. We played much better defensively."

Jobe paced the Purple with 21 points, including four three-pointers, and nine rebounds. Senior big man George Theragood, who transferred to Watertown just a couple of weeks ago, was a monster off the bench with 18 points [on 8-of-11 shooting] and 10 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end which he converted into putbacks. Point guard Macieo Gaines managed 10 points and three steals.

Ethan Moss added eight points, including a pair of threes, while Smith scored six [with nine assists], Ben Bain five, Nick Sackman three and Zach Edwards two.

Two-guard Hunter Benefield paced Page with 18 points and big man Ben Brannum scored 17 as the Patriots slipped to 6-7 going into today's 5:30 p.m. third-place game against Cascade.

WATERTOWN — After playing even with Cheatham County for most of the first half Friday, Watertown succumbed to the withering power of the Lady Cub press as the visitors from Ashland City advanced to the Tigerettes' Christmas Tournament championship game with a 66-55 triumph.

The Tigerettes led 25-21 in the second quarter before Cheatham County went on a 10-0 run. After four Watertown free throws, the Lady Cubs closed the first half with back-to-back baskets by Kasey Johnson, who led the winners with 17 points, to lift them back to a 35-29 halftime lead.

Cheatham County turned up the head in the second half as the Lady Cubs outscored Watertown 15-9 in the third quarter before Alicia Jennings beat the buzzer with a runner to bring the Tigerettes within 50-40.

Jennings opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer to bring Watertown within 50-43. But CoCo Rogers sank all six of her free throws down the stretch to send Cheatham County into tonight's 7 p.m. championship game against Gordonsville with an 8-5 record.

Watertown will take an 8-6 mark into today's 4 p.m. third-place game against Westmoreland.

Savannah Worlund scored 16 points, Torie Walker 11 and Rogers all 10 of her points, including 8-of-9 from the line, in the second half.

Center Bobbi Staats muscled in 19 points for Watertown while Jennings added 11. Jenna Haun, Kirstin Vantrease and Bay Cole each scored six, Katie Dalton four and Jasmine High a free throw.

Old rival Oakland roughs up Blue Devils

SPARTA — Lebanon's boys faced old District 7-AAA rival Oakland in the Sonic Shootout on Friday at Roy Sewell Gym.

Unfortunately for the Blue Devils, the end result was similar to so many meetings in the old days – an Oakland win, in this case a 55-36 semifinal conquest.

The Patriots led 9-3 following the first quarter, 22-13 at halftime and 35-26 through three periods as they advanced to today's final with a 10-3 record while the Blue Devils dropped to 4-10.

"They play a real physical, pressure, tough man-to-man defense," Lebanon coach Jim McDowell said of the Patriots. "We didn't do a good job of executing in the halfcourt.

"We gave up 15 offensive rebounds. It wasn't very pretty."

Kyle Oliver's 13 points paced the Patriots.

Zach Santana's eight points led Lebanon. DaShawn McMurry and Yalen Reed each scored six, Eddie McDaniels and Zimmer Hunn five apiece, Julian Crutchfield four and KeShawn Abston two.

Lebanon will return today to wrap up the Shootout with a 4:30 p.m. third-place contest against Friday's Shelbyville-White County loser.

Cold-shooting Devilettes fall to Clarkrange

SPARTA — Lebanon's girls were as cold as the weather Friday in a 53-33 loss to Class A power Clarkrange in the Sonic Shootout at White County's Roy Sewell Gym.

The Lady Buffaloes led 15-10 following the first quarter, 31-20 at halftime and 46-26 through three periods as the Devilettes dropped to 6-8.

"We just couldn't put the ball in the hole," said Lebanon coach Courtney McFarlin, whose Devilettes will face either Bledsoe County or Franklin at 9 a.m. today for seventh place.

Brittany Cooper scored 16 points from the post for Clarkrange. Lindsey Crabtree tossed in three 3-pointers as she and Cheyenne Shaver each scored 13.

Abby Wright led Lebanon with eight points while Julia Fox and Kelsey Yarbrough each scored seven, Morgan Bruce five, Madison Sloan four and Scottlyn Elie two.

Williams, Franklin shoot Central into Super 16 final two

KNOXVILLE — Clutch three-point shooting by A.J. Franklin and Jacob Williams wiped out a Christian Academy of Knoxville lead in the fourth quarter Friday night as Wilson Central moved into the Super 16 final with a 71-65 win at Bearden.

The Wildcats led 16-10 following the first quarter, 28-24 at halftime and 50-49 going into the fourth. CAK held about a two-minute lead during the fourth before Franklin fired in a three and Williams two to help propel Central into tonight's 7:30 p.m. CST final against host Bearden with a 12-3 record. The Bulldogs will come in 15-1.

"Our kids fought through it," said Central coach Troy Bond, noting illness to Blake Huffman and Matthew Hall and foul trouble on Ben Palmer. "[Huffman and Hall] battled it  out and gave us some great minutes.

"We didn't play that great, but we showed a lot of heart."

Williams whistled in three triples on his way to a game-high 30 points while Franklin, a sophomore, came off the bench for three second-half threes and 13 points. Jon Rosshirt added 11 points, Huffman eight, Palmer seven and hall two.

Preston Reed came in for Palmer and had several key rebounds against 6-foot-6, 280-pound Brett Hendrick, who has committed to Tennessee as a football lineman and led the Warriors with 23 points. Point guard Oteriah Lee scored 17.

Lady Wildcats ousted from LandAir Classic

GREENEVILLE — Wilson Central's girls fell behind early and couldn't catch up as South Greene ousted the Lady Wildcats from the LandAir Ladies' Classic 58-45 Friday at Hal Henard Hall.

The Lady Rebels led 17-11 following the first quarter, 28-23 at halftime and 45-38 through three as they advanced to today's fifth-place game with an 11-5 record.

Central returned home 5-8 and will return to the District 9-AAA grind at 6:30 p.m. next Friday when the Lady Wildcats play host to Gallatin.

Alora Ricker scored 17 points and Cheyenne Upton 12 for the Lady Rebels, who committed just three turnovers.

Center Dominique St. Louis led the Lady Wildcats with 20 points while Hannah Brewer added eight [including a pair of three-pointers], Sydney Comer seven, Rachel Bean four and Autumn Hopkins a three-pointer apiece.

Antioch's quickness beats Lady Commander size

In a classic matchup between Friendship Christian's size and Antioch's quickness, the visiting Lady Bears got past the host Lady Commanders 59-44 Friday in the Mid-State Christmas Classic at the Bay Family Sportsplex.

The Lady Bears led 17-16 following the first quarter, 31-26 at halftime and 43-38 through three before pulling away in the fourth as Friendship fell to 7-3.

"Antioch's very good," said Lady Commander coach Deanna Teeter. "It was a great test for us. I didn't think we played bad.

"We took care of the basketball better, which against a team like this, was a big plus for us. We slowed it down and ran our offense. They're much faster than we are."

Jenise Davis, who dropped five three-pointers on Wilson Central earlier this season, had just one this time but penetrated for 19 points.

Antioch had no answer for Friendship center Deja Jones, who finished with 31 points. Courtney Petty scored six, Kaitlyn Teeter four and Taylor Patterson a three-pointer as the Lady Commanders connected on just 11 of 17 free throws.

Though the Classic will wrap up today, the Lady Commanders are finished with the event and are off until next Friday when Watertown comes in for a 6 p.m. District 8-A game. Friendship's boys will play today against West Creek at 3:15 p.m.

Lady Bears oust North Greene from LandAir Classic

GREENEVILLE — Here's how much high school girls' basketball has changed in a short period of time:

Mt. Juliet and Shelbyville, two programs with proud histories full of state championships will meet today in the LandAir Ladies' Classic – for seventh place.

The Lady Bears stayed alive by knocking North Greene out of the tournament 56-47 Friday at Hal Henard Hall.

Mt. Juliet received 36 points from the paint - Sally McCabe tossed in 20 and Ronjanae DeGray 18. McCabe also collected 18 rebounds. Savannah Sanders supplied some outside balance with 12 points on four three-pointers.

The Lady Bears led 12-7 following the first quarter, 28-18 at halftime and 44-28 after three before the Huskies, which tried to stay in the game by hitting nine three-pointers, rallied in the fourth but fell to 13-4.

Tyia Waller supplied six points for the Lady Bears, who improved to 9-5 going into today's 2 p.m. CST game against Shelbyville, which ousted West Greene 55-27 yesterday.

Mendy McNeese knocked down three triples in leading the Lady Huskies with 18 points while Dariane Bailey bagged a pair of threes for half of her 12.

Hillsboro hammers Mt. Juliet boys in Ryan semis

NASHVILLE — Mt. Juliet's boys had no answer for Hillsboro's Jamontae Davis in a 71-51 Father Ryan Christmas Tournament semifinal loss to Hillsboro on Friday night.

Davis dropped in 29 points, including a pair of three-pointers, to power the 12-1 Burros into tonight's championship game against Independence, which edged LaVergne 68-6 in the other semifinal.

The Golden Bears will bring a 7-6 mark into today's 6:15 p.m. third-place game against the Wolverines in a rematch of last week's Chick-fil-A Classic contest won by Mt. Juliet in double-overtime.

Hillsboro was ahead 19-10 following the first quarter, 42-17 at halftime and 53-36 going into the fourth.

Reagan Johnson led the Bears' balanced offense with 16 points while Daniel Schroder scored 13 and Nolan Chowbay 12, half of which came on a pair of threes. Thomas Sharpe notched nine points and Austin Brown a free throw.

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