Tigerettes use 26-2 run to overtake Davidson

Watertown boys get Bradshaw 200th triumph

By Andy Reed

Sports Editor

WATERTOWN — After falling behind at the outset, Watertown's girls used a 26-2 fourth-quarter run to overtake Davidson Academy for a 57-39 win in the Tigerettes' Christmas Tournament on Thursday night.

Davidson darted to a 13-2 lead. The Lady Bears led 35-31 early in the fourth quarter when Watertown embarked on a 15-0 run to take charge 46-35. The Tigerettes extended the run to 26-2 for a 57-37 lead in the closing moments.

Watertown will bring an 8-5 record into tonight's 7 p.m. semifinal against Cheatham County. Davidson dropped to 7-3 and will take on Trousdale County in today's 1 p.m. consolation contest.

The Tigerettes rallied to within 13-10 by the first-quarter break and were down 24-21 at halftime.

Junior guard Alicia Jennings, who led all scorers with 21 points, put Watertown ahead for the first time on a runner three minutes into the second half to break a 26-26 tie. She sank 8 of 10 free throws.

Center Bobbi Staats added 11 points while Kirstin Vantrease scored seven, Jasmine High six, Katie Dalton and Bay Cole five each and Hannah Zachary two as Watertown dropped in 19 of 24 free throws.

Alex Gipson tossed in two three-pointers in leading the Lady Bears with 16 points while Ashley Thurmond sank all six of her free throws for half of her 12.

Lebanon comes from behind in tourney win, faces Oakland toda

SPARTA — The Lebanon boys basketball team erased a 10-point deficit in a third-period defensive stand Thursday to defeat East Limestone, Ala. 66-58. 

“The big difference on the night was the third quarter,” said Lebanon head coach Jim McDowell. “We came back from a 10-point deficit to take the lead. We really turned up the defense in the second half, and that made a difference. We also shot well from the free throw line, and that made a difference. I am really proud of how we played.”

East Limestone started strong to take a 13-7 lead at the end of the first period and led 34-24 at the half. 

At the end of three, however, the Blue Devils took the lead 42-40 and managed to hold off the north Alabama team in the quarterfinal round of the Sonic Shootout in White County. 

The win puts Lebanon in the semifinals against Oakland at noon today.

Yalen Reed led the Blue Devils with 20 points. DaShawn McMurray finished with 14 points, including one three-pointer and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line. Zimmer Hunn contributed 12 points, including one three-pointer, and was 7-for-8 from the charity stripe. Julian Crutchfield finished with eight points, Kadarian Garnett and Yemel Officer each had four and KeShawn Abston added a basket. 

Lebanon improved to 4-9 on the season with the win.

Devilettes edged by undefeated Grainger

SPARTA — Grainger is not a program which normally makes waves in Middle Tennessee.

But Lebanon's girls learned first-hand about the Grizzlies Thursday in the Sonic Shootout at Roy Sewell Gym. The East Tennesseans are big, they can shoot and they are undefeated.

The Grizzlies got their 14th win Thursday by outlasting the Devilettes 59-57.

The teams were tied 11-11 following the first quarter and 21-21 at halftime before Grainger moved in front 43-38 going into the fourth. Lebanon fell behind by as much as 10 points during the fourth before battling back to within one.

But the Devilettes dropped in half of their four free throws during the afternoon while Grainger was 14-of-17.

"They are big. They had post players 6-0 and 6-2," Lebanon coach Courtney McFarlin said after her Devilettes slipped to 6-7. "They can all shoot the three."

Four Grizzlies reached double figures and each, including the two six-footers, hit at least one three-pointer.

Polly Black fired in 15 points and 6-2 Blake Lamb 14 as each dropped in a pair of triples. Six-foot Laura Johnson also sank a trey as she and Allison Hodge had 12 points apiece.

Grainger didn't have an answer for Lebanon's Julia Fox, who fired in five triples in leading everyone with 24 points. Madison Sloan threw in 13 from outside and Abby Wright 11 from closer in. Morgan Bruce finished with five points and Faith Rushing and Scottlyn Elie two each.

Lebanon will return today for a 10:30 a.m. consolation contest against longtime Class A power Clarkrange.

Williams' 23 leads Wildcats to Super 16 second round

KNOXVILLE — Jacob Williams scored 23 points Thursday to lead Wilson Central's boys past Carter 62-39 Thursday night in the Super 16 Tournament at Bearden.

The Wildcats led by 20 at halftime and were never seriously threatened as they climbed to 11-3 for the season going into tonight's 7:30 p.m. CST game against Christian Academy of Knoxville.

Williams' point total included a pair of three-pointers. Fellow guard Blake Huffman had 16 points, A.J. Franklin nine, Preston Reed and Ben Palmer five each and Jon Rosshirt and Matthew Hall two apiece.

Unbeaten Tigers get Bradshaw 200th triumph

WATERTOWN — After a two-week holiday break, Watertown coach Matt Bradshaw picked up his 200th career win Thursday night as his Purple Tigers held off Davidson Academy 57-53 in their Christmas Tournament.

The undefeated Tigers led 18-12 following the first quarter, 34-29 at halftime and 47-43 through three as they picked up their 12th triumph this season.

"We did some things good," Bradshaw said after improving to 53-20 in three seasons at WHS and, counting seven seasons at Friendship Christian, 200-84 in 10 years overall. "Ty [Jobe] shot the ball good. [But we did] some things we normally do not do.

We looked like a team that hadn't played in two weeks."

As it is, the Tigers will come back 24 hours later with an 8:30 p.m. semifinal tip against Page, which edged Chattanooga Arts & Sciences by two points earlier Thursday.

Jobe fired in four three-pointers in pacing the Purple Tigers with 19 opints and seven rebounds. Josiah Smith supplied 15 points, six rebounds and four assists.

George Theragood and Ben Bain each added eight points while Macieo Gaines managed three points to go with five rebounds, four assists and six steals. Ethan Moss, returning from an illness, and Dylan Speck each dropped in two points.

"We got healthy and got over our sickness," Bradshaw said of the break.

CAK sends Lady Wildcats into LandAir consolation round

GREENEVILLE — Following a first-quarter draw, Christian Academy of Knoxville dominated Wilson Central in a 68-39 second-round win in the LandAir Ladies' Classic on Thursday at Hal Henard Hall.

CAK used a 19-11 second-quarter run to turn a 7-7 tie into a 26-18 halftime lead. The Lady Warriors widened the margin to 40-26 going into the fourth as they advanced to tonight's semifinal against undefeated Oakland.

Central slipped to 5-7 and will play at 4:30 p.m. CST today against South Greene, which lost to Oakland 54-47 yesterday.

Anna Hammaker had the hammer for CAK with 20 points, including a pair of three-pointers, and nine assists. Kaycee Heitman had 19 points, Kelsy Naler 12 and Taylor Dodson 11. Six-foot-six Cheyene Hooper had seven blocked shots and 12 rebounds.

Rachel Bean worked around Hooper to lead the Lady Wildcats with 10 points in the post. Dominique St. Louis supplied six points, Sydney Comer and Autumn Hopkins five each, Hailey Averitt four, Rachel Burkett a three-pointer and Kendall Spray, Sarah Duncan and Kayla Jackson two apiece.

Jones, Teeter lead Lady Commanders past White House

Deja Jones and Kaitlyn Teeter combined for 51 points and 26 rebounds Thursday afternoon as host Friendship Christian opened its Mid-State Christmas Classic with a 69-52 win over White House at the Bay Family Sportsplex.

Jones delivered 38 points and 12 rebounds while Teeter totaled 13 points, 14 rebounds and six assists as the Lady Commanders climbed to 7-2 for the season.

But Friendship's ball-handling also impressed Coach Deanna Teeter.

"We did a much better job taking care of the basketball," Coach Teeter said. "We only had 10 turnovers, and for us, that's good."

The Lady Commanders led 17-8 following the first quarter, 33-22 at halftime and 46-39 through three periods.

Courtney Petty and Kristian Watkins each scored six points for Friendship while Aubrey Hawks had four and Rachel Jones two.

Channing Chipman tossed in 12 points from the post for White House.

Friendship will return today for a 10 a.m. tipoff against Antioch. White House will face Clinton at 1:30 p.m.

Virginians too big for Friendship boys

With four players standing 6-foot-4 or taller, Evangel Christian was too much for host Friendship Christian as the Eagles soared past the Commanders 69-38 Thursday in the Mid-State Christmas Classic at the Bay Family Sportsplex.

Evangel, from Chester, Va., [near Richmond] soared to a 21-7 first-quarter lead and was up 32-17 at halftime and 51-28 through three periods as the Eagles improved to 13-4.

Dakotah Jongebloed, Evangel's 6-6 wing, hit a pair of three-pointers on his way to 19 points. Mike Robertson racked up 14, Adrian Person 13 and Dominic Hollins 10.

Forward Allen Heaston had a game-high 20 points for Friendship while point guard Zac Anderson added 10, Anthony Williams five and Colton Gaines three.

Because a couple of teams backed out of what had been originally scheduled as a tournament, Friendship won't play today while Evangel takes on West Creek today. Friendship will return to action at 3:15 p.m. Saturday against West Creek.

Lady Bears end three-game slide behind inside game, defense

GREENEVILLE — Mt. Juliet's girls obliterated its three-game losing streak Thursday with a 66-37 mid-day hammering of Holy Name [Ohio] in the LandAir Ladies' Classic at Hal Henard Hall.

The Lady Bears bolted to a 17-3 first-quarter lead and played evenly in the second for a 31-17 halftime advantage. They widened the margin to 50-23 going into the fourth as Mt. Juliet moved to 8-5.

Up next is a 1:30 p.m. CST consolation contest today against North Greene, which stayed alive by edging Cherokee 56-55 Thursday. Today's winner will move into Saturday's game for seventh place.

Mt. Juliet used a dominating post presence and suffocating defense. Sally McCabe knocked down 19 points and fellow post Ronjanae DeGray dropped in 18. Her twin, Raeyana DeGray, and Summer Adams each supplied six points while Tyia Waller and Savannah Sanders finished with five apiece, Ashley Roby four and Haley DeWit two as the Lady Bears hit half of their 52 shots from the floor.

MaCabe collected 12 rebounds while Ronjanae DeGray notched nine.

Holy Name made just 14 of 58 shots from the floor as Toni Dickson tossed in 10 points for the Green Wave.

MJ boys advance to Ryan semis

NASHVILLE — With Hunter Gilbert providing the outside offense and Reagan Johnson and Daniel Schroder the inside game, Mt. Juliet outlasted Signal Mountain 55-47 Thursday night in the Father Ryan Christmas Tournament.

Gilbert sank three 3-pointers in leading Mt. Juliet with 15 points while Schroder scored 13 and Johnson 12 from inside as the Golden Bears advanced to the semifinals with a 7-5 record. They will face Hillsboro, which knocked off host Father Ryan 64-44, at 7:45 p.m. tonight.

Signal Mountain, which will face Ryan late this afternoon, led 11-9 following the first quarter before Mt. Juliet moved in front 20-16 by halftime and 37-30 going into the fourth.

John Mark Bell scored six points for Mt. Juliet while Thomas Sharpe finished with four, James Womack three and Austin Brown two.

Director of Content Jared Felkins contributed to this story.

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