Lady 'Cats blister Beech in second quarter

GLADEVILLE — After a cold snap to end the first quarter, Wilson Central's girls got hot in the second and blew Beech away 75-48.
The Lady Wildcats led 10-4 early before going cold and allowing Beech to go up 14-12 on Martinique Guice's three-pointer in the final seconds of the opening period.
But Central went on a 26-6 spree in the second, highlighted by a trio of three-pointers by Lauren Farmer to go up 38-20 by halftime.
"At the end of the first quarter, we started to play well but our threes didn't fall," Central coach Bud Brandon said after his Lady Wildcats climbed to 8-0 for the season and 2-0 in District 9-AAA. "The difference was that our threes started falling and our post game got going, too.
"I think we had 26 for the quarter, which is probably the biggest output we've had in any quarter all year. Our transition game went good. The pace of the game picked up which was to our favor."
Center Jasmine Hassell sank 6 of 8 shots from the post for 16 points while Chelsea Burroughs, inserted into the starting lineup, tossed in two triples on her way to 14. Tierney Jenkins sank 6 of 9 free throws en route to 12 points while Farmer finished with 11.
Lauren Wasson added eight points and a game-high nine rebounds while Sara Williams finished with four points and seven caroms. Jessyca Christopher and Kristyn Clark each threw in a three while Kelsey McGee and Jill McDonald dropped in two apiece.
Forward Abby Jackson threw in 13 points for Beech while Guice tossed in a pair of threes on her way to 12 as the Lady Buccaneers fell to 6-2 in dropping their district opener.
"Beech is the type team they're easier to play when you're ahead of them," Brandon said. "When you're behind, they will slow the offense down and they'll make you go man to man. It becomes a chess match, or a checker match, and we don't want to get in that type situation like we have before with Beech.
"Last year, we were down 10 going into the fourth quarter, at Beech. We discussed that and didn't want to get in that situation because they're very well-coached and they're smart. I'm glad we were at home tonight."
Central's game with Stratford set for Tuesday has apparently been canceled, leaving it as a boys-night only. The Lady Wildcats will next await a visit from Shelbyville in a rematch of last year's state final at 6:30 p.m. next Friday.
"We're getting better," Brandon said. "Our practices have been better. Each game we're trying to get better."

Lady Bears overrun Lady Commandos
HENDERSONVILLE — Mt. Juliet's girls began pulling away from Hendersonville in the second quarter and completely overran the Lady Commandos in the third Friday night as the Lady Bears bulldozed their way to an 82-35 District 9-AAA conquest.
The Lady Bears widened a 20-10 first-quarter lead to 38-18 by halftime and 67-25 going into the fourth as they improved to 7-1 for the season and 2-0 in the district.
"The first half, we fouled a bunch and a bunch of my starters were sitting on the bench," Mt. Juliet coach Chris Fryer said. "We started off sluggish. We hit some baskets toward the end of the second quarter.
"The third quarter, we had a great quarter. We did a good job of passing the basketball and getting good shots."
K.C. VanAtta threw in three 3-pointers on her way to a game-high 18 points for Mt. Juliet while Taylor Hall hit 5 of 6 from long range en route to 17. Jordan Nixon knocked down 13 from the post while Miaca Bowman added 11 from the backcourt.
Heather Miller added eight points, freshman Chelsea Brown five, Becca Sharpe and Britt Bell four each and Corley Bell two for the Lady Bears.
No one scored in double figures for Hendersonville.
Mt. Juliet wil host district rival LaVergne at Tommy Martin Gym at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Sports Editor Andy Reed can be reached at 444-3952 ext. 17 or by e-mail at andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com.