Lady 'Cats knock out Hendersonville

GLADEVILLE — In a District 9-AAA first-round tournament game in which only the winner plays on, Wilson Central's defending state champions got a first-quarter knockout of Hendersonville in a 71-49 victory Thursday night.
The No. 3-ranked Lady Wildcats scored the first 14 points to make sure there was no suspense as they advanced to Saturday's 7 p.m. semifinal with a 26-3 record. Central will face No. 8 Smyrna, a 53-40 winner over LaVergne, as the district tournament moves to Beech. The championship and consolation contests will be played Monday night. Thursday's winners also advanced to the Region 5-AAA tournament, with Saturday's winners playing first-round home games.
Senior Lauren Farmer helped plant the seeds of the rout with three first-period three-pointers before losing a contact lens. Forward Sara Williams scored seven points and center Jasmine Hassell six as Central built a 26-10 lead at the quarter break.
Hassell hammered home 13 first-half points as Central went into intermission ahead 41-21.
A baseline jumper by Tierney Jenkins opened a 64-31 lead early in the fourth quarter before Hendersonville's Kathryn Keffer threw in three 3-pointers and 12 of her game-high 26 down the stretch as the Lady Commandos concluded a 7-21 campaign.
Hassell knocked down 19 points for Central while Jenkins scored 16, Williams 15 and Farmer 10. Jessyca Christopher finished with four while Kelsey McGee threw in three and Jenna Baines and Kelsie Cripps two apiece as the Lady Wildcats connected on 29 of 53 shots [54.7 percent] from the floor.
Central held Hendersonville to 35.9 percent from the floor on 14-of-39 and dominated the boards 40-19 as Hassell hauled down eight caroms.
Williams finished with assists and three steals while Jenkins had four assists and three swipes.
In the other bracket, Beech beat Gallatin 42-36 and will catch No. 2-ranked and top-seed Mt. Juliet at 4 p.m. Saturday in the semifinals.
The boys tournament gets underway at 7 p.m. tonight with Beech at Wilson Central and Hendersonville at Mt. Juliet.

Devilettes upend Oakland, qualify for first regional since 2002
MURFREESBORO — Lebanon's resurgence from three years of struggles continued Thursday night when the Devilettes upset host Oakland 54-44 in the first round of the District 7-AAA tournament.
The Devilettes jumped to a 14-4 first-quarter lead and came back from a 36-34 deficit going into the fourth period to advance to the district semifinals and the Region 4-AAA tournament for the first time since 2002.
At 11-19, the Devilettes have exceeded their win total of the previous three seasons combined.
"To get the opportunity for the seniors to experience that, it's so huge for our program the first year," said first-year Lebanon coach Darian Brown, whose Devilettes will face top-seed, and No. 6-ranked, Riverdale [a 72-39 winner over Warren County] at 4 p.m. Saturday on the Lady Warriors' floor in Murfreesboro. "It's a huge step forward. I'm so proud and happy for our seniors."
Junior Jasmin Brooks threw in three 3-pointers on her way to 18 points for Lebanon while sophomore post Icelyn Elie and senior guard Crystal Howse each tossed in 10. Ebony Marshall added eight points and senior Kim Ha six as each tossed in two threes while London Elie added two.
Tara Davis dropped in 14 points and Rickee Roper 13 for the Lady Patriots, who finished a 16-12 season.
"We hit a couple of shots early," said Brown, whose Devilettes led 28-21 at halftime. "We did a good job on their two big scorers [Davis and Kierra McCleary, who was held scoreless].
"We just a great job defensively. The girls did a super job with the game plan."
Lebanon's boys will open tournament play at 7 p.m. tonight at White County.
All semifinal winners will host first-round region games next week before the scene shifts to Siegel for the semis.
Sports Editor Andy Reed can be reached at 444-3952 ext. 17 or by e-mail at andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com.