Late Siegel free throws drop Devilettes 43-42

Kristen Seigenthaler was dangerous from outside Tuesday night. But she was deadly from the free-throw line with 11:6 seconds to play as she shot Siegel to a 43-42 victory over Lebanon at Campbell Brandon Gym/Hester Gibbs Court.
Seigenthaler threw in three 3-pointers on her way to 17 points while fellow guard Allison Wright fired in four triples en route to 13 as Siegel moved to 13-9 for the season and 5-2 in District 7-AAA.
"We're right there knocking at the door," first-year Lebanon coach Darian Brown said after his Devilettes dropped to 7-13, 3-4. "That's what we keep telling these girls to keep plugging away and one of these days we're going to start winning some of these close games."
Siegel used a 2-3 zone to keep the ball on the perimeter as the Devilettes tried to find either Icelyn Elie or sister London inside. Guard Jasmin Brooks led Lebanon with 10 points. Icelyn Elie and guard Crystal Howse each scored seven while London Elie, Ebony Marshall and Kelsey Blackburn supplied six apiece.
"They slowed the tempo down by going to the 2-3," Brown said. "But I was proud of us that we didn't get impatient with it. We took our time and still tried to get a good shot out of it."
Siegel led 40-33 early in the fourth quarter before Lebanon rallied. Marshall found her way down the baseline for a basket to put the Devilettes up 42-41 with 35 seconds to play.
But Seigenthaler was fouled going to the hole by London Elie and sank both free throws.
"They do a good job of running their stuff," Brown said. "Coach (Alan) Bush does a good job with them."
That seven-point margin was the largest for either team. Lebanon led 6-2 early before Siegel ran off the final nine points of the first period to go up 11-6 as Wright tossed in two triples as part of her seven points.
But the Devilettes whittled away at the margin in the second quarter until Howse hit a three just past the midway mark of the quarter to lift Lebanon to a 19-17 lead. Another three by Blackburn opened a 22-17 margin before consecutive triples by Seigenthaler propelled Siegel in front 23-22 with just over 30 seconds to play before halftime.
Howse sank a foul-line jumper at the halftime buzzer to lift Lebanon to a 24-23 lead.
But that lead lasted only as long as a student dance team performed at halftime. A technical foul was called on Lebanon for having two No. 15s in the scorebook. Seigenthaler tossed in two free throws to shoot the Stars back in the lead.
Icelyn Elie tied the score with a foul shot. But Siegel led almost the remainder of the game after Wright racked up a three from the wing to break the 25-25 deadlock.
Siegel led by six before two free throws by Marshall and a putback by London Elie drew the Devilettes within 35-33 going into the fourth quarter.
Carrie Parrott scored on a pick-and-roll and Wright rang up a triple to open the 12-point spread before a three-point play by Icelyn Elie sparked another Lebanon comeback.
One of Bush's assistants is former Mt. Juliet Christian coach Jon Palmer.
Lebanon will remain in district action at Brandon Gym/Gibbs Court on Friday when Blackman comes in for a 6:30 p.m. game.

Friendship takes command in fourth to overwhelm Lady Saints
MT. JULIET — Friendship Christian assumed command in the fourth quarter Tuesday night as the Lady Commanders overtook and pulled away from Mt. Juliet Christian 49-32.
Paige Hudson's three-pointer lifted the Lady Saints to a 28-26 lead through three quarters. But the Lady Commanders rolled in the fourth as they improved to 8-8 for the season and 5-1 in District 8-A.
"Ran out of gas," Mt. Juliet Christian coach David Kitchen said of the Lady Saints' fourth quarter. "We were off on our shooting, but our defense made up for it. We broke their press and made some easy baskets."
Katy Vaughan knocked down 19 points from the post for Friendship while Carly Warmath threw in four three-pointers on her way to 16. Jessi Couch tossed in two triples on her way to nine while Sara Hay hit a three and Lindsey Farmer two as the Lady Commanders connected on 7 of 13 from beyond the arc.
Hudson hit a pair of threes as she and Christine Humes each had eight points for Mt. Juliet Christian while Holly Morgan scored six, Ashley Hudson and Kristen Tewmey four each and Anna Haley two as the Lady Saints slipped to 9-8, 3-4.
The Lady Commanders led 10-4 following the first quarter before the teams played evenly in the second with Friendship carrying a 22-16 advantage into halftime.
"I have a lot of respect for Coach (Deanna) Teeter," Kitchen said of the Lady Commander coach, who has just eight players available due to injuries. "She always does a good job regardless of how few players she has.
"We played with a lot of heart and played three quarters of good basketball."
Mt. Juliet Christian will host Radnor Baptist at 6 p.m. Thursday. Friendship will also step out of district for a while as the Lady Commanders welcome Clay County to the Sportsplex at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

Lady Wildcats race past Hendersonville
GLADEVILLE — Bouncing back from last Friday's loss at Mt. Juliet, No. 5 Wilson Central raced past visiting Hendersonville 72-49 Tuesday.
The Lady Wildcats led 23-7 following the first quarter and 44-20 at halftime as they climbed to 17-3 for the season and 4-2 in District 9-AAA.
"Hendersonville is not as strong as they have been the past few years," Lady Wildcat coach Bud Brandon said. "But even considering that, we did some good things in transition. We ran the floor well.
"We're still working on some things. You go in big at halftime, you treat it like practice and work on the things you need to."
Tierney Jenkins led the Lady Wildcats with 18 points while fellow post Sara Williams scored 17. Guard Jessyca Christopher fired in four three-pointers on her way to 14 while center Jasmine Hassell hammered in 13. Chelsea Burroughs finished with four while Kelsey McGee, Katie Tiger and Lauren Wasson each tossed in two.
Kathryn Keffer scored 16 points and Laura Fleming 10 for Hendersonville.
Central will welcome LaVergne in for Coming Home at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

Tigerettes break four-game slide
WATERTOWN — A banged-up Watertown team broke a four-game losing streak Tuesday with a 45-42 victory over Merrol Hyde.
The Tigerettes led 14-12 following the first quarter, 27-23 at halftime and 34-32 through three periods as they improved to 10-8 for the season and 4-4 in District 8-A.
"We're just tickled to death to get a win," said Watertown coach Jeff Luttrell, who played without forward Amanda Montgomery (slight concussion) and guard Laura Clark (tendinitis in her Achilles).
Brittnee Sells tossed in two three-pointers as she and center Miaushia Thompson each scored 16 for the Tigerettes. Sarah Reeder, playing with a swollen thumb on her shooting hand, added eight while Carley Smith finished with five.
Laura Sarrett knocked down 19 points from the post for Merrol Hyde.
Watertown will travel to Trousdale County on Friday for a 6:30 p.m. district game.

Lady Bears struggle past Gallatin
GALLATIN — Mt. Juliet's 51-37 win at Gallatin on Tuesday looks easy in the boxscore. But it wasn't so simple in the gym for the No. 2 Lady Bears.
"We didn't shoot the ball particularly well tonight," Mt. Juliet coach Chris Fryer said after his Lady Bears finished the first half of the District 9-AAA schedule 6-0 and moved to 19-1 for the season. "We struggled from behind the arc.
"Gallatin is notorious for running junk defenses. It's really not as difficult to deal with at home as it is at their place. It's not an easy place to play. It's nice to get out of there with a win."
Jordan Nixon fired in 14 points from the post while center Heather Miller added 11 for Mt. Juliet. Miaca Bowman threw in three 3-pointers as she and K.C. VanAtta each notched nine points while Rebecca Sharpe scored six and Macie Gleaves two.
Former Wilson Central player Sha Juana Scott finished with 14 points for Gallatin.
Mt. Juliet will travel to No. 7 Smyrna for a showdown between the top two teams in the district at 7 p.m. Friday.
Sports Editor Andy Reed can be reached at 444-3952 ext. 17 or by e-mail at andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com.