McCarver leads LHS into Smyrna finals

SMYRNA — If there's a most valuable player named for the Smyrna Tournament, Lebanon's O'Keefe McCarver is making a bid to win it.
The senior guard sparked the Blue Devils for the second straight night Friday, leading Lebanon to a 76-54 win over the host Bulldogs with 22 points, including a pair of three-pointers.
"He's really stepped it up," Lebanon coach Doug Keil said of McCarver. "He's been a leader for us."
He'll try to lead Lebanon again tonight as the Blue Devils face Riverdale at 8:30 p.m. for the championship.
Center Herschal McCathern threw in 13 points and guard Alex Johnson tossed in 10. Connor Burger knocked down nine points, Casey Nunley six, Xavier Smith and Brian Reeder five each, Michael Edwards four and Terrence Logue three.
"Connor Burger has really been a senior leader for us in this tournament as well," Keil said after Lebanon improved to 8-6. "Alex Johnson has been rebounding like crazy and guarding their best player. Terrence Logue does the same thing.
"You go on down the line, they're working hard and playing together."
Smyrna led 18-13 following the first quarter before Lebanon moved in front 36-34 by halftime.
"We struggled against their zone early," Keil said. "And then we started getting some easy baskets. Our defense picked up the energy.
"We wore them down."
Davis Warner scored 11 points for Smyrna.

Craig leads Bears to Ryan championship
NASHVILLE — If Mt. Juliet can get into the second half without foul trouble, look out.
With senior point guard Demond Craig leading the way, Mt. Juliet stayed ahead of Blackman during the second half Friday night to win the Father Ryan Tournament with a 63-58 victory.
Craig tossed in two three-pointers on his way to 17 points and the tournament's Most Valuable Player trophy. Jeremy Dixon was named to the All-Tournament team as he and Berek Lunn each knocked down nine points. Cory Payne added eight, Jonta Bowman and Robert Hill five each, Ryan Overstreet four and Antwuan Majors three.
"Like last night (against Independence), Demond was in foul trouble and he sat the last four minutes," Mt. Juliet coach Troy Allen said of the second quarter which began with his Bears trailing 15-12 and ended with them up 28-27. "We had four, maybe five, guys with two fouls. We got into the third quarter with no one really in foul trouble.
"Demond, when he's in a groove, we're a different team."
David Barnes fired in 14 points, Shawn Smith 13 and Blake Bragg 12 for Blackman.
The tournament sweep has Mt. Juliet on a four-game winning streak entering the new year. The Golden Bears will bring a 9-5 record to Beech as they resume District 9-AAA competition next Friday.
"We went deep into football," said Allen, who regularly experienced the same situation at Hillsboro. "We were playing pretty well and we got four guys back, trying to fit them in. It takes time to get it in gear. At least it takes me time to get it in gear. It usually takes until after Christmas.
"We played six of the top teams in the Midstate (early in the season). We weren't playing cupcakes."

Wildcats wear out Campbell County
KNOXVILLE — Less than a day after being outplayed by host Knoxville Catholic, Wilson Central's road-weary Wildcats got a second wind Friday morning to wrap up their stay in the Pilot Food Mart Classic with an 80-30 thrashing of Campbell County.
The Cougars were within 18-15 following the first quarter before Central widened the margin to 38-21 by halftime. It was 53-24 through three periods as Coach Troy Bond cleared his bench.
"Our main guys didn't play from two minutes (left) in the third quarter on," Bond said after his Wildcats, winners of 5 of their 6 holiday games, returned home with a 10-5 record. "The second group of guys actually stretched the lead out, outscored them 27-6.
"We played harder today. We shot free throws better (16-of-21). We... made some shots. They made some turnovers and the floodgates opened. I've been on the other end of those."
Point guard Kelten Stewart tossed in two three-pointers on his way to 18 for Central while center Travis Adkins finished with 15 and wing Teraes Clemmons 11. Austin Auld came off the bench to drop in two triples en route to eight while Arcavius McMurray and Jarvis Jenkins each scored seven, Kody Woodard six, JaJuan Brooks four and Daniel Palmer, Preston Jenkins and Ethan Duke two apiece.
The Wildcats will break for the new year before returning to District 9-AAA next Friday at Smyrna.

Commanders shoot down Mars Hill
JACKSON — Friendship Christian's boys found their shooting touch early and often Friday in a 71-55 conquering of Mars Hill (Ala.) in the Jackson Christian Tournament.
The Commanders led 23-16 following the first quarter and 42-24 at halftime. Friendship was up by 30 with five minutes left in the third quarter when Coach Matt Bradshaw pulled his starters.
"We came out and hit the basket today," Bradshaw said after his Commanders climbed to 5-3. "We made some shots from outside the arc for the first time in a while.
"When you make a couple of shots, a lot of mistakes go away."
Michael Teeter threw in three 3-pointers on his way to 24 points for Friendship while John Doak tossed in 12 and Garrett McKnight 10 as both dropped in a pair of threes. Adam Stephens, Taylor Ferraro and Cameron Spaulding each scored six, John Hatcher three and Lee Maasen and Parker Freels two apiece.
Forward Matt Van Horn scored 16 for Mars Hill.
The Commanders will complete their stay in the tournament today when they face Columbia Academy for fifth place at 2:30 p.m.

Purple Tigers turn it over in loss to Cascade
WARTRACE — Watertown could never find any productive offense Friday night as host Cascade caged the Purple Tigers 52-24 in the Bedford County Classic.
The Champions galloped to an 18-2 first-quarter lead and were up 25-8 at halftime as the Purple Tigers fell to 4-10.
"We just didn't play very smart," Watertown assistant coach T.J. Hewitt said. "Threw the ball away, threw it all over the gym. Had more turnovers than points, mostly in the halfcourt game."
Brandon Hall scored 17 points while fellow post Seth Day dropped in 14 for Cascade.
Aaron Fountain finished with seven points for the Purple Tigers while John Kneisel notched five, Dalton Phillips four; Justin Breece, Nick Lennox and Levi Tschaekofske two each and Caleb Grandstaff and Victor Loza a free throw apiece.
Watertown will journey to Clarkrange on Tuesday.