Reeder rallied Tigerettes past MJCA

WATERTOWN — Mt. Juliet Christian dared Sarah Reeder to fire away from outside. The Watertown guard did and shot the Tigerettes to a come-from-behind 36-25 triumph over Mt. Juliet Christian on Friday.
After a slow start, Reeder threw in three 3-pointers on her way to 17 points as Watertown won the battle of 12-9 teams and improved to 6-4 in District 8-A.
Mt. Juliet Christian focused its defense on center Miaushia Thompson and guard Brittnee Sells. The plan worked to an extent as Thompson knocked down nine points and Sells and Amanda Montgomery five each. But Thompson's came late as the Tigerettes rallied from an early 10-2 deficit.
"We had a plan to go out and stop Miaushia and Brittnee Sells," Mt. Juliet Christian coach David Kitchen said after his Lady Saints slipped to 12-10, 3-6. "We started off in a triangle-and-two and kept on mixing up our zone defenses in order to confuse the game and slow them down on offense. And I thought we did until the fourth quarter.
"We missed a couple of weakside rebounds. Other than that, I was proud of the way they executed out game plan."
Reeder, playing with a brace to protect a sprained thumb, scored 11 points in the second half as the Tigerettes emerged from a 16-11 halftime deficit.
"That was a chance we were willing to take," Kitchen said of Reeder. "We want to make sure that their outside players beat us, and she hit a couple of outside shots. The thing that really killed us were the second-chance opportunities they got in the fourth quarter. Miaushia had a couple of putbacks and a big fourth quarter."
Watertown coach Jeff Luttrell was impressed with Kitchen's strategy.
"They did a great job," Luttrell said. "They had a great game plan. Their kids executed. He's doing a great job and I've been where he's at as a young coach and he's doing the right thing. They were well prepared tonight.
"By the same token, our kids responded to some adjustments we made in the second half. We showed some character in the second half and I'm proud of them."
Running a patient offense, Mt. Juliet Christian built the early lead as Christine Humes had five of her 12 points in the first quarter. Reeder's transition layup pulled the Tigerettes within 10-4 at the period break.
Holly Morgan scored half of her eight points in the second quarter as Mt. Juliet Christian kept the Tigerettes at bay.
Sells' driving layup and three-point basket put Watertown in front for the first time 18-16 in the third quarter. But back-to-back baskets by Humes off steals sent the Lady Saints in front by two before Reeder's triple propelled the Tigerettes in front 21-20 going into the fourth.
Humes' free throw tied the game 21-21 early in the fourth before Thompson scored on a putback to shove the Tigerettes in front to stay. She added a free throw and another putback for her personal 5-0 run for a five-point lead. A three by Reeder, a layup by Montgomery and some free throws put Watertown out of harm's way.
Paige Hudson finished with four points and Kristen Tewmey a free throw for Mt. Juliet Christian. Morgan notched nine rebounds while Humes supplied six steals and three assists.
Mt. Juliet Christian will return home to host Gordonsville at 6 p.m. Monday. Watertown will stay in the district and the county Tuesday when Friendship Christian visits for a 6:30 p.m. tipoff.

Big third-quarter powers Gordonsville past Friendship
Gordonsville blew Friendship Christian away in the third quarter Friday as the visiting Tigerettes roared to a 62-36 victory at the Sportsplex.
The Lady Commanders, who led 10-6 following the first quarter, trailed 21-19 at halftime before Gordonsville took care of matters with a 25-8 third period to improve to 6-1 in District 8-A.
Friendship, which won at Gordonsville earlier this month, fell to 9-10 for the season and 5-2 in the district.
"They hit some threes in the third and fourth quarter," Lady Commander coach Deanna Teeter said after watching the Tigerettes sink five from long range in the second half. "Some of those, we had a hand in their face and they were going in.
"Our game plan was to get the ball inside and we didn't do it. We let the pressure take us out of our offense."
Taryn Smith threw in 13 points and fellow guard Brittany Armistead added 11 for Gordonsville.
Jessi Couch knocked down nine points for Friendship while Gabbie Lowe and Lindsey Farmer each scored six, Katy Vaughan and Lacey Farmer four apiece, Lauran Douglass three and Laurel Burroughs and Stephanie Lancaster two each.
Friendship had Lindsey Farmer back in the lineup after she missed three games with a strained MCL. Douglass was back in uniform for the first time in over a month after having her tonsils removed three weeks ago.
Friendship will remain in the district Tuesday when the Lady Commanders travel to Watertown for a 6:30 p.m. game.
Sports Editor Andy Reed can be reached at 444-3952 ext. 17 or by e-mail at andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com.