Blue Devils bounce Bears, advance to 9-AAA final

From staff reports

Lebanon's boys emerged from a back-and-forth District 9-AAA semifinal with a 50-47 win over Mt. Juliet on Thursday at Campbell Brandon Gym/Hester Gibbs Court.

The second-seeded Blue Devils advanced to Saturday's 12:30 p.m. championship game against No. 1 Station Camp, a 21-point winner over Beech in Thursday's earlier game. It will follow the 11 a.m. girls' final between Mt. Juliet and Portland, the only two schools in the district with girls' teams this year.

Mt. Juliet led 9-2 following the first quarter before a Julius Young free throw with time expired following a steal lifted Lebanon into a 15-13 halftime edge. The Golden Bears were back in front 30-26 going into the fourth.

Eric Stovall tossed in 21 points for Lebanon while Tay Jackson knocked in nine, Yalen Reed eight, Jarren Stewart six and Young and Bryce Lester three each.

Christian Bell threw in three 3-pointers on his way to 14 second-half points to lead Mt. Juliet while point guard Tyler Faulkenberry fired in 13, Austin Brown nine, Timmy Barton seven and Bailey Howard four as the Golden Bears finished an 11-5 season.