Cheatham County dunks Purple Tigers, Watertown boys absorb first loss

By Andy Reed

andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com

WATERTOWN — Saturday night's snowfall didn't amount to much. But inside Watertown's gym, the Purple Tigers were caught in an avalanche of Cheatham County dunks, steals and layups as the Cubs handed the home team its first loss of the season with an exclamation point 81-42 in the final of the WHS Christmas Tournament.

Tournament Most Valuable Player Jake Saunders sank 27 points. But it was Jordan Darden who left the crowd buzzing in the third quarter with nine of his 12 points, including three dunks.

Thatcher Brinkley tossed in 10 points as the Cubs climbed to 13-2.

Watertown, which was 13-0 coming in, came within 18-14 on a foul-line jumper by George Theragood, who made his first Purple Tiger start, early in the second quarter. But WHS missed several point-blank shots while Cheatham County ran off 12 straight points to take control. Devin Conner's running one-hander beat the halftime buzzer for the 38-23 lead.

The third quarter was a disaster for the Tigers, who saw Saunders score eight in the period in addition to Darden's dunks. Cheatham County won the stanza 29-8 to go up 67-31.

"I knew what [the Cubs] were capable of doing," Watertown coach Matt Bradshaw said after watching his Tigers commit 26 turnovers. "We did a pretty good job in the first quarter and a half. We got in foul trouble with Macieo [Gaines] and Ty [Jobe] and Jo[siah Smith]. They turned our missed layups into layups on the other end and we let them go on a run at the end of the second quarter.

"We came out at the start of the third quarter and just lay an absolute egg. Can't put the ball in the basket. They did everything they could not to miss a shot."

Dylan Speck came off the Watertown bench to lead the Tigers with 10 points, including a pair of three-pointers. Ben Bain added eight points while Jobe scored seven before fouling out, Theragood six [with eight rebounds]; Gaines [three steals], Nick Sackman and Zach Edwards two each and Smith a free throw.

Gaines, Smith [four assists] and Jobe represented Watertown on the all-tournament team.

WHS will return to the District 8-A grind Friday night with a trip to Friendship Christian's Bay Family Sportsplex.

Devilettes pull away from Franklin

SPARTA — Lebanon's girls got a much-needed feel-good win 63-34 over Franklin in the seventh-place game of the Sonic Shootout Saturday morning at Roy Sewell Gym.

LHS led 13-12 following the first quarter and 25-18 at halftime before widening the margin to 50-26 going into the fourth as the Devilettes enter the new year at 7-8.

Abby Wright led Lebanon with 15 points while fellow post Kelsey Yarbrough added 11. Bailey Sells and Madison Sloan each added eight points while Julia Fox and Taylor Lebo scored six apiece on three-pointers. Scottlyn Elie finished with four points, Morgan Bruce and Faith Rushing two each and Amanda Grene one.

No one scored in double figures for Franklin.

Lebanon will return to the District 9-AAA grind Friday when Station Camp visits Campbell Brandon Gym/Hester Gibbs Court for a 6:30 p.m. tipoff.

Blue Devils blow out Shelbyville in third quarter for third place in Shootout

SPARTA — Lebanon's boys took third place in the Sonic Shootout with their second win of the season over Shelbyville, this one 51-32 Saturday at Roy Sewell Gym.

LHS doubled the score for a 16-8 first-quarter lead. Shelbyville trimmed the margin to 28-22 by halftime before Lebanon blew the Golden Eagles out with a 22-4 third period for a 50-26 lead as the Blue Devils improved to 5-10 going into the new year.

Freshman post Yalen Reed led Lebanon with 14 points while guard KeShawn Abston tossed in 12. Zimmer Hunn added eight, DaShawn McMurry five, Julian Crutchfield and Zach Santana four each, Kadarian Garnett and Jemel Officer two apiece and Eddie McDaniels a free throw.

Sterling Smith sank three 3-pointers to lead Shelbyville with 13 points.

Lebanon will return to District 9-AAA action Friday night when Station Camp visits Campbell Brandon Gym/Hester Gibbs Court.

Wildcats fall to host Bearden in Super 16 final

KNOXVILLE — Bearden's balance was too much for Wilson Central's boys to overcome Saturday night as the host Bulldogs won their Super 16 Tournament 74-59.

Bearden led 22-16 following the first quarter, 41-25 at halftime and 59-41 through three as four Bulldogs scored in double figures, including two with at least 20 points, in improving to 16-1.

"Bearden's pretty big and good," Wildcat coach Troy Bond said after Central slipped to 12-4. "They got two 6-6 kids inside. They're real fundamental, real solid, the most fundamental team's we've faced so far. They're sound in how they play. They were the aggressor. We had a hard time controlling the inside."

Six-foot-seven Brady Smith led Bearden with 23 points while two-guard Adarius Wilson provided outside support with 20, including a pair of three-pointers. Six-six Sam Greene finished with 14 and Jack Graham 10, including a pair of triples.

Jacob Williams threw in three treys in leading all scorers with 24 points for Central. Junior Casey Brandon threw in a career-high 13 points, including three triples. Jon Rosshirt and A.J. Franklin each finished with five, Blake Huffman and Matthew Hall four apiece and Preston Reed and a foul-plagued Ben Palmer two each.

"We didn't play very well," Bond said. "I feel we're closer to them than the score, but they just play well.

"We saw some things we definitely need to work on."

The Wildcats will get to apply those lessons Friday when they play host to District 9-AAA rival Gallatin following the girls' 6:30 p.m. game.

Cold-shooting Tigerettes lose to Westmoreland

WATERTOWN — Watertown's girls stayed on Westmoreland's heels until poor foul shooting caught up with the Tigerettes in the fourth quarter of a 41-30 loss in the third-place game of the WHS Christmas Tournament.

The Lady Eagles led 9-8 following the first quarter, 13-12 at halftime and 24-21 going into the fourth as Watertown fell to 8-7.

Brooke Madison led the Lady Eagles with 10 points.

Freshman center Bobbi Staats led all scorers with 11 points for Watertown. Bay Cole added eight, Kirstin Vantrease four, Jenna Haun three and Jasmine High and Alicia Jennings two each as the Tigerettes knocked down just 10 of 22 free throws and 9 of 26 from the floor.

Staats and fellow ninth-grader High were named to the all-tournament team.

Watertown will travel to Friendship Christian's Bay Family Sportsplex on Friday night to resume District 8-A action at 6 p.m.

Friendship boys fall to West Creek

Defending Class A state champion Friendship Christian will limp into the new year 3-6 following a 66-52 loss to West Creek in the Commanders' Mid-State Christmas Classic on Saturday afternoon at the Bay Family Sportsplex.

West Creek led 16-8 following the first quarter, 30-20 at halftime and 48-37 through three.

Phillip Smith scored 18 points and Sean Wharton 13 for the Coyotes, who received three 3-pointers from Davan Jones.

Forward Allen Heaston led Friendship with 24 points while guard Anthony Williams tossed in 12, A.J. Long seven, Zac Anderson five and Colton Gaines and Marshall Taylor two apiece.

Friendship will play host to Watertown on Friday night in District 8-A action with the girls tipping off at 6 p.m.

Lady Bears hold off Shelbyville, salvage seventh place

GREENEVILLE — Two programs accustomed to playing for first place met in the seventh-place game of the LandAir Ladies' Classic on Saturday with Mt. Juliet taking a 43-36 victory over Shelbyville at Hal Henard Hall.

The Lady Bears bolted to a 17-6 first-quarter lead and held a 26-17 halftime advantage. Mt. Juliet was up by 14 points going into the final minutes of the third period before the Eaglettes rallied. But Shelbyville got no closer than four as Mt. Juliet moved to 10-5.

Sally McCabe scored 16 points and fellow post Ronjanae DeGray 12 for Mt. Juliet. Tyia Waller scored seven points, Ashley Roby and Haley DeWitt three each and Raeyana DeGray two as the Lady Bears hit 14 of 27 shots from the floor and 14 of 16 free throws.

Jameka Bradon tossed in 12 points and Bree Horner 10 for the Eaglettes, who hit just 10 of 41 from the floor in sinking to 7-9.

Mt. Juliet will return to District 9-AAA action at Beech at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

LaVergne boys take charge in fourth quarter, Bears finish fourth at Ryan

NASHVILLE — LaVergne's boys broke a third-quarter tie to take down Mt. Juliet 78-67 in the third-place game of the Father Ryan Christmas Tournament on Saturday night.

The Wolverines, who lost at Mt. Juliet on a double-overtime three-pointer just a week earlier, outscored the Golden Bears 24-13 in the fourth to break a 54-54 deadlock and improve to 11-5.

Mt. Juliet used a 23-13 second-quarter run to turn a 23-19 first-period deficit into a 42-36 halftime lead before the Bears slipped to 7-7.

Charles Sutton sank a pair of three-pointers in leading LaVergne with 26 points while Isaiah Reese finished with 15. Dolorian Sparks threw in three triples and Marquis Johns two as each scored 13.

Hunter Gilbert fired in four triples in leading Mt. Juliet with 18 points while Daniel Schroder scored 13 and Reagan Johnson 11 from closer in. Thomas Sharpe notched nine points, Nolan Chowbay and James Womack seven each and Austin Brown two.

Mt. Juliet will return to District 9-AAA action Friday night at Beech.