Lady Bears roar past Beech for 9-AAA flag

From staff reports

GALLATIN — Mt. Juliet's girls seized control in the second quarter and captured another District 9-AAA championship Monday night with a 43-28 triumph over Beech at Station Camp.

A 16-6 second quarter enabled the Lady Bears to widen a 9-7 first-period edge to 25-13 by halftime. The teams played even in the third for a 31-19 count as Mt. Juliet moved to 22-8 for the season.

Tournament Most Valuable Player Ronjanae DeGray led the Lady Bears with 16 points while center Sally McCabe collected 13 and guard Savannah Sanders 11, including three 3-pointers, as each was named to the all-tournament team. Tyia Waller tossed in two points and Karly Dyer a free throw.

Mt. Juliet will play host to West Creek at 7 p.m. Friday in the Region 5-AAA opener with the winner advancing to next week's semifinals at Beech.

Shelby Brown led the Lady Buccaneers with 11 points.

To reach the final, Mt. Juliet had to hold off a fourth-quarter charge by host Station Camp to win 56-52 in Saturday's semifinal.

The Lady Bears led 11-7 following the first quarter, 24-18 at halftime and 41-30 through three before Station Camp, which upset Mt. Juliet a couple of weeks ago, climbed back into the game with a 22-15 fourth.

Forward Ronjanae DeGray tossed in 24 points andMcCabe fired in 14 for Mt. Juliet. Raeyana DeGray knocked down nine points, Waller six and Sanders three.

Belmont-signee Kia Perry poured in four three-pointers in leading the Lady Bison with 26 points while Savannah Keele threw in three triples en route to 13.

Gordonsville girls overtake Friendship for 8-A title

HARTSVILLE — Gordonsville's girls roared back from an 11-point halftime deficit to overtake Friendship Christian 58-52 and capture the District 8-A championship Monday night at Trousdale County.

Friendship opened and closed the first half with matching 13-2 runs as the Lady Commanders connected on 11 of 17 shooting from the floor, as well as Gordonsville foul trouble, to build a 32-21 halftime lead.

But Gordonsville roared back in the second half with a 21-7 third quarter. The Tigerettes took their first lead of the night when Charli Vaden sank a three-pointer from the top of the key to end the period with a 42-39 lead.

Both teams shot well. FCS sank a sizzling 18 of 30 shots from the floor, but the Lady Commanders were limited by 24 turnovers. The Tigerettes turned the ball over 14 times and hit half of their 46 shots.

Vaden threw in three triples in leading Gordonsville with 14 points while Arielle Davis dropped in 12 and Allie Green 11, including three triples as the Tigerettes repeated as district champs with a 20-9 mark.

Lady Commander center Deja Jones knocked down 9 of 12 shots from the floor and the free-throw line to lead all scorers with 27 points before fouling out in the closing seconds. Forward Kaitlyn Teeter tossed in 10 while Kristian Watkins notched nine, Aubrey Hawks four and Courtney Petty two as Friendship fell to 17-8.

Both teams will be at home at 7 p.m. Friday for Region 4-A tournament action. Clay County will travel to Friendship's Bay Family Sportsplex while Pickett County will go to Gordonsville.

Friday's winners will advance to semifinal action next week at Watertown.

Wright's FTs lift Lebanon to OT win in 9-AAA consolation

GALLATIN — Abby Wright's two free throws with seven seconds left in overtime lifted Lebanon's girls past host Station Camp 65-64 Monday night to take third place in the District 9-AAA tournament.

The Devilettes will travel to District 10 runner-up Kenwood for a 7 p.m. Region 5-AAA first-round game Friday night with a 16-13 record.

The Lady Bison led by four points during the overtime when Lebanon starting feeding Wright inside and went to fouling Station Camp on the other end.

Station Camp missed its free throws while Wright picked up a basket and the two free throws to complete a 24-point night. Armed with the lead, Lebanon got a final stop to seal the victory.

Guard Julia Fox fired in three 3-pointers for her 13 and guard Madison Sloan added 11. Faith Rushing notched nine points, Kelsey Yarbrough six and Morgan Bruce two.

Savannah Keele threw in 30 points, Janasia Williams 15 and Kia Perry 14 for the Lady Bisons, who fell to 20-11 and will travel to the District 10 champion.

The teams were even at 15-15 following the first quarter before Lebanon moved in front 35-27 by halftime and 48-41 through three periods. Station Camp caught the Devilettes at 57-57 to force overtime.

The Devilettes dropped into the consolation game with a 64-61 overtime loss to Beech in Saturday's semifinal.

Lebanon roared back in the final minutes to force overtime on Fox's finger roll with two seconds to play after Scottlyn Elie's steal with 21 seconds to go gave the Devilettes a chance.

The Lady Buccaneers led 13-9 following the first quarter before Lebanon edged in front 28-27 by halftime. Beech was back in the lead 46-42 going into the fourth.

Shelby Brown tossed in 23 points and Bailey Taylor 13 for Beech.

Fox flipped in a pair of three-pointers in leading Lebanon with 15 points while  Wright added 11 and Elie 10. Rushing threw in three triples as she and Sloan each scored nine while Yarbrough supplied seven.

Sloan, Wright and Fox were named to the all-tournament team.

Tigerettes fall to Trousdale in 8-A consolation

HARTSVILLE — Watertown's girls finished fourth in the District 8-A tournament following a 42-35 loss to host Trousdale County on Monday night.

The Tigerettes fell to 14-17 and will travel to District 7 champion, either Clarkrange or Jackson County, at 7 p.m. Friday for the Region 4-A opener.

If Watertown can pull off an upset, the Tigerettes would return home for the remainder of the tournament.

The Tigerettes fell into catch-up mode early as the Lady Jackets led 11-6 following the first quarter, 24-10 at halftime and 31-16 through three periods.

Bailey Howell fired in 14 points and Destinee Dixon and Hannah Gregory each tossed in 10 for Trousdale.

Junior guard Alicia Jennings tossed in two three-pointers in pacing the Tigerettes with 18 points. Bay Cole scored six points, Shelby Mofield five and Katie Dalton, Shelby Hamlet and Jasmine High two each.