Miller ignites Wildcats past Lebanon

By Andy Reed

andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com

GLADEVILLE — When Jon Rosshirt couldn't answer the second-half bell due to a gimpy ankle, Deante Miller came in and lit the fuse Wilson Central needed to ignite a 57-44 win over visiting Lebanon on Friday night.

Miller scored all 12 of his points in the third quarter, including a pair of three-pointers, as Central went on a 19-5 run to turn a 19-17 halftime edge into a 34-22 cushion.

After the Blue Devils closed the third quarter with an 8-2 run to close within 36-30, Jacob Williams scored seven of his game-high 19 points in a 9-0 Central spurt to start the fourth quarter as the Wildcats climbed to 17-6 for the season and 7-3 in District 9-AAA.

"Defensively, we made some adjustments and made them take a lot of time on the offensive end," Wildcat coach Troy Bond said. "We did some zone stuff that gave them some trouble.

"On the offensive end, we transitioned the ball hard back at them [with Miller leading the way]. That's probably the toughest spot to play in basketball, the point guard position, because you have so much on you. He's a sophomore and in a huge game like this, a rivalry, he stepped up and made some huge plays for us."

KeShawn Abston tried to get Lebanon back in the game down the stretch with all 12 of his points, including a pair of threes, in the fourth quarter. But the Blue Devils dropped to 8-14, 4-6.

"First half, we defended well," Lebanon coach Jim McDowell said. "Came out in the third quarter, had some good looks, missed a good shot, got the rebound, missed it again. When you miss those good opportunities, it has a negative effect. Wilson Central was able to hit their open looks.

"The Miller kid really stepped up when Rosshirt [who missed a couple of games last week with the ankle problem] went out. He hit some big shots and got some dribble penetration... KeShawn Abston really stepped up in the second half and made some plays, kept us battling."

Big man Ben Palmer was a model of consistency all night with 12 points for Central while Blake Huffman had six second-half points and Matthew Hall six in the first  half. Preston Reed pitched in with two.

DaShawn McMurry notched nine points off the Blue Devil bench while Jemel Officer hit two of Lebanon's seven three-pointers on his way to eight. Yalen Reed scored six while Zimmer Hunn, Julian Crutchfield and Kadarian Garnett each threw in three.

The first half was a low-scoring, but back-and-forth affair. Williams' jumper from the top of the key at the first-quarter buzzer brought Central to within 9-8. Matthew Hall's baseline five-footer put the Wildcats in front 18-17 1:34 before halftime. Palmer's free throw made it a two-point game at the break.

The start of the second half was delayed a few minutes after WCHS teacher Randy Brady fell and hit his head on the floor when he was getting down from his chair where he was operating the video board at the start of halftime. According to public address announcer Steve Gillis, who was sitting next to him, Brady never lost consciousness, but was complaining about his back. He lay on the floor until he was taken from the gym by workers from the Wilson Emergency Management Agency.

Both teams will return to action Tuesday night in Gallatin - Lebanon at Station Camp and Central at Gallatin.

Purple Tigers roar past Van Buren County

WATERTOWN — No. 5 Watertown was sizzling in the first three quarters of a 76-43 win over Van Buren County on Friday night.

The Purple Tigers tore out to a 24-11 first-quarter lead, were up 47-17 at halftime and 69-33 going into the fourth as they moved to 18-3 for the season.

Point guard Macieo Gaines paced th ePurple Tigers with 13 points, five rebounds and three assists. Wing Ty Jobe tossed in 12 points while shooting guard Josiah Smith added 11.

Nick Sackman secured a team-high six rebounds, three assists and three steals as he and Zach Edwards each added eight points. Nolan Allison added six points, Jake Belcher and Ben Bain five apiece, Hunter Warren and Dylan Speck three each and Brandon George two.

Watertown will travel to Monterey on Monday night.

Williams' two triples in final 4.1 seconds caps frantic Friendship comeback

HARTSVILLE — In a comeback which might be befitting of a nickname, Anthony Williams hit two three-pointers in the final 4.1 seconds as visiting Friendship Christian snatched a 40-38 win at Trousdale County on Friday night.

His first triple brought Friendship to within 38-37. Following a timeout, Allen Heaston deflected the inbounds pass off a Yellow Jacket leg and out of bounds - Commander ball with 2.3 ticks left.

Williams got the ball in the corner and let fly with the ball dropping through at the buzzer to lift the defending state champions to 5-11 for the season, 2-3 in District 8-A.

Friendship trailed by 15 points early in the fourth quarter. Zac Anderson's basket brought the Commanders to within 37-34 with 30 seconds left.

"The same way they shouldn't have beaten us [at Friendship], we probably didn't deserve to win there tonight," said Commander assistant coach Jason Miller, referring to a couple of weeks ago when FCS coughed up an 11-point lead with three minutes left in regulation and lost in overtime.

Trousdale led 11-6 following the first quarter and 23-8 at halftime. Friendship fought back to within eight during the third quarter before the Yellow Jackets re-extended their advantage.

"We felt like we let our chance get away after they got it back out in the third quarter," Miller said.

Anderson finished with 14 points, Williams 10 and Heaston and Andrew Wood eight each for Friendship.

Dylan Hurst had 13 points from the post and Christian Lauderdale 11 from the wing for Trousdale.

Friendship will play host to Gordonsville at the Bay Family Sportsplex on Monday night in a makeup of a game postponed Nov. 30 while both schools were winning state football championships.

McClain collects 12th win in 13 games

McClain Christian collected its 12th win in 13 games Thursday night, edging visiting Providence Christian 65-62 at Immanuel Baptist Church.

Brandon Fox finished with 31 points,12 rebounds and six assists for the Bulldogs while Charlie Booher had 12 points as McClain climbed to 12-6 for the season.

"[This] was one of the most entertaining, hard-fought games we've had," McClain coach Tony McLeod said. "Eli Shouse's defense was outstanding. Weston Rountree and Charlie Booher played great defense in the second half as well.

"Brandon Fox was amazing."

McClain's girls, who lost to Providence earlier in the evening, will pay host to Currey Ingram at Immanuel on Monday before both MCA teams welcome Franklin Christian to IBC on Tuesday.