MJCA sweeps Providence in home openers

From staff reports

MT. JULIET — Mt. Juliet Christian celebrated its home opener Friday night with a double-header sweep of Providence Christian.

The girls prevailed 40-12  and the boys 66-37 in a TSSAA Hall of Champions twin bill as both MJCA teams pulled even at 1-1 for the season.

The Lady Saints led 9-2 following the first quarter and 27-4 at halftime.

Shelby Leech threw in three 3-pointers in leading the Lady Saints with 15 points while Lynnze Ethridge added 11, Amanda Wall and Meredith Orr four each, Lauren  Wankel three, Carly Hummel two and Baily Jarrett a free throw.

The Saints got off to fast starts in both halves, bolting to an 18-5 getaway before settling for a 30-16 halftime lead. A 22-9 third period widened the margin to 52-25.

Jackson Harrell hit a pair of threes on his way to 25 points while Zach Jones added 11, Brandon Wall eight, Trevor West seven, Jamex Laxton four, Brant Lamberth and Nathan Green three each, Alex Graves and Gilbert Russ two apiece and Jonothan Correll a free throw.

Payton Thomas scored 17 points and Jake Johnson 10 for Providence, which was playing its season opener.

Mt. Juliet Christian will host Merrol Hyde in a 6 p.m. double header Monday.

Maxwell leads McClain girls to opening win

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — McClain Christian's girls built an early lead Friday night and Shelby Maxwell helped keep the Lady Bulldogs in front with 23 points in a 35-33 season-opening victory.

Afterward, cold shooting was costly to McClain's boys in a 42-41 loss.

Maxwell tossed in 10 of 13 free throws as McClain worked around Coach Darrin Reynolds' desire to give some of the Lady Bulldogs' younger players some experience. Out of 11 players, four had never played competitive basketball before.

The Lady Bulldogs led 23-15 at halftime and 29-23 going into the fourth as they never trailed.

Sydney Rice supplied six points for McClain while Victoria Walker finished with four and Hannah Rountree two.

Rachel Lipp tossed in 12 for the Trailblazers.

McClain's boys shot just 23 percent from the floor, including 14 percent from three-point range as the Bulldogs dropped to 0-2.

"I was proud of the way we battled," McClain coach Tony McLeod said. "This team beat us by over 20 points both times last year and we had some chances to win the game tonight."

Brandon Fox finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds for McClain while Austyn Laude added 11 points. Weston Rountree notched nine rebounds and three points.

"Coach [Seth] Poston really stressed blocking out before the game, and we did a better job [rebounding]," McLeod said. "If we clean up the turnovers and make shots in the first half we could have won this one."

McClain will host Franklin Road Christian in a 6 p.m. girl-boy double header Monday at Immanuel Baptist Church.