Mt. Juliet takes two from Lebanon in 9-AAA openers

Golden Bears turn back late Blue Devil rally

By Andy Reed

Sports Editor

MT. JULIET — Mt. Juliet's boys built a big lead early before holding off a fierce Lebanon rally in the second half of a 61-53 victory in the teams' District 9-AAA opener Friday night.

A 17-2 run turned a 5-4 Lebanon lead into a 21-7 Mt. Juliet runaway early in the second quarter as Daniel Schroder scored seven of his game-high 18 during the opening nine minutes.

The Golden Bears built a two-touchdown lead on a couple of occasions early in the third quarter, the last at 35-21 on Schroder's basket in the post.

"We wanted to attack inside-out and we really did the first part of the game," Mt. Juliet coach Troy Allen said after his Bears improved to 4-3. "They started pressing us and it became tougher for us to attack inside-out. But everytime we did, it seemed like we had success."

"Mt. Juliet came out and really outplayed us, out-executed us and was more physical than us in the first half," Lebanon coach Jim McDowell said. "We called on our guys and challenged them and they responded well. We fought back and battled hard."

Freshman Yalen Reed scored six of his seven points in the third as Lebanon closed the margin to 41-33. The Blue Devils kept battling until KeShawn Abston, who led LHS with 14 points, dropped in two free throws to bring the visitors within 48-46.

"Their pressure gave us trouble, no doubt about it," Allen said. "We weren't getting lined up correctly. We made some questionable passes. But they picked up the intensity and it got them back in the game," Allen said.

But Nolan Chowbay knocked down back-to-back three-pointers as the Bears pulled away to their fourth win in seven outings while the Blue Devils dropped to 2-6.

"Had two mental lapses when we were at a two-point ballgame and losing the best shooter on their team in Chowbay," McDowell said after his Blue Devils dropped to 2-6. "I've got to a better job to where in those big-time situations we are able to get matched up and make plays."

Schroder sank 8 of 10 free throws as Mt. Juliet made 19 of 26 from the stripe. Chowbay finished with 14 points, including three triples, while Reagan Johnson had 10. Thomas Sharpe added eight, James Womack six, Hunter Gilbert a three and Justin Williams two.

"I couldn't be prouder of my team," said Allen, whose Bears will host Gallatin on Tuesday night. "We didn't have an easy offseason and to step up and compete like we did says a lot about the character of our players."

Zimmer Hunn hit a pair of threes as he and DaShawn McMurry each tossed in 10 points for Lebanon while McDaniels finished with five and Jemel Officer and Kadarian Garnett two each as the Blue Devils dropped in 11 of 14 free throws.

"I was really proud of KeShawn tonight," said McDowell, whose Devils will travel to Hendersonville on Tuesday. "He's been sick, been battling some of that stomach bug that's going around. He was throwing up all day at school. He made some big plays for us, hit some big shots. DaShawn McMurry came into a tough environment for him and responded well and made some plays down the stretch."

Lady Bears riddle Lebanon with 12 triples in 66-57 win

MT. JULIET — Three nights after being riddled by Riverdale's three-point shooting in a road loss, Mt. Juliet came home and did likewise to Lebanon in a 66-57 victory Friday night.

The Lady Bears sank five first-quarter threes in building a 16-10 lead. They hit seven in leading 33-27 by halftime and finished the game with 12 as they led from start to finish in improving to 4-2 for the season.

Savannah Sanders sank five triples as she and forward Ronjanae Degray each finished with 15 points. Point guard Ashley Roby racked up four treys on her way to 13 while Tyia Waller threw in three triples and scored 11. Sally McCabe scored nine in the post and Raeyana Degray three.

"We had a good night shooting the basketball," said Mt. Juliet coach Chris Fryer, who was honored after the game for recently picking up his 400th win in 15 seasons. "We want some post touches too and I thought we ignored our posts. As the game went on, they gave us some opportunities to feed our post girls and we really didn't take advantage of those opportunities.

"We've still got a long way to go. We're still a work in progress."

"They shot lights out," Lebanon coach Courtney McFarlin said of her alma mater. "I haven't seen a team shoot that well in a long time from beyond the arc.

"There were a couple of times we could have executed a little better on defense as far as reaching shooters, but they made us pay.

"Our main focus was to stop their too bigs [McCabe and Ronjanae Degray]. Their two bigs are their two big scorers and that was our focus. I felt like we executed that. Our girls did a great job of executing our game plan."

McCabe and Waller each had three fouls going into halftime, but the Lady Bears didn't lose anybody to fouls for the night.

"We were fortunate enough we played some other kids and were able to get them some minutes and save them for the second half," said Fryer, who is 402-64. "But we've got to be smarter on defense. The kids played hard. It was a big crowd and an emotional rivalry game; maybe they were too intense and made some silly fouls they shouldn't have committed."

Lebanon had to play catchup after Waller and Sanders connected from long range for a 6-0 getaway. But the Devilettes never gave up as they had a chance to tie the game at 9-9, only to miss a free throw. They were within 30-27 late in the first half. Mt. Juliet opened a 60-38 lead in the fourth quarter before LHS cut the margin to the final score.

"Our relentless effort was something I was real proud of," McFarlin said. "They never gave up, they never backed down. That's a sign of this team coming together. We got the loss tonight but I think this could be good for us down the road."

Julia Fox finished with a flurry for Lebanon with 12 of her 16 points in the fourth quarter, including three of her four triples. Abby Wright racked up a pair of threes en route to 11 while Madison Sloan and Sydney Floyd each finished with 10. Morgan Bruce added eight and Faith Rushing two as the Devilettes dropped to 4-4 going into Tuesday's trip to Hendersonville for a 6:30 p.m. game.

Mt. Juliet will host Gallatin at the same time.

Hendersonville hands Wildcats opening 9-AAA loss

GLADEVILLE — Hendersonville's boys made enough hustle plays to outlast host Wilson Central 52-48 in the teams' District 9-AAA opener Friday night.

The teams went back and forth throughout the night. Following a 10-10 first-quarter tie, Central moved in front 21-17 by halftime and 30-29 going into the fourth. The Wildcats held a nine-point lead at one point in the second half before falling to 4-2.

Jacob Williams led Central with 18 points despite spending much of the game on the bench in foul trouble.

"He never got a lot of rhythm," Wildcats coach Troy Bond said. "Hendersonville outplayed us all the way around. They won the hustle plays. they made the plays on the boards.

"Our kids played hard, but they played harder."

It was reflected at the free-throw line were the Commandos were rewarded with 27 shots, sinking 21. The Wildcats went to the line just 10 times, and only hit half of those, several of which were the front ends of 1-and-1s down the stretch.

Jacob McCullough threw in three triples in leading Hendersonville with 21 points while Jacob Shehan had 15, including a pair of threes, as the Commandos climbed to 5-1.

Blake Huffman had 11 points for Central while Ben Palmer picked up eight, Matthew Hall and Andre Corder four each, A.J. Franklin two and Jon Rosshirt a free throw.

Central will host Beech on Tuesday night with the girls tipping off at 6:30 p.m.

Purple Tigers top Monterey, now 8-0

WATERTOWN —Watertown's boys widened a close game in the second quarter Friday night and the undefeated Purple Tigers stayed safely ahead the rest of the way in a 68-56 win over Monterey.

The Tigers used a 26-19 second to turn an 8-6 edge into a 34-25 lead. It was 51-42 going into the fourth as Watertown improved to 8-0.

"They played real well," Watertown coach Matt Bradshaw said. "They played very hard. I was pleased with how we attacked the basket."

Watertown shot 53.2 percent from the floor for the game.

Ty Jobe sank 6 of 7 free throws and led Watertown with 18 points. Josiah Smith supplied 16 points, six rebounds and seven assists while point guard Macieo Gaines finished with 15 points, including 7-of-10 from the foul line. With Ethan Moss ill, junior Hunter Warren stepped into the starting lineup and tossed in 12 points.

Zach Edwards added three points and Dylan Speck and Ben Bain two each for the Tigers, who will open District 8-A action Tuesday night at Red Boiling Springs, with the girls tipping off at 6 p.m.

Jones, Teeter double-doubles lift Lady Commanders

Deja Jones and Kaitlyn Teeter posted double-doubles Friday night to lift Friendship Christian's girls past visiting Lancaster Christian 64-48 at the Bay Family Sportsplex.

Jones led the Lady Commanders with 31 points and 18 rebounds while Teeter totaled 10 points and 17 caroms. Taylor Patterson popped in a pair of three-pointers for half of her 12. Courtney Petty pitched in with seven and Caroline Terry two as Friendship improved to 2-2 for the season.

The Lady Commanders led 15-11 following the first quarter, 29-23 at halftime and 45-34 through three.

Friendship will travel to Hendersonville to take on Pope John Paul II at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Lancaster boys overwhelm Friendship

Lancaster Christian's boys used their size to overwhelm host Friendship Christian 66-41 Friday night at the Bay Family Sportsplex.

The Commanders led during the first quarter before falling behind 13-10 at the break. Lancaster widened the margin to 33-17 by halftime and 51-28 through three as Friendship fell to 1-3.

"They had size advantage at every position," Friendship assistant coach Jason Miller said of the Knights. "They're so big, so quick and so fast all over the court.

"We don't have the depth and the conditioning right now."

Eric Evans led Lancaster with 19 points while Jacob Freeze finished with 10.

Anthony Williams' 13 points paced Friendship from the backcourt. Andrew Wood, one of several football players still trying to get into basketball shape, added eight, Zac Anderson seven, Colton Gaines six, Dillon Hodges five and a foul-plagued Allen Heaston two.

Friendship will travel to Pope John Paul II on Tuesday night.

MJCA girls edge Webb 33-32

BELL BUCKLE — Mt. Juliet Christian's girls edged Webb 33-32 Friday night.

The Lady Saints trailed 7-6 following the first quarter, led 16-13 at halftime and fell behind 23-21 going into the fourth.

Shelby Leech sank a pair of three-pointers in leading the Lady Saints with 12 points while Lauren Wankel tossed in 10, Lynnze Ethridge seven and Meredith Orr four.

Kay Coffey connected four four triples in leading Webb with 14 points.

Mt. Juliet Christian will host Madison Academy at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Harrell's 28 not enough for Saints

BELL BUCKLE — Webb's boys emerged with a 53-50 win over visiting Mt. Juliet Christian on Friday night.

The Saints led 10-9 following the first quarter but trailed 24-17 at halftime and 38-33 through three periods.

Jackson Harrell hit five three-pointers in leading Mt. Juliet Christian with 28 points while Zach Jones finished with 15, Brandon Wall five and Trevor West two as the Saints fell to 4-4.

Mt. Juliet Christian will host Madison Academy on Tuesday.

Sports Editor Andy Reed can be reached at 444-3952, ext. 17; or by email at andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com