Purple Tigers win by landslide over state champs

By Andy Reed

andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com

WATERTOWN — Friendship Christian had largely had its way with Watertown over the past three decades or so.

But the Purple Tigers unleased those years of frustration on the Commanders in their final District 8-A visit to Watertown with an 85-45 rout Friday night.

The defending state champions jumped to a 7-2 lead. But Watertown took command with a 9-0 run and the No. 7 Purple Tigers kept the pedal to the medal before a hometown which roared its approval of every rebound, steal and basket in watching its heroes climb to 21-3 for the season and 6-0 in the district.

"The guys played really well tonight, played hard," Watertown coach Matt Bradshaw said. "The speed of the game was exactly the way we wanted it. We're back healthy and we continued to build off what we try to do."

Friendship gamely tried to hold on by their fingernails as a floater by Cody Walker brought the Commanders within 22-15 at the first-quarter break. Andrew Wood scored seven points in the second period and 11 in the first half which ended with Watertown ahead 47-32. It was 63-40 going into the fourth and the clock eventually started running continuously once the lead reached 35 points.

Five Tigers scored in double figures. Ethan Moss fired in five three-pointers as he and fellow guard Josiah Smith each scored 17 points while point guard Macieo Gaines fired in 15, big man George Theragood 12 off the bench and wing Ty Jobe 11. Robert Caruthers finished with four points, Dylan Speck a three and Ben Bain, Hunter Warren and Brant Martin two apiece.

"Macieo did a great job pushing the break," Bradshaw said. "Moss knocking threes down off the break was huge; he does a great job of getting open spots. Ty did a great job of guarding [Allen] Heaston.

All of our guys coming off the bench gave us what we needed coming off the bench."

"Watertown's a great team," Friendship assistant coach Jason Miller said after the Commanders fell to 6-13, 3-5. "I've watched them play three times. this is the best I've ever seen them play.

"We are not a team at full strength and combine that with our youth and them playing outstanding. It wasn't meant to be."

Friendship lost guard A.J. Long to an ankle injury at Gordonsville last week and the star football prospect has spring evaluations with major colleges coming up, so his basketball season is over. Point guard Zac Anderson tried to go despite an illness and scored four points, but had to call it a night early in the second half and went home.

Wood came off the bench to lead Friendship with 13 points while guard Anthony Williams added 11 and forward Allen Heaston 10. Tyler Alverson threw in a three and Walker and Marshall Taylor two each.

Friendship will play host to Ezell-Harding at the Bay Family Sportsplex on Monday in a game rescheduled from November when the Commanders were making their run to the football state championship. Watertown will travel to Gordonsville on Tuesday as the Tigers try to lock up the top seed in the upcoming district tournament.

Lebanon follows nightmarish start with near miss

GALLATIN — After making just one basket and free throw in the first half, Lebanon came within a missed three-pointer of forcing overtime Friday night, falling short 45-42 to Gallatin.

The Green Wave led 9-2 following the first quarter and ended Lebanon's nightmare of a first half ahead 21-3 as the Blue Devils dropped in just 1 of 23 shots in the first 16 minutes.

"Had a bunch of easy looks," Lebanon coach Jim McDowell said of the icy start. "It wasn't a situation where we were turning it over [just nine turnovers for the game]. We missed a lot of easy shots. After it got to a certain point it got to be a mental thing.

"I was proud of the way our kids battled back in the second half. Even in the first half, our guys played their guts out. I've never been a part of something like that."

The Blue Devils drew to within 35-20 going into the fourth quarter and cut the margin down to two in the closing moments before missing a three at the end as they dropped to 8-16 for the season and 4-8 in District 9-AAA.

Sophomore wing Devonte Williams tossed in two three-pointers in leading Gallatin with 18 points.

Zimmer Hunn hit two threes and led Lebanon with 10 points. Jemel Officer and DaShawn McMurry each added eight, Julian Crutchfield seven, Yalen Reed six, J'Quan Jackson two and KeShawn Abston a free throw as the Blue Devils dropped in just 4 of 14 from the line.

Lebanon will play host to Beech on Tuesday night at Campbell Brandon Gym/Hester Gibbs Court.

Central traps Station Camp in fourth quarter, seizes second place in 9-AAA

GLADEVILLE — Troy Bond doesn't like to play uptempo against Station Camp. But Wilson Central's coach ended up doing exactly that as the Wildcats trapped the Bison in a 47-39 Coming Home conquest Friday night.

Station Camp led 11-10 following the first quarter and trailed 23-22 at the end of a slow-paced first half. The Bison went up 33-29 going into the fourth before the Wildcats roared home with an 18-6 fourth to climb to 19-6 for the season and 9-3 in District 9-AAA, breaking a tie with SCHS for second place in the league.

"We didn't play particularly well, especially shooting the basketball," Bond said. "Fourth quarter, we really picked it up, started trapping the basketball. We got a lot of turnovers and rebounds out of quick shots."

Jacob Williams received a 1,000-point ball before adding to his total with 16, including a pair of three-pointers. Deante Miller scored all seven of his points in the fourth quarter, matching Blake Huffman's total. Matthew Hall and Ben Palmer each put in six, Casey Brandon a three and A.J. Franklin two.

Forward Ryan Hardin threw in 13 points for Station Camp.

Central will celebrate Senior Night on Tuesday when Portland comes in while Station Camp goes to Mt. Juliet.

Mt. Juliet edges 9-AAA leaders in overtime

HENDERSONVILLE — Mt. Juliet hit its free throws in the overtime of a 58-56 win over District 9-AAA-leading Hendersonville Friday night.

The Golden Bears had all but wrapped up the victory in regulation. But David Sheehan swished back-to-back three-pointers from the top of the key to pull Hendersonville into a 50-50 tie and force overtime.

"We were in pretty good shape, we thought," Mt. Juliet coach Troy Allen said after his Bears improved to 13-10 for the season and 8-4 in the district. "They have such good shooters."

Mt. Juliet fired out to a 19-10 first-quarter lead before the Commandos cut the margin to 25-20 by halftime and pulled even 33-33 going into the fourth.

"They're really good," Allen said of the 17-4 Commandos, who hold a one-game lead over Wilson Central at 10-2. "We really played good in that first quarter, about as good as we've played. Then we got in foul trouble."

Nolan Chowbay buried three 3-pointers in leading Mt. Juliet with 22 points while John Mark Bell added 11 and Thomas Sharpe 10 as each hit a pair of threes. Reagan Johnson scored seven, Hunter Gilbert six and  James Womack two.

John Davis dropped in 22 points, Jacob McCullough 17 and Sheehan 14 for Hendersonville.

Mt. Juliet will play host to Station Camp on Tuesday night.

Saints fall short to DCA

MT. JULIET — Mt. Juliet Christian stayed on Donelson Christian's heels all night Friday, falling short 61-54.

The Wildcats led 14-13 following the first quarter, 30-29 at halftime and 44-40 through three as the Saints slipped to 9-15 for the season and 2-8 in Division II District 1-A.

Joshua Joy knocked down 19 points for DCA while Clay Hertel hit three 3-pointers on his way to 18 and Jake Singer 13. Former West Wilson Middle player De Ewin finished with four.

Jackson Harrell hit five triples in leading Mt. Juliet with 22 points. Trevor West tossed in two treys as he and Zack Jones each added 11. Alex Graves scored six and Brandon Wall four.

The Saints will close their regular season Tuesday night at home against Zion Christian.