Sixth-man Chowbay, Bell ignite MJ past Wildcats

By Andy Reed

andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com

GLADEVILLE — Nolan Chowbay's demotion from the starting lineup last month may have made the Mt. Juliet sophomore one of the most dangerous sixth-men around.

Chowbay's 18 points led the Golden Bears to a come-from-behind 45-41 win at Wilson Central on Wednesday night, knocking the Wildcats out of a share of the District 9-AAA lead.

Chowbay, who hasn't started since the Chick-fil-A Classic before Christmas, spent most of the first quarter on the bench as Jacob Williams scored five points to fuel a 7-3 Wilson Central lead.

But after a steal and layup by Williams, who led all scorers with 21 points, opened a 14-6 'Cats lead, Chowbay and John Mark Bell, who finished with 15, fueled a 12-0 Mt. Juliet run which put the visitors in front 18-14. Williams' tip at the buzzer brought Central within 20-18.

Mt. Juliet went back in front 25-20 early in the second half. But the Wildcats climbed back and went in front 32-29 on A.J. Franklin's three-point play in the final minute of the third quarter. Blake Huffman hit a free throw with time expired for a 33-29 lead.

But Mt. Juliet used a 9-0 run in the fourth to turn a 35-31 deficit into a 40-35 lead. Chowbay sank 7 of 8 free throws in the fourth, including 3 of 4 in the final 10.9 seconds after Central missed three chances from the line trailing 40-39. Chowbay denied the Wildcats a final chance when he stole the ball with the home team trailing by three with just over 10 seconds left.

Central slipped to 5-2, trailing only Hendersonville, which didn't play Wednesday and is 5-1 in the district. Mt. Juliet moved to 4-3 and tied with Lebanon for fourth place going into Friday's game at LHS' Campbell Brandon Gym/Hester Gibbs Court.

Chowbay knocked down 8 of 9 free throws for the game while Bell rang up three 3-pointers. Hunter Gilbert hit a pair of threes for his six  while Reagan Johnson finished with four and James Womack as the Bears, playing without the injured Daniel Schroder [hand surgery], pulled even at 9-9 for the season.

Williams hit a pair of threes while Ben Palmer pitched in with six, Huffman five, Franklin three and Deante Miller, Matthew Hall and Preston Reed two each as Central slipped to 14-4 for the season going into Friday's trip to Hendersonville.

Reed leads Lebanon to road win

PORTLAND — Freshman Yalen Reed enjoyed a career night, new though it still may be, in leading Lebanon past Portland 61-49 Wednesday to close the first half of the District 9-AAA schedule.

Reed racked up a season-high 24 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots as the Blue Devils improved to 8-11 for the season and 4-3 in the district, tied with Mt. Juliet for fourth place.

"I was really happy with how our guys played tonight, playing early and after a long drive," Lebanon coach Jim McDowell said, noting the two-hour early start time. "Yalen really stepped up and shot the ball well inside."

Lebanon led 17-9 following the first quarter, 34-15 at halftime and 45-20 through three.

Fellow big man Zach Santana supplied 10 points for Lebanon while Zimmer Hunn had nine, Julian Crutchfield five [with six assists from inside], Eddie McDaniels four, DaShawn McMurry three and Jemel Officer, KeShawn Abston and Donovan Blair two each.

Kedrick Howard's 10 points from the Portland backcourt paced the Panthers.

Lebanon and Mt. Juliet will break the fourth-place tie when they meet Friday night for the Blue Devils' homecoming at Campbell Brandon Gym/Hester Gibbs Court.

Ezell-Harding drops Saints

ANTIOCH — Ezell-Harding bolted to an early lead Wednesday and never looked back in an 89-36 thumping of visiting Mt. Juliet Christian.

The Eagles soared in front 26-7 in the first quarter and 45-16 as the Saints fell to 5-11 for the season and 0-4 in Division II District 1-A.

Will Smith's 21 points led Ezell-Harding. Ryan Caldwell collected three 3-pointers on his way to 14 points while Austin Gee also threw in three triples as he and T.J. Smith each added 11.

Trevor West finished with 14 points to lead Mt. Juliet Christian while Zack Jones added 11, Jackson Harrell seven [in just one minute] and Wyatt Oberg and Brandon Wall two each.

Mt. Juliet Christian will play host to St. Andrew's-Sewanee today.