Tigerettes fail to solve Teeter matchup in FCS win

By Andy Reed

andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com

Kaitlyn Teeter was a human matchup problem for Watertown Friday night.

Friendship Christian's resident volleyball star was the best basketball player on the floor in the Lady Commanders' 54-41 District 8-A victory after the 6-foot-2 senior totaled 22 points, including a pair of three-pointers, seven rebounds and three steals.

The Lady Commanders led from start to finish. She hit her two triples in the second quarter and finished the first half with 14 points as FCS led 27-22. Fellow big girl Deja Jones supplied 17 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots as Friendship won its district opener to move to 8-3 for the season.

"When you have two people that size, it's a hard matchup for some people," Lady Commander coach Deanna Teeter said. "When Kaitlyn's able to step out and play outside as well, and shoot the ball as well as she did tonight, that does cause matchup trouble.

"The girls did a good job. They executed our game plan. [Watertown coach Lane Price] had a good defensive scheme against us. Deja struggled a little bit in the first half, and then she finally got going. We were a little more patient on offense and took care of the basketball a little better."

Price had freshman post Bobbi Staats up against Jones. She scored eight points before fouling out.

"This was a good challenge for Bobbi to come over here and play against Deja, district MVP from last year," Price said after his Tigerettes fell to 8-8, 0-2. "She competed with her. She hasn't played against many people of her caliber this.

"The matchup problem was Teeter, we didn't have an answer for her. She really out-physicaled us tonight."

Another problem came from the free-throw line, where the Lady Commanders connected on 16 of 21 while Watertown made just 12 of 26, including a mere 3 of 12 in the fourth quarter which began with the Tigerettes trailing 38-31.

"On a road game in the district [poor foul shooting] is going to be hard to overcome," Price said.

"Typically, we don't shoot the ball that well, free throws," Deanna Teeter said.

Courtney Petty put in all four of her free throws and added all eight of her points in the second half for Friendship while Aubrey Hawks had five points and five assists and Kristian Watkins two points.

Alicia Jennings led Watertown with 17 points, including a pair of threes. Katie Dalton scored seven points, Jenna Haun four, Bay Cole three in the fourth and Kirstin Vantrease two.

"The kids played hard," Price said. "We executed what we wanted to execute.

"Rebounding, I thought they out-physicaled us on the boards. We got to do a better job."

Friendship will play at Ezell-Harding in a girls-only game at 2 p.m. today. Watertown will make the long trip to Pickett County on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. tipoff.

Sloan, Wright scored 20 apiece in Lebanon win

Lebanon used a strong second quarter as a sling shot to propel itself to a 63-56 victory over District 9-AAA rival Station Camp on Friday night at Campbell Brandon Gym/Hester Gibbs Court.

The Deviettes outscored Station Camp 22-10 in the second to turn an 18-16 deficit into a 38-28 halftime lead. Lebanon led 55-47 going into the fourth in pulling even at 8-8 for the season and improving to 3-1 in the district.

Abby Wright racked up a pair of three-pointers as she and Madison Sloan each scored 20 points for Lebanon. Kelsey Yarbrough and Morgan Bruce supplied six apiece, Julia Fox five, Scottlyn Elie four and Faith Rushing two.

Savannah Keele scored 16 points, Kia Perry 15 and Janasia Williams 11 for Station Camp.

Lebanon will remain home to face Gallatin at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Bean's double-double lifts Lady Wildcats

GLADEVILLE — Rachel Bean posted a double-double Friday night to lift Wilson Central past visiting Gallatin 52-34 Friday night.

Bean secured 17 rebounds to go with a game-high 13 points as the Lady Wildcats led from the first quarter on in climbing to 6-8 for the season and 2-2 in District 9-AAA.

Hailey Averitt hit three 3-pointers and Hannah Brewer two as each added 11 points for Central while point guard Sydney Comer collected 10. Autumn Hopkins finished with five and Kendall Spray two as the Lady Wildcats shot 44 percent from the floor.

Aleria Duncan dropped in 12 points for Gallatin.

The Lady Wildcats led 10-6 following the first quarter, 24-12 at halftime and 38-27 going into the fourth.

Central will travel to Station Camp on Tuesday for a 6:30 p.m. tipoff.

Slow-starting Lady Bears lose at Beech

HENDERSONVILLE — Beech dominated the first half Friday night as Mt. Juliet couldn't get its offense going until the second half of the Lady Buccaneers' 53-41 District 9-AAA triumph.

The Lady Bucs led 13-7 in the first quarter and 28-14 at halftime before the Lady Bears battled back to within 39-28 going into the fourth.

Shelby Brown bagged two of Beech's nine three-pointers as she led the Lady Bucs with 18 points. Bailey Taylor fired in four triples on her way to 15 while Falon Baker cooked up 12, including two from long range as Beech improved to 12-4 for the season, 3-1 in the district.

Sally McCabe led the Lady Bears with 17 points in the post while Karly Dyer returned from the injured list with three triples on her way to 10. Ronjanae DeGray added eight and Haley DeWitt and Tyia Waller three each as Mt. Juliet slipped to 10-6, 3-1.

Mt. Juliet will return home to play host to Hendersonville on Tuesday. Tipoff will be at 6:30 p.m.

Ezell-Harding rolls past Lady Saints

ANTIOCH — Ezell-Harding led from the first quarter on in a 40-23 triumph over East-Middle Region rival Mt. Juliet Christian on Friday night.

The Lady Eagles led 14-8 following the first, 21-12 at halftime and 33-16 going into the fourth.

Kianna Froedden dropped in 11 points to lead the Lady Eagles.

Lynnze Ethridge and Lauren Wankel each scored six for the Lady Saints while Amanda Wall finished with four, Shelby Leech three and Meredith Orr and Liz Russ two apiece.

Mt. Juliet Christian will travel to Davidson Academy on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. tipoff.