Watertown boys fourth in final AP poll

Purple Tigers need big fourth quarter to win season finale

By Andy Reed

andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com

Watertown's boys finished the regular season ranked fourth in the Associated Press's last Class A poll of the season released Monday.

At 24-3, the Purple Tigers have the most wins of any of the top-10 teams. Their 106 points trailed No. 3 Mt. Pleasant's [20-2] 137 [including two first-place votes] and were ahead of No. 5 Union City's [19-6] 91.

Booker T. Washington [21-3] remained No. 1 with 159 points [10 firsts], just ahead of No. 2 Wartburg's [22-3] 153 [five firsts]. Mt. Pleasant [20-2] is No. 3 with 137 points, including two firsts.

Rounding out the top 10 are Richland [22-5], Columbia  Academy [21-4], Trinity Christian [22-4], Cloudland [20-8] and Region 4-A rival Clay County [20-5].

But Watertown needed a big fourth quarter Saturday to avoid a second loss to Pickett County this season as the Purple Tigers overtook the visiting Bobcats 48-44.

Pickett was in front 38-26 going into the fourth before Watertown closed with a 22-6 run to avoid a repeat of a 57-51 loss at  Byrdstown one month ago. The Tigers led 12-9 following the first quarter before the Bobcats outscored the hosts 29-14 over the next two periods.

Ethan Moss threw in three 3-pointers to pace the Purple Tigers with 11 points to go with four steals. Ty Jobe finished with five rebounds and Ben Bain four as each notched nine points while Macieo Gaines added eight points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals. George Theragood supplied six points and Josiah Smith five [with three assists and two steals].

Watertown ran the table in District 8-A and will be the No. 1 seed for this week's tournament at Trousdale County. The Tigers will face the winner of tonight's 7:30 p.m. elimination game between Red Boiling Springs and defending state champion Friendship Christian at 6 p.m. Friday. They are already assured a region berth and will host the semifinals and finals.

Lady Bears lead at halftime before Riverdale rolls to 49th straight win

MT. JULIET — Mt. Juliet's girls put a first-half scare into Tennessee's top-ranked team Monday night. But nationally-ranked Riverdale dominated the third quarter and the Lady Warriors rolled to their 49th straight win 67-47.

The Lady Bears led 12-7 following the first quarter and 28-22 at halftime. But Riverdale, coached by former Watertown assistant Cory Barrett, reeled off a 28-7 third period to take charge 50-35 as the visitors from Murfreesboro closed a 26-0 regular season.

Five Lady Warriors scored in double figures - Alexa Middleton with 19 points, Shelbie Davenport 14, Olivia Jones and Tyisha Petty 12 apiece and Tiffany Lewis 10.

Mt. Juliet's post players provided the bulk of the Lady Bears' points, as usual. Sally McCabe's 22 points paced all scorers while forward Ronjanae DeGray dropped in 12. Raeyana DeGray scored six, Tyia Waller five and Summer Adams two as the home team closed a 19-8 regular season.

The Lady Bears are the No. 1 seed for the District 9-AAA tournament and will play host to Portland at 7 p.m. Thursday with the winner advancing to Saturday's semifinal at Station Camp against Thursday's Station Camp-at-Wilson Central winner.

Tigerettes rally in second half to overtake Pickett

WATERTOWN — Like the boys would need later, Watertown's girls needed a strong second-half rally to overtake Pickett County 46-37 in Saturday's regular-season finale.

The Tigerettes trailed 20-15 at halftime before a 15-3 third quarter put them in front 35-23 going into the fourth as they finished 13-15 for the season.

Watertown will face Red Boiling Springs at 6 p.m. tonight in a District 8-A elimination game at Trousdale County.

Alicia Jennings, Watertown's only junior, tossed in two three-pointers in pacing the Tigerettes with 15 points while lone senior Kirstin Vantrease sank four triples for her 12. Jasmine High had nine points, Bay Cole seven, Shelby Hamlet two and Katie Dalton a free throw.

Jayna Ferrell poured in 22 points to pace Pickett.

Lady Saints fall to fourth in district tourney

KNOXVILLE  — Mt. Juliet Christian's girls finished fourth in the Division II District 1-A tournament with a 43-37 loss to Donelson Christian last Saturday at Knoxville Webb.

DCA led 8-3 following the first quarter, 19-13 at  halftime and 30-25 going into the fourth as the Lady Saints slipped to 11-15.

Andrea Grigsby dropped in a pair of three-pointers in leading the Lady Wildcats with 14 points while Kaitlyn Uchida added 11.

Lauren Wankel led the Lady Saints with 13 points while Lynzee Ethridge added nine. Shelby Leech sank a pair of threes as she and Meredith Orr each scored six while Amanda Wall added a three.

Fox's triple-double lead MCA boys past Boyd

MCMINNVILLE — McClain Christian's boys broke open a close game after halftime to beat Boyd Christian 69-56 Friday night.

The Bulldogs led 13-12 following the first quarter and 34-32 at halftime before widening the margin to 56-39 going into the fourth as they improved to 14-7 going into Monday's Senior Night game against the Western Kentucky Trailblazers.

Brandon Fox had a triple-double with 23 points, 16 rebounds and 12 assists for McClain while Charlie Booher bagged seven three-pointers for his 21 points. Cameron Harris notched nine points in his first game back from an injury.

McClain's girls dropped a 51-31 decision the same night at Boyd, falling to 5-11 going into Monday night.

Ashley Newby scored 17 points and Claire LeDue 12 for Boyd.

Sydney Rice finished with 15 points, Shelby Maxwell nine and Victoria Walker five for McClain.