Teeter, Commanders race past Watertown

After staying on Friendship Christian's tails during the early moments, Watertown backslid out of range Tuesday night as the No. 11 Commanders raced to a 73-44 District 8-A win at the Sportsplex.
A free throw by John Kneisel pulled the Purple Tigers to within 9-8 before Friendship reeled off seven straight points and 11 out of 12 to go up 20-9 at the first-quarter break.
Senior Michael Teeter put on a second-quarter show with 15 of his game-high 24 points, including a pair of threes, as the Commanders claimed a commanding 35-18 halftime lead.
Friendship scored 16 straight during the bulk of the third quarter to open a 56-22 bulge before Justin Breece and Aaron Fountain got hot for Watertown down the stretch.
The Commanders connected on 27 of 59 shots (45 percent) from the floor while Watertown had just 43 shots, sticking 17 of them. The Tigers committed 34 turnovers to Friendship's 17. FCS sank 17 of 28 free throws while WHS was only 5-of-11.
Garrett McKnight drove for 12 points for Friendship while John Doak added eight, John Hatcher and Lee Maasen six each, Parker Teeter five, Adam Stephens four; Cameron Spaulding, Parker Freels and Isaac Wilson two each and Taylor Ferraro and Hardie Sorrels a free throw apiece as the Commanders climbed to 10-3 for the season and 4-0 in the district.
Fountain threw in 13 points while Breece fired in four three-pointers for his 12. Nick Lennox notched nine points, Kneisel and Dalton Phillips three each and Victor Loza and Levi Tschaekofske two apiece as the Purple Tigers fell to 4-12, 0-6.
Hatcher secured seven rebounds for Friendship, as did Kneisel for Watertown as the Commanders held a 34-31 rebounding edge.
Both teams return to the District 8-A road Friday. Watertown travels to Gordonsville while Friendship buses to Westmoreland.

Sharp-shooting Riverdale rolls past Lebanon
MURFREESBORO — Red-hot Riverdale came out with shooting hands blazing Tuesday as the Warriors wore out Lebanon 71-51 at Johnny Parsley Gym.
Scott Thomas threw in 13 of his 23 points, including three 3-pointers, in the first quarter as Riverdale rolled to a 28-13 lead. Michael Young finished with 13 as the Warriors moved to 4-1 in District 7-AAA.
"Combination of them coming out ready to play and they hit the basket really well," Lebanon coach Doug Keil said after his Blue Devils dropped to 9-9 for the season and 1-4 in the district. "I think first quarter they only missed two or three shots and probably got putbacks on those.
"We came out tentative. We didn't come out ready to play. When we weren't successful early, it snowballed."
Riverdale led 42-26 at halftime and 58-34 through three periods.
O'Keefe McCarver scored 17 points from the backcourt while center Herschal McCathern threw in 13 from inside for Lebanon. Xavier Smith supplied seven, Terrence Logue five, Connor Burger and Alex Hutto four each and Brian Reeder a free throw.
Lebanon will try to get well by Friday when Warren County visits Campbell Brandon Gym/Hester Gibbs Court. Girls tipoff is at 6:30 p.m. with the boys to follow.

Wildcats fall to Gallatin; Bond honored for 100th win
GLADEVILLE — Troy Bond was honored for his 100th coaching victory Tuesday night before Wilson Central's District 9-AAA game against Gallatin.
But the Wildcats didn't add to that total last night as the Green Wave emerged with a 47-40 victory.
The teams were tied 20-20 at halftime and 30-30 through three periods before the Green Wave emerged with their 14th win in 18 outings overall, improving to 3-1 in the district. Central slipped to 11-6, 1-3.
"We did a pretty good job overall," Bond said. "Our effort was pretty good.
"We got hurt on the offensive boards. We took some bad shots at times."
Jonathan Newbell tossed in 10 points to pace Gallatin.
Kelten Stewart tossed in two three-pointers as he and center Travis Adkins each scored 10 for Central while Teraes Clemmons notched nine, Kody Woodard seven and JaJuan Brooks and Arcavius McMurray two each as the Wildcats connected on just 11 of 23 free throws, continuing a recent cold-shooting trend from the line.
Bond, the Wildcats' coach all six seasons of the school's existence, picked up his 100th win at Stratford in November. He is now 107-63.
"All the wins that we've got, the credit has to go to my assistant coaches and to all the players who've played for us," said Bond, who's taken two of his Wildcat teams to the State Tournament. "We've had a lot of good kids who've made my time at Wilson Central very enjoyable."
Bond and the Wildcats will go for win No. 108 Friday at Mt. Juliet's Tommy Martin Gym.

Bowman steps up in Dixon's absence to lead Bears past Ryan
MT. JULIET — With senior Jeremy Dixon sidelined for at least four weeks with a fractured elbow, Mt. Juliet coach Troy Allen was looking for someone to step up.
Jonta Bowman answered his prayers Tuesday night with 15 points in the Golden Bears' 53-41 win over Father Ryan at Tommy Martin Gym.
Dixon, the 6-5 swingman who's been offered a scholarship by Division I Samford as well as by several smaller schools (including Cumberland), broke his elbow in the closing moments of Mt. Juliet's Father Ryan Tournament-championship victory over Blackman last month when he fell to the floor after colliding with another player while both were going for a rebound on a free-throw attempt. He underwent surgery Friday during which nine screws were inserted. Allen said the best-cast scenario is four weeks, though Dixon could be lost for the season.
"Dixon gave us a lot of things, scoring, rebounding," Allen said. "He was a real good post defender. We ran pretty much our whole offense through him. Losing a guy like that changes everything.
"I've never had a guy who was that vital a cog to the team."
Bowman bagged eight first-period points as the teams battled to a 13-13 tie. Mt. Juliet moved in front 30-21 by halftime and 39-29 through three periods as the Bears improved to 10-6 for the season with Wilson Central coming to Martin Gym on Friday.
"Jonta Bowman got us going," Allen said. "He had a great first quarter, played just a great all-around game."
Point guard Demond Craig tossed in 10 points while Berek Lunn sank a pair of three-pointers on his way to eight. Antwuan Majors scored seven, Ryan Overstreet and Cory Payne five each and Jeremy Starks three.
Spencer Williams scored 16 points from the post for Ryan.

Hawks soar past Saints despite Underwood's 35
HENDERSONVILLE — Merrol Hyde dominated the boards Tuesday night as the Hawks soared past cold-shooting Mt. Juliet Christian 67-50.
Rob Kolp, the Hawks' 6-9 post, tossed in 23 points while forward Alan Wong threw in 13.
Merrol Hyde led 12-8 following the first quarter, 28-15 at halftime and 41-29 through three periods as the Saints sank to 8-7 for the season and 2-4 in District 8-A action.
"They got a lot of rebounds on us," Mt. Juliet Christian assistant coach David Kitchen said. "We did not play a good defensive game. Playing at Merrol, shots did not fall and it was a hostile environment."
Victor Underwood threw in three 3-pointers on his way to a game-high 32 points, including 21 in the second half, for Mt. Juliet Christian. Bryce Middleton scored seven, Zach Womble five, Blake Marsh four and Austin Wortman two.
Mt. Juliet Christian will host Lancaster Christian for homecoming on Saturday.
Sports Editor Andy Reed can be reached at 444-3952 ext. 17 or by e-mail at andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com.