Nov. 22—GLADEVILLE — Their coach was laid up, but Wilson Central’s girls were at top speed Tuesday night as they opened their season with a 63-39 thumping of visiting DeKalb County in a TSSAA Hall of Champions game.
The Lady Wildcats wiped out an early 3-2 Lady Tiger lead with 21 straight points to go up 23-3 at the first-quarter break. It was 35-13 at halftime.
“Real good game for us,” said Lady Wildcats coach Jason Knowles, who coached the game from a wheelchair due to an injury suffered while officiating a first-round high school football playoff game earlier this month. “Got a lot of freshmen some minutes. Trying to figure out the freshmen we’re going to be relying on off the bench. We’ve got another good crop of freshmen from Gladeville and a few from Winfree Bryant who have come in and helped a lot.
“It was a good game, rounded for everyone.”
Eliana Ramsey racked up a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds for Central while Kylie Moss sank three 3-pointers on her way to 11 tallies to go with five steals. Brooklyn Evert sank two triples on her way to eight while Alexis Jackson finished with five; Annie Wilson, Kiley Jo Byrom and Riley Mirghavami four each; Callie Turner, Riley Spencer and Brylee Fly three apiece, Jordan Sasmore two and Rylee Milan a free throw.
Avery Agee buried a pair of 3s in leading the Lady Tigers with 10 points.
Knowles was serving as the head linesman in the first-round playoff game at Henry County, which was hosting Memphis Central when he was hit on a late hit out of bounds.
“When I went to get out of the way, the chain stake was right behind me, so I hit the guy holding the chains and I couldn’t go anywhere,” Knowles said. “I came back on one leg and the tackle out of bounds. I was three yards out of bounds and they still got me.”
He suffered a broken tibia plateau, a torn hamstring and a calf tear on his right leg. Knowles, 39, said the leg will be immobilized for five to seven weeks but he will not have to undergo surgery.
“I still got the flag out for the late hit,” Knowles said. “I made sure when I was down that they enforced the penalty.”
The Lady Wildcats will wrap up their Hall of Champions week today with a doubleheader at Franklin County against Scottsboro (Ala.) and the host Lady Rebels. Scottsboro is a defending Alabama state runner up.
Watertown wins opener for new coach PriceWATERTOWN — Molly Followill tossed in 21 points Thursday night to lift Watertown to a 61-55 win over Van Buren County in a TSSAA Hall of Champions game.
It marked the debut game of Brenna Price as Lady Purple Tiger head coach.
The Lady Tigers led 21-14 at the first-quarter break, 40-28 at halftime and 51-46 going into the fourth.
Followill finished with two 3-pointers. Izzie Burns added 11 points while Darley Hight and Macie Brelje each notched nine and Larkin Cherry and Maggie Pearson five apiece.
Abigail Netherton nailed a pair of 3s to lead the Lady Eagles with 19points while Cara Mills scored 16.
Lady Commanders roll past AntiochFriendship Christian dominated visiting Antioch as the Lady Commanders won their home opener Thursday night 54-25 at the Bay Family Sportsplex.
The Lady Commanders led 10-4 at the first-quarter break, 26-10 at halftime and 38-14 through three periods as they bounced back from an opening loss at Rockvale two nights earlier to improve to 1-1.
Izzy Wilson sank a pair of 3-pointers to lead the Lady Commanders with 12 points while Anna Kate Reed added 11, Rylee Agee eight; Kate Petty, Natalie Major and Annika Lankford six each; Maggie Reed three and Reese Staggs two.
Yvelle Walden led the Lady Bears with 11 points.
Friendship will travel to Trousdale County today for a girls-only matchup at 4:30 p.m. to wrap up the TSSAA Hall of Champions schedule.
Mt. Juliet beaten by Brentwood in home openerMT. JULIET — Mt. Juliet dropped its home opener to Brentwood 59-45 Thursday in a TSSAA Hall of Champions game.
The Lady Bruins led 16-14 at the first-quarter break before widening the margin to 40-25 by halftime and 50-30 going into the fourth, a period owned by Mt. Juliet 15-9 as the Lady Bears dropped to 1-1.
Claire Emery had a double-double to lead the Lady Bears with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Devilettes defeated by Oak Ridge 59-43SOUTH CARTHAGE — After a solid start, Lebanon endured a bad second quarter and never recovered in a season-opening 59-43 loss to East Tennessee power Oak Ridge in a TSSAA Hall of Champions game Tuesday at Smith County Middle School.
The Devilettes led 14-8 at the first-quarter break before a 22-6 second sent the Lady Wildcats into halftime ahead 30-20. Oak Ridge opened a 41-27 lead going into the fourth as the Lady Wildcats shot 47.8% from the floor.
Ze’Yana Stewart sank 6 of 8 from the floor, including both of her 3-pointers, and 7 of 11 free throws to lead the Lady Wildcats with 21 points. Ayana Porter scored 16 points and Jenna Johnson 13.
The Devilettes, who lost senior TK Hastings to a torn ACL on the last day of summer camp (but is expected to return during the season), were led by Tramaria Neal’s 11 points. Ro Dowell tossed in 10 points while Naleiya Walker notched nine to go with five assists. Tiara Spencer finished with five points, Kiah Seay four and Samia Payne and Maggie Kelley two apiece.
Lebanon will host two-time defending state champion Bradley Central at Campbell Brandon Gym/Hester Gibbs Court in a girls-only outing at 3:30 p.m. today.
Big second quarter lifts Lady Bears to win in Hawks’ debutBRENTWOOD — Playing its first game under new coach Jeremy Hawks, Mt. Juliet built a big second-quarter lead Tuesday and kept host Ravenwood at bay in a 60-47 win.
Following a 13-13 first quarter, the Lady Bears built a 32-20 halftime advantage. The Raptors stopped the slide and gained a point to trail 48-37 going into the fourth before Mt. Juliet closed out the contest with a 12-10 final eight minutes.
McClaine Ringenberg led 11 Lady Bears in the scoring column with 13 points.
