Jan. 28—GLADEVILLE — Smyrna’s girls were getting the best of host Wilson Central in a raggedy physical affair last Friday night when the Lady Wildcats don’t normally do.
They utilized a fullcourt press to overcome a nine-point deficit in the third quarter and went on to beat the visiting Lady Bulldogs 47-39 on Coming Home.
Trailing 31-22 early in the second quarter, the Lady Wildcats scored the final 14 points of the third quarter to take a 36-31 lead. Smyrna twice got to within two in the fourth quarter but Kylie Moss and Eliana Ramsey hit enough free throws to send Central to 10-11 for the season and 2-2 in District 7-4A.
“We’re not one to really do a lot of pressing,” Lady Wildcat coach Jason Knowles said. “We’re more of a finesse team and run sets. We kind of got out of our element and did what was successful tonight.”
Ramsey racked up 20 points, including 10 in the decisive third quarter. Moss scored 17. Both hit 10 free throws.
Brylee Fly finished with four points, Rylie Mirghavami a 3-pointer, Brooklyn Evert two free throws and Olivia Kinning one as the Lady Wildcats connected on 25 of 46 foul shots.
On the flip side of the fouls, three Lady Bulldogs fouled out and three technical fouls were called on the visitors, including two on the bench.
“Just foul after foul,” Knowles said. “We missed tons of free throws on our end.”
Tipping off a few minutes early due to Coming Home ceremonies between games and the MyTV30 broadcast of the boys’ game which had to be ready to start at around 7:30 p.m., the Lady Wildcats came from behind to lead 12-9 at the first-quarter break before Smyrna moved in front 22-17 in the second. Central came back for a 27-27 halftime tie.
“It took a while to shake (the early start) off,” Knowles said. Things seemed out of sorts early. We came out in the third quarter and Eliana took over and really started going to the rim.
“On top of that, Kylie Moss missed a triple-double by two steals. She had 17 points, 15 rebounds and eight steals tonight. A huge basketball game for her.”
Makai Jones led the Lady Bulldogs with 17 points, including three 3-pointers, before fouling out.
Central hosted Cookeville last night and will travel to Lebanon’s Campbell Brandon Gym/Hester Gibbs Court at 6 p.m. Friday.
Friendship falls
to Ezell-Harding
Ezell-Harding’s girls got off to a fast start Monday night in a 53-36 win at Friendship Christian’s Bay Family Sportsplex.
Displaying size and athleticism, the Lady Eagles scored the game’s first 12 points, led 17-1 and, by first-quarter’s end, 19-3.
Friendship was able to gain some traction in the second quarter but trailed 31-10 at halftime.
The Lady Commanders went on a 10-4 run to open the second half, cutting the deficit to 35-20. But Ezell-Harding answered with a 7-0 run for a 42-20 margin before Anna Kate Reed’s free throw made it 42-21 going into the fourth.
The Lady Eagles led by as much as 48-24 in the fourth as they improved to 18-3 for the season and 9-1 in District 4-IIA, tied for first place with Goodpasture.
Brilee Price poured in 11 first-period points and led the Lady Eagles with 17 points while Reghan Williams threw in 13.
Point guard Kate Petty found her range in the second half with all 14 of her points, including four triples, for Friendship. Natalie Major came off the bench to toss in 10. Rylee Agee, Izzy Wilson and Annika Langford each threw in three points, Maggie Reed two and Anna Kate Reed her free throw as FCS fell to 3-15, 0-9.
The Lady Commanders were coming off a 65-35 loss at Clarksville Academy last Friday.
The Lady Cougars led 22-9 following the first quarter, 39-21 at halftime and 54-30 through three periods.
Layla Clark led the Lady Cougaqrs with 13 points, including seven free throws and two 3-pointers. Anna Hellums had 12. Sicily Robinson threw in three triples as she and Vicky Anderson each added 11.
Anna Kate Reed racked up two triples in leading the Lady Commanders with 10 points. Major added eight in the first half, Reese Staggs six (including four free throws), Langford four; Petty, Agee and Wilson two each and Maggie Reed a foul shot.
Friendship will host Donelson Christian at 6 p.m. Friday for homecoming.
Devilettes defeated in first-place battle at Cookeville
COOKEVILLE — For the time being, Cookeville is still the queen of District 7-4A basketball after the Lady Cavaliers beat Lebanon 53-45 in a battle of league unbeatens last Friday night.
Following a 14-14 first-quarter tie, the Lady Cavs used an 18-11 second period to go up 32-25 at halftime and expanded it further to 42-38 going into the fourth as Cookeville climbed to 15-3 for the season and alone atop the district at 4-0 going into last night’s trip to Wilson Central.
The Devilettes dropped to 14-6, 3-1 pending last night’s visit to LaVergne.
Allie Gillies led the Lady Cavs with 165 points while Cara Lee Gilbert tossed in two 3-pointers on her way to 14.
Ellie Beth McDonald drained a pair of 3s as she and Naleiya Withrow-Walker each led Lebanon with 12 points. Tiara Spencer passed for four assists to go with eight points while Tramaria Neal notched six points, Maggie Kelley four points and six rebounds and Samia Payne a 3.
Lady Tigers take
district road win at Jackson County
GAINESBORO — Watertown picked up a big District 5-2A road win last Friday night 58-53 at Jackson County.
The Lady Purple Tigers led 16-6 at the first-quarter break, 26-18 at halftime and 43-30 through three before Jackson County cut into the margin in the fourth as Watertown improved to 16-4 for the season and 3-1 in the district.
Macie Brelje led the Lady Tigers with 18 points while Dailey Hight had 12 and Molly Followill 10, sinking 7 of 8 free throws. Izzie Burns added eight points, Juliana Pruitt six and Maggie Pearson four.
Jalynn Meadows was unstoppable for Jackson County with 28 points, including six triples. She had five 3s during her 18-point fourth quarter. Claire Williams connected for three treys on her way to 16. But the Lady Devils received only nine points from anyone else as they dropped to 9-7, 1-3.
Watertown hosted Westmoreland last night and will return to district action at 6 p.m. Friday when the Lady Tigers travel to Jamestown to take on league leader York Institute, which handed WHS its only 5-3A loss.
