Community hits key shots in wins

Community Junior High kicked off the second half of their season in style Thursday night by defeating visiting Middle Tennessee Christian 30-26.

Aubrey Boyce goes up for a basket. (T-G Photo by Jimmy Jones) [Click to enlarge]

The Viqueens (7-4) looked like they were going to run the Lady Cougars out of the gym early, scoring the first eight points and leading 14-3 after the first quarter.

Community widened the gap in the second stanza to 18-3.

"We played well in the first portion of the game," Community coach Kevin Hinson said. "We were getting good looks at the basket and knocking down the shots to start the game, but we seemed to hit a little lull after we changed our lineup around a little bit. (MTCS) hit a few baskets and got some confidence going. Their kids played hard to the final whistle."

The Lady Cougars (9-6) employed an effective full court press beginning at the 4:51 mark in the second quarter that accounted for four turnovers and resulted in easy baskets on the other end. MTCS pulled within 19-11 at halftime.

Aubrey Boyce scored 17 points in the first half.

Middle Tennessee Christian was led by Kate Mullins' 11 points.

The Lady Cougars came within three points late in the third before Boyce's steal and basket. Community led 26-21 after three periods.

A Mullins 3-pointer pulled the Lady Cougars within 26-24 with less than two minutes left to play.

But Community's Shonte Oliver stripped the ball and made a short jumper in the lane, changing the score and the momentum. The Lady Cougars never recovered.

"We were a little rusty in the second half and it showed," Hinson said. "Our stamina was not where it needs to be yet after the long layoff, but we will get there."

Community 37, MTCS 36 (B): The Vikings got revenge for a 5-point Middle Tennessee Christian win in the Nov. 1 season opener.

Brandon Adcock, Christian Edmondson and Cody Pierce combined for 27 Community points.

Community (7-4) was down 11-6 after the first quarter, but fought back behind the strong inside scoring of Adcock, who scored six of his team-high 10 points in the second quarter. Adcock's last two, on a tip-in as the horn sounded, put the Vikings up 19-15 at the halfway mark.

Kyle Dyer elevates for two points for the Vikings. (T-G Photo by Jimmy Jones) [Click to enlarge]

"We showed the effects of the long break between games in the first quarter," Viking coach Kevin Snell said. "They were having some trouble defending Adcock down low and the boys kept feeding him until they started double teaming him.

"Cody Pierce and Christian (Edmondson) picked up the slack from the outside and Lance Pascal had a couple of baskets that picked us up some."

Community controlled the third quarter with an aggressive press that resulted in Cougar turnovers, allowing the Vikings several easy baskets and a 28-21 lead.

The Vikes upped the lead to 31-21 with 4:54 left in the game before the Cougars (13-4) mounted a furious charge by utilizing an effective trap zone that created turnovers.

Cougar Jordan Watson scored 11 of his 13 total points in the fourth quarter. His last basket moved his team to within 36-34 with only 4.2 seconds left.

Edmondson was fouled on the ensuing Viking possession and connected on one of two free throws to make the score 37-34.

"We beat a good team tonight," Snell said. "They didn't stop playing hard even when we went up by 10 in the fourth quarter. We did just enough to get a win. Overall, I was pleased with the effort of the kids in this game. We just need to be more consistent in our play."

Edmondson scored nine points and Pierce contributed eight for Community.

Watson and Justin Sims had 13 points apiece for the Cougars.

Community visits Cascade on Monday night. The girls game starts at 6.