Junior Viqueens edged in OT

Community Junior High lost a 33-32 heartbreaker to Middle Tennessee Christian on Monday night in Unionville in a see-saw battle that saw the lead change hands seven times before a winner was declared in overtime.

Viqueen Georgia Ralston battles Lady Cougar Katie Shadowens for ball possession on Monday night in Unionville. (T-G Photo by Jimmy Jones) [Click to enlarge]

The Viqueens (1-1) jumped out to a 6-2 lead early in the first quarter only to have the Lady Cougars come back to tie the game on a Sara Sims basket as time expired.

The second quarter also ended with a basket, only this time Viqueen forward Brittany Haynes turned the tables on the Lady Cougars (1-1) as she laid one in at the buzzer to give her team a 14-12 advantage.

"Our team played very well in the first half though we are still making young team mistakes," Community coach Kevin Hinson said. "We are young and still learning how to play the game under control."

The Viqueens' press proved effective in the third quarter and resulted in some easy baskets that pulled them out to a 25-18 advantage as the quarter ended. The run was fueled by a big 3-pointer by Joanna Bennett and six points, all from the free-throw line, from seventh-grader Kelsie Smith.

The Lady Cougars employed a smothering press of their own to begin the fourth period and Community turned the ball over enough for a 27-all tie with just 10.4 seconds left in the game.

Community had a chance to take the lead with less than 10 seconds left, but couldn't get their free throws to fall.

The Viqueens jumped out to a lead in overtime on two baskets by Kelli Donovan and Leverette, but were outscored the rest of the way.

Community was led in scoring by Smith with 12 points. Donovan contributed six.

The Lady Cougars' Brooke Miller led her team with 12 points, while Sims and Katie Shadowens had six each.

"It was good for kids to be involved in a close game like this," Hinson said. "It will give us a lot of insight as to what it takes to play at this level and we will get to work on it in practice. Overall, minus the turnovers, we played a pretty good game and gave ourselves a chance to win. Now we need to learn to close out the game once we have our opponents on the ropes."

Community takes on Webb in Bell Buckle on Thursday night at 6.

MTCS 40, Community 19 (B): The Cougars opened up an early 11-4 first-quarter lead off a very active press that created several Viking turnovers.

"We played hard, but we were unable to handle the defensive pressure that they put on us," Community coach Mike Edmondson said. "They are a big physical team with good speed and they were a handful in the press. We had a lot of trouble getting the ball upcourt."

The Cougars (2-0) led 11-4 after one quarter, 20-6 at the half and 28-13 after three periods of play.

Chris Beasley put 14 points on the board for the Cougars, while Clay McCarver had seven in limited playing time.

The Vikings (0-2) were led by Joseph Dawson, Caleb Boyce and Sammy Bryant with four points apiece.

"We made a little run in the third quarter, but we didn't hit our free throws when we needed to," Edmondson said. "The kids played hard from the opening whistle to the final buzzer. That is all I can ask from them right now."

*Community will play its annual Purple and Gold game at 6 p.m. Nov. 10. An alumni game will follow at 7. All proceeds will benefit the Viking Scholarship Award Program.