The Community Vikings fell 51-41 to visiting District 9-A rival Middle Tennessee Christian on Tuesday night despite sophomore Dustin White's 15-point effort.

The Vikes' Justin Stallings drives to the goal. (T-G Photo by Jimmy Jones) [Click to enlarge]

The Vikings (7-6, 1-3 9-A) played the Cougars to a 13-13 draw in the first period as White and eighth grader Christian Edmondson combined to hit three 3-pointers.

David Hunzinker hit four shots from behind the arc to lead his team to a 34-30 advantage as the Cougars had a 21-point second quarter while holding the Vikings to just eight.

"We came out and played with very little defensive intensity tonight," Community coach Mike Edmonson said. "They hit five 3-pointers in the first half and we did not contest a one of them. That is simply not acceptable."

The Vikings did manage to play enough defense to hold the visitors to just four points, while their offense put 11 on the board to cut the deficit to 38-32 to begin the final stanza.

It would be as close as they would come from that point on. Once again, free throws played a vital role in the game's outcome.

The Cougars (5-10, 2-2) shot 14 shots from the line in the fourth quarter and hit 11, while managing only one field goal to widen their final advantage.

"We seem to have some kids that have become complacent in recent games," Edmondson said. "Practice is about to become much more intense around here. Those that think that all they have to do is show up are about to find out different.

"We will make any necessary changes that we need to to get the message across to get us back on the right track. We have a good group of kids here; we just seem to have lost our way just a little bit. We will get there."

Jonathon Sims led both teams in scoring with 16. Hunzinker pitched in 12 and Tyler Watson had 11 for the Cougars.

Community takes on 9-A foe Van Buren County at 7:30 p.m. Friday.