UNIONVILLE, Tenn. – The Community Vikings (8-9, 0-2) returned to District 9-AA play on Tuesday, but ran into an avalanche named Miles Alexander for the Cannon County Lions (14-6, 3-0) in a 30-point home loss, 82-52.

Miles, the younger brother of Lady Lions star point guard Abi Alexander, had his district coming-out party on the Vikings home floor, scoring 33 points, including connecting on four first-quarter three-pointers as part of a 16-point period. 

Community had almost no answer for the frenetic playstyle employed by Lions’ head coach Jared Nave, and only saw two players finish in double-figures on the night. Charlie Haskins scored a team-high 16 points while Landon Lovvorn chipped in with 12 points of his own. Karson Boyce added eight points.

For Cannon County, Lukas Phillips stepped up behind Alexander with 18 points on the night, and Eli Pelham continued his solid run of games with a 13-point outing, including 11 points in the first half. 

However, the real star of the night was the aforementioned Alexander, who connected on seven three-pointers overall as part of his career night. 

To start the game, Alexander led Cannon County to a 23-15 lead after the opening eight minutes of play. He singlehandedly outscored the Vikings, 16-15, in an incredibly proficient display of outside shooting. 

In the second quarter, the Lions kept the foot on the gas, outscoring Community, 25-10, to take a nearly insurmountable 23-point lead, 48-25, going into the halftime locker room. Alexander connected on another pair of triples to bring his halftime tally up to 23 points after he converted on a four-point play. 

Coming out of the halftime break, Cannon County showed no signs of letting up, outscoring the Vikings, 17-13, to take a 65-38 lead as Phillips and Alexander kept the points coming for the visitors. Lovvorn and Boyce led Community with four points apiece in the period.

For the final frame, the Lions left no doubt, outscoring Community, 17-14, to reach the 30-point margin of victory. Haskins led the Vikings with eight points in the period, but the hosts could not find any other consistent scoring options to match the output from Cannon County. 

Cannon County improves to 14-6 (3-0).

Community falls to 8-9 (0-2). The Vikings will return to district play on Tuesday, January 21, as they host Cascade in the season’s first “Battle of Bedford.”