COALMONT, Tenn. – The 4-seed Community Viqueens (12-17, 3-5) started off strong against the top-seed Cannon County Lionettes (18-6, 7-1), but ultimately could not hold on in the first of two District 9-AA Semifinals at Grundy County on Tuesday night, 59-47.

Addie King and Abi Alexander led the way for Cannon County, who had to overcome a five-point deficit at the end of the first quarter, with 18 points and 16 points, respectively. Alexander converted all six of her free-throw attempts in the final frame while King went 4/6 from the charity stripe overall. Liv Prater also chipped in with 11 points for the regular season champions.

Alyssa White led Community with a team-high 14 points on the night, but did not score in the fourth quarter and ended up fouling out. Anna Haskins put in 13 points while freshman Mattie Maxey chipped in with 12 points. Savannah Pearson added eight points with a pair of three-pointers, but those four were the only Viqueens to score on the night.

Coming off of a nail-biting 42-40 win over Chapel Hill the previous night to keep their season, Community came out of the gates on fire, jumping out to a five-point lead, 18-13, at the end of the opening period. White scored six points to lead the way while Pearson and Maxey each added five points, including a Pearson triple. 

In the second quarter, Cannon County responded like the reigning district champions they are, outscoring Community, 19-9, to take a five-point lead, 32-27, into the halftime locker room. Alexander connected on a pair of three-pointers as part of an eight-point quarter to give her 10 points at the break, but Addie King was the real star of the period. King scored 11 of her 18 in the second quarter alone while the Viqueens struggled to find offense of their own. 

Coming out for the second half, Community locked in on Cannon County’s dynamic duo, holding Alexander scoreless and King to just two points. White scored five points for the Viqueens, but the two teams only scored 11 points apiece in the period, and Cannon County took a 38-33 lead into the final frame.

In the fourth quarter, Pearson and Haskins each connected from downtown, but ultimately the Lionettes were too proficient from the foul line to let Community get back in the game. White fouled out in the period while Alexander and King took over, combining to score 11 of the Lionettes’ 19 points in the fourth quarter. Nine of those came at the charity stripe, and Cannon County pulled away late to win by 12 points, 59-47.

Cannon County advances to the District 9-AA Championship game, currently scheduled for Saturday at 6:00 p.m. against Cascade at Grundy County.

Community will play in the 3rd-place game, currently scheduled for Saturday at 3:00 p.m. against Grundy County in Coalmont.