UNIONVILLE — After trailing at the intermission and giving up 28 first-half points, the Community Viqueens shut the door on the Watertown Purple Tigers by allowing just 10 second-half points as the Viqueens took control en route to a 54-38 victory in a non-district basketball contest Tuesday on Senior Night.
Community (17-7, 4-0) jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the opening quarter, but foul trouble caught up to the Viqueens as three starters amassed three fouls and another starter picked up two fouls in the first half.  The Purple Tigers took advantage by scoring 14 consecutive points to go up 17-8 and led 17-11 heading to the second quarter.
Watertown led 22-13 with 3:26 left in the quarter, but the hot hand of Haley Mitchell kept the Viqueens close.
Mitchell scored 11 of the 14 Community points, including the final five points as the Viqueens narrowed the Purple Tiger lead to 28-25 at the break.
"We got into foul trouble early and they hit some shots," Coach Cody Pierce of the Viqueens said. "We had to deal with some adversity that first half."
"We survived it and hung in there and we were happy to only be down three," Pierce added.
The Viqueens kept the momentum going in the third quarter. 
With Mitchell and M.J. Simmons each netting six points, Community scored the first 14 points to complete a 19-0 run and led 39-28 with 2:42 remaining. 
The Viqueens ended the quarter with a 42-34 advantage.
The Viqueens hit a dry spell to start the final quarter as the Purple Tigers connected on two field goals to cut the Community lead to 42-38. 
With 4:53 left, the Viqueens called timeout to discuss strategy.
"We just wanted to make sure we kept getting good looks," Pierce said. "We wanted to make sure we played fundamentally and did the little things right."
With Mitchell leading the way with five points, the Viqueens scored the final 12 points of the game and pulled away for the 16-point win.
"In the first half I told them I wasn't happy how we ran the offense and we looked a little confused," Pierce said. "I told them to get back to what you've been doing the last six or seven games."
Mitchell led the Viqueens with 24 points while Simmons added 14.
Madison King led Watertown with 12 points while Gwen Franklin finished with 11 tallies.
Community was 10-of-12 at the free throw line while the Purple Tigers were 4-of-6.
Community entertains Forrest in a District 7-AA matchup Friday night.  Game time is 6 p.m.                                                                           
        
Watertown   17  11    6   4  — 38
Community   11  14  17 12 — 54
 
Watertown: Madison King 12, Gwen Franklin 11, Kierah Maklary 7, Jaleigh Robertson 3, Alie Tunks 2, Rachel Cromer 3, Miranda Nix, Presley Clark, Lola Chappell, Joslyn Lackey.
Community: Haley Mitchell 24, M. J. Simmons 14, Zoey Dixon 7, Breanna Whitaker 4, Addison Brothers 2, Jacey Collier 3, Shelby Cawthon, Izzy Martinez, Addison Cothran.
3-Point goals: Watertown (8): King 4, Franklin 2, Robertson, Cromer; Community (6): Mitchell 4, Dixon, Collier.
Halftime score: Watertown 28, Community 25.