Macon County’s Battle with Sumner County

This week Macon County High School would face Westmoreland and make-up a game with Gallatin which was cancelled due to illness earlier in the season. The Tigerettes would remain undefeated and the Tigers would let a quality win slip through their fingers.

On Friday January 18th the Westmoreland Eagles came to Nera White Gymnasium. A good crowd was on hand at tip-off and the Lady Eagles came ready to play. Both teams looked a little rusty, not shooting the ball very well and turning it over. Early foul trouble by MCHS Senior Guard Kelsey Gregory kept her off the floor for much of the second period and Westmoreland led at the half 16-15.

In the second half MCHS Coach Jeff Beam ratcheted up the pressure and intensity. Even with more focus the Lady Eagles handled the pressure well and were able to hang on to a 29-24 lead after three. Westmoreland ran into foul trouble of their own and MCHS got some key steals from Senior Terra Pryor. The Tigerettes were able to overtake and hang on to get a quality win by a final score of 39-34.

Scoring for MCHS was: Kelsey Gregory 9, Kailyn Brooks 6, Terra Pryor 13, Briley Driver 4, and Leah Anderson 7. Reese Shrum, Whitney Wilburn, and Lyndsey Belton all played but did not score.

The Tigers didn’t have one of their best games of the year but managed to do just enough to get by. Following way to many turnovers and poor shots they were trailing 9-13 after the first period. The Eagles fell in love with the long ball, but were unable to convert and MCHS clawed back into the lead 19-17 at the half.

The second half could have been much easier for the Tigers. While they did play good quality team defense and rebound the ball well, there appeared to be five individuals on the offensive end with no thought to converting baskets to defeat their opponents. If the Tigers had not converted 11 of 11 free throws in the last half, this game could have turned out differently. Final score MCHS 39 WHS 32.

Scoring was: Aaron Carter 2, Trey McPherson 13, Peyton Clark 7, Dalton Shrum 8, Tyler Clark 7, and Mayson Shrum 2. Dillon McCormick, Justin Tucker, Austin McClard, and Daniel Gregory all played but did not score.

MCHS traveled to Gallatin on Saturday the 19th to make-up a game the Tigers had to cancel earlier in the season due to illness in Macon County. The Tigerettes showed no ill-effects of a close game the night before and came ready to play against Gallatin. They jumped out to a 28-16 lead at the half and never looked back. The final score of this game was MCHS 50 Gallatin 34.

Scoring was: Gregory 8, Kailyn Brooks 10, Pryor 14, Driver 5, Anderson 5, Shrum 3, Wilburn 4, and Belton 1. Marisa Owens, Jade Ellis, and Kassidy Brooks all played but did not score.

The Tigers also came ready to play. After exactly the same number of shots taken by each team in the first half, the game was tied 24-24 at the half. It appeared that the 3 pointer would be the key weapon for the Tigers, making 3 of 5 in the third period, and they took the lead 39-34 going into the final quarter. The shooting touch went cold and the Tigers made only 1 of 6 from behind the arc, attempting only two other regular baskets, and came up short. The final score was MCHS 49 Gallatin 52.

Scoring was: Carter 1, McPherson 11, P. Clark 6, D. Shrum 4, T. Clark 20, McCormick 2, Tucker 3, and M. Shrum 2.

Macon County is scheduled to face Goodpasture this Friday night the 25th at home. Game time is scheduled for 6 pm.