Macon Basketball Finishes Season with Wins
As the 2014-2015 basketball season comes to an end, teams at Macon County High School finished with four wins.
The team hosted York and Smith County to close out the regular season.
On Tuesday February 3rd York came into Nera White Gymnasium looking for a win. The game started fast with both teams shooting almost 50% from the field. However by halftime the Tigerettes had opened a 26-20 lead. Macon would extend the lead to 38-30 to begin the 4th and despite not shooting real well down the stretch, held on for a 45-43 win.
Scoring was: Paige Clark 9, Reese Shrum 3, Briley Driver 7, Leah Anderson 9, Lyndsey Belton 16, and Marisa Owens 1. Kassidy Brooks, Sarah Carter, Kyndell Bullington, and Luci Allen all played but did not score.
The Tigers were looking to avenge a narrow defeat by the Dragons early in January. In this game both teams came out cold and shot poorly in the first quarter, before opening up in a much faster paced game. The Tigers continued to miss their shots and trailed 19-24 at the break. Defense and capitalizing on turnovers was the key for Macon as York shot 4 of 15 from the field in the third period. Macon uncharacteristically missed five straight free throws down the stretch which could have salted the game away. However, the Tigers did manage to play well enough to get a 57-50 victory over the Dragons.
Scoring was: Seth Carlisle 10, Michael Ashburn 21, Evan Perrigo 14, Matt Austin 2, Trace McPherson 6, Tyler Carlisle 2, and Alex Hill 2. Clay Carnahan and Kendrick Carter played but did not score.
Thursday February 5th was Senior Night for Macon County. The Tigerettes say good-bye to four girls that have played a lot of basketball together in the past seven years, Reese Shrum, Briley Driver, Marisa Owens, and Leah Anderson. Alex Hill is the only senior leaving the Tiger squad. Cheerleaders Ryan Anne Cothron and Courtney Brooks were also honored.
The Tigerettes would face a wounded Lady Owl team. They are playing without their standout guard Kalie Hackett, who dropped 39 points on them in Carthage earlier in the season. Despite a very slow start, trailing 7-10 after one, the Tigerettes turned up their intensity and led 26-20 at the half. It seemed that Coach Beam’s squad understood their opportunity and kept playing hard throughout the second half. The Lady Owls didn’t go quietly as Macon was able to win this game by making their last six points by going 6 for 6 from the free throw line. Final score Macon 52 Smith 48.
Scoring was: Shrum 5, Driver 18, Anderson 7, Belton 16, Clark 2, Bullington 2, and Allen 2. Owens and Keeley Clariday played but did not score.
Some nights you just can’t seem to do anything wrong. That is what it seemed like watching the Tigers. They came out and played one of their highest octane, successful offensive halves of the season. They had the contest well in hand leading 46-23 at the half. The starters did cool a bit in the 3rd period and both benches finished much of the 4th quarter. Tigers win 77-56 on Senior Night.
Scoring was: Seth Carlisle 15, Ashburn 8, Perrigo 9, Austin 5, McPherson 6, Tyler Carlisle 9, Hill 5, Carnahan 8, Carter 5, Heston King 4, and Jed “X-Man” Coley 3. Matt Hudson and Riley Phillips played but did not score.
Both teams now head into district 8AA tournament play. The Tigers finished the regular season with an record of 18-9 (9-5 in 8AA-3rd) and the Tigerettes finish 12-15 (6-8 in 8AA-t5th). The 8AA district tournament will be next week at Cookeville High School.
