Tigerettest Win Showdown, Tigers get big Win
Both programs at Macon County got big wins this past week. However they came on different nights on the schedule.
On Tuesday Jan 21st the first showdown of the season occurred when the Associated Press Class 2A #1 ranked Macon County hosted the #2 ranked Upperman. This has become a very heated rivalry over the past five years and appears to be simmering again this season.
The Tigerettes wasted no time and jumped out to an early lead, only to see the Lady Bees pull within three at the end of the first quarter. Then the Tigerettes cranked up their defense and started running the floor. At the break the score was 24-15 Macon.
Coming out of the half both coaches made some adjustments, but that didn’t seem to have any effect on the Tigerettes. Outscoring the Lady Bees 19-7 in the third quarter the starters played deep in the fourth period and the Tigerettes prevailed with the lopsided score of 64-37.
The best way to describe this contest is it appeared that the five Lady Bees were playing six or seven Tigerettes. The Tigerettes shot 19 of 40 (47%) and 5 of 11 (45%) from the field, not their best of the season. They also forced 17 turnovers for a very good Lady Bee squad.
Scoring was: Keeley Carter 23, Jalynn Gregory 14, Abby Shoulders 13, Marah King 6, Jamie Ashburn 3, MaKaylee Mix 3, and Emily Ashburn 2. Graci Scott, Kinsley Arnett, Cadence Carter, Myle Crowder, and Saranda Woodson all played but did not score.
Some Lady Bee fans were heard muttering that it won’t be that way when the Tigerettes visit Upperman for the return district contest. We will see.
The Bees are a very good team and should contend for the top spot in our district. However the Tigers showed a gritty and hard fought contest. Macon trailed 16-3 after the first quarter and 35-18 at the break. The Bees are big and long both inside and out. However the Tigers tried their best but lost 45-81 to the Bees.
Scoring was: Braydee Brooks 14 points and 10 rebounds, Isaac Meador 11, Noah Hale 7, Dawson Shrum 5, Connor Johnson 5, Hayden Wix 2, and Rawley Richie 1. Dylan Chupp, Lake Reid, and Cody Cothron played but did not score.
On Friday Jan 24th Macon travelled to Smith County for another district contest. This game started out so lopsided. Macon led 28-5 after the first quarter and set a season record for points in the first half, leading 56-27. Coach White sprinkled in his bench and Macon went on to win 73-50.
Of note in this game, the Tigerettes were without the services of senior Keeley Carter as she was out sick. Then in the second quarter junior Abby Shoulders left the game with a head injury that she suffered at the end of one of the base lines. At press time she is back at school and waiting on clearance to resume play from a physician.
Scoring was: Mix 15, Gregory 14, J. Ashburn 11, Woodson 8, Shoulders 8, E. Ashburn 8, Arnett 5, King 2, and Crowder 2. C Carter and Scott played but did not score.
The Tigers were still searching for their first district win of the season. The Tigers jumped out to a 16 point lead early in the first quarter but ended that period leading 18-8. Smith County started making some shots and with a few turnovers cut the lead to 44-37 at halftime.
Macon was able to push the lead back out to double digits midway thru the third period. The Owls would cut the lead to five near the end of the third but Macon would make a mini run to make it 59-51 at the end of the third.
A sign that the Tigers are playing much better basketball at this point in the season is that they managed to make the shots they needed to pull away at the end of the contest. Outscoring the Owls by eight the Tigers grabbed their first district win by a score of 83-67.
Scoring was: Brooks 32, Johnson 27, Hale 10, Meador 6, Reid 6, and Shrum 2. Chupp and Cothron both played but did not score.
This week Macon County is scheduled to travel to Watertown on Jan 28th and host Cannon County on Jan 31st. Tip off for both contests is scheduled for 6 pm.
