It didn’t take long for new Austin Peay football coach Will Healy to corral his first high school commitment as Blackman’s Taeler Dowdy pledged with the Governors on Tuesday.

Blackman’s Taeler Dowdy committed to Austin Peay on Tuesday.

Dowdy, the Region 2-6A Offensive MVP, ran for 2,115 yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior in 2015, helping lead Blackman to a 10-3 record and a Class 6A quarterfinal appearance. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound senior also returned 16 kickoffs for 394 yards and a touchdown for the Region 2-6A runner-up Blaze.

“I felt like (Austin Peay) has a lot of upside,” Dowdy said. “There are a lot of new coaches.”

“I’m really happy for Taeler,” added Blackman coach David Watson. “He needed an opportunity and made the most of it.”

Chattanooga assistant is new APSU football coach

Former Hendersonville running back Terrell Carter

Carter dismissed from HHS football team: Standout junior running back and defensive back Terrell Carter, a second-team Tennessean All-Midstate selection, has been dismissed from the Hendersonville High school football program for “a violation of team rules and athletic policy,” according to the school’s principal Bob Cotter.

Carter rushed for a team-leading 1,074 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2015, helping lead the Commandos to a 10-2 record and a Class 5A playoff appearance, and the 5-foot-11, 175-pounder also tallied 25 tackles and 11 pass breakups.

“There’s no way we can (replace him),” Hendersonville coach Bruce Hatfield said. “We’ll just have to move forward and do the best we can. I wish him well. I think a lot of him and his family.”

Carter is a three-star prospect according to 247Sports with scholarship offers from Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi State and Ole Miss.

Father Ryan’s Kirby Simpson competes during last year’s DII-AA state wrestling tournament

Irish top state wrestling poll: Father Ryan, ranked atop this week’s Tennessee State Wrestling Poll, is one of five Midstate schools to receive a top 12 ranking.

Aside from the defending DII-AA champion and top-ranked Fighting Irish, who received a power ranking of 100, sixth-ranked Beech (91), seventh-ranked Wilson Central (54), ninth-ranked Montgomery Bell Academy (26) and 11th-ranked Stewarts Creek appeared in the weekly statewide rankings.

Blackman, Independence, Mt. Juliet and Summit also received votes but did not crack the top 12.

Brentwood Academy sophomore Camron Johnson

Super sophomores: A pair of Midstate sophomore football players — Coffee County’s Alontae Taylor and Brentwood Academy’s Camron Johnson — were recently selected to the 2015 MaxPreps Sophomore All-American Team.

Johnson, an All-Midstate second-team wide receiver, hauled in a team-leading 59 receptions for 976 yards and six touchdowns for the defending Division II-AA champion Eagles in 2015. The 6-foot, 185-pound four-star prospect also made 26 tacklesand three interceptions while also notching a pair of kickoff returns for touchdowns.

Taylor, a 6-foot, 175-pound Vanderbilt commitment, completed 61-of-155 pass attempts for 799 yards and three touchdowns a season ago while also racking up 1,547 yards on the ground and 19 rushing scores for the 3-8 Raiders.

All-Midstate football teams

The Daily News Journal and Gallatin News Examiner contributed to this report. 

FRANKLIN — The final score wasn’t quite indicative of just how close Tuesday’s turnover-filled District 11-AAA girls basketball matchup was between Dickson County and Centennial.

Dickson County’s Ragan Purvine looks for an open teammate as Centennial’s Malea Robertson defends during Tuesday’s midseason District 11-AAA matchup.

A pair of Dickson County guards made sure of that.

“It didn’t really turn out how we wanted it to, and we had to really fight for this win,” said Dickson County junior Emily Beard, who scored nine of her 12 points in the closing minutes to help seal her squad’s 60-49 win. “I just concentrated and knew I had to knock down shots to help keep the lead.”

After playing to a 40-40 tie through three quarters, Dickson County’s Lainey Reed spotted her team some breathing room by burying back-to-back 3-pointers around the six-minute mark, and Beard connected on 5-of-5 from the free-throw line in the final 2:34.

“Emily Beard was in foul trouble in the first half and didn’t shoot it like she normally does,” Dickson County coach Greg Tipps said. “We’re a different team with her on the floor, and I thought Lainey Reed — the two 3s she hit — really put us over the hump.”

Centennial coach Tony Hill looks on during Tuesday’s midseason District 11-AAA matchup against visiting Dickson County.

Vanderbilt signee Lea Lea Carter finished with a game-high 19 points for Dickson County (13-2, 3-0 11-AAA), which committed nine of its 13 turnovers in the first half. Sophomore post Kailey Rosenbaum added 12 and Reed contributed 11

“Tied at the half and tied at the end of three,” Centennial coach Tony Hill said. “We just didn’t finish, but I’m proud of my young team … I think on a level it validates us a little bit. I’m not a moral victory guy, but I think it validates the fact that we can play with anybody in our district.

“I’m not saying we can beat everyone in our district, but I think tonight we proved we can play with the best.”

Sophomore guard Shantel Flye finished with a team-leading 17 points for Centennial (11-2, 1-2), while freshmen post Ashland Harden added 14 points.

“Some turnovers at some key points hurt us, but Ashland played extremely well and did some really good things on the inside,” Hill added. “I just thought our entire team played really well for about 3 1/2 quarters, and we just didn’t finish the basketball game.”

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports. 

John Elmore.

Former Greenbrier High School defensive coordinator John Thomas Elmore was introduced as the new head coach of the Bobcats football team Wednesday.

“I’m thrilled to finally have the opportunity to do something I’ve always wanted to do since I was in the seventh grade,” Elmore said. “I’ve lived here, gone to school here at Greenbrier, played football here and have coached here for the last 18 years.

“This was a job I’ve dreamed about since I was in the seventh grade and can’t wait to get everything going.”

Elmore brings 25 years of coaching experience with him. He spent his first years of coaching at East Robertson as offensive and defensive line coach from 1991-97. He came to Greenbrier in 1998 and served in the same role until 2010 when he was named as the defensive coordinator.

Not much will change as far as offensive or defensive schemes go, according to Elmore.

The team will still be based out of the Wing T on offense and run a 4-3 on the defensive side of the ball.

Because Elmore was promoted to the head coaching position, Darrel Sweeney will now take over as the defensive coordinator and Stetson Dickerson will remain as the offensive coordinator.

“Our staff has been together for a long time, and to be honest, we’re more of a family than a coaching staff,” Elmore said. “I know that a lot of people say that, but that’s the way we view things and our players are just like our kids.”

Elmore will be running his first spring practice in the last week of April. Because the Bobcats have four 4-A teams on their schedule again this season, along with their already-tough Region 5-3A schedule, he said getting a lot accomplished during that time will be vital.

“We’re already working in the weight room and working on our conditioning, but the work on the field in the spring will be vital to our success this season,” Elmore said. “We want to get all that work in and be peaking by our first game with Springfield.”

Greenbrier Principal Dr. Katie Osborne said that Elmore’s 25 years of experience made him a perfect fit for the head coaching position.

“Coach Elmore is known for his integrity and high expectations for the football program and student athletes,” Osborne said. “He is well-aware of the responsibilities as a head football coach and we are confident he can lead the football team to success in the future.”

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.  — After three basketball players were charged with raping a teammate in an apparent hazing incident, a Tennessee high school has taken the unusual step of canceling the rest of the season, officials say.

The Ooltewah High School season has been called off “so that the criminal justice system can work the way we expect,” Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Rick Smith said Wednesday.

Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Executive Director Bernard Childress said this is the first time he could remember a school canceling a season for disciplinary reasons.

Three teens face aggravated rape and aggravated assault charges in connection with injuries to a teammate, who underwent surgery after being assaulted while attending a basketball tournament in Gatlinburg. Tennessee law defines aggravated rape as a rape in which the defendant either has a weapon, causes bodily injury or is aided or abetted by another.

None of the teens has been named because they’re all juveniles.

Smith spoke before the school board held a closed executive session. He said he canceled the rest of the season because he was concerned public speculation about the case “could threaten the integrity” of the investigation.

“This decision is not a reflection upon the coaching staff,” Smith said. “Indeed, law enforcement officials have to date found no evidence any adult acted improperly. Likewise, this decision is not meant to punish the boys on the team who are innocent of any wrongdoing and simply want to play high school sports.”

Two women attending Wednesday’s meeting said they are mothers of Ooltewah players and their sons had been beaten by teammates during the trip to Gatlinburg.

“I do want justice for the boy that was hospitalized and for my son and his other teammates who were assaulted,” said Miika Montgomery, the mother of a player. “Do I think that (the arrested player) needs to go to jail? Yes, I do. Do I think the act was malicious? Yes, I do. I think it was very malicious and predatorial.”

Authorities said the investigation is ongoing. Current charges pertain to one victim only.

“At some point there will be questions for this board, and I believe the most important one we have to ask ourselves is what could have been done differently or better,” board chairman Jonathan Welch said.

Scott Bennett, the Hamilton County School District’s attorney, said the district will study its anti-hazing policy and make sure it’s being communicated to students.

Bennett also said law enforcement officials in Hamilton County and Sevier County, where Gatlinburg is, told the school district not to conduct its own investigation.

The Hamilton County district attorney’s office and the sheriff’s office are investigating whether an “ongoing pattern of assaults” may have been committed “under the guise of hazing.” The district attorney’s office said in its release this week that nobody has reported any criminal behavior in Hamilton County by anyone associated with the team thus far.

Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Rick Smith enters a school board meeting room before a short public meeting in Chattanooga, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016. Tennessee’s Ooltewah High School has called off the rest of its basketball season after three of its players were arrested on charges of raping a teammate in an apparent hazing incident. Smith said he was taking this "very unusual step" with the high school "so that the criminal justice system can work the way we expect."

AP Sports Writer Teresa Walker in Nashville, Tennessee, contributed to this report.

HENDERSONVILLE As it turned out, three was not a magic number for the Hendersonville High boys bowling team on Thursday afternoon.

Hendersonville High sophomore Brandon Paul rolled a 213 in the second game of the District 12 Tournament championship match on Thursday afternoon.

The Commandos suffered an 18-9 loss to Lebanon in the championship match of the District 12 Tournament at Strike and Spare Family Fun Center, ending their three-year reign as district champions.

It was the third time the teams have met this season, with Hendersonville (20-2) winning each of the first two matches during the regular season. Those two losses were Lebanon’s only setbacks during the regular season.

“We were hoping for a better result,” Hendersonville first-year head coach Richard Zajac said. “It’s all about maintaining attitude and maintaining focus, and we didn’t do what we needed to do in the third game.”

Lebanon (17-2) held a 134-pin advantage at the conclusion, thanks to winning five out of six individual match-ups in the final game. Prior to the deciding contest, Lebanon only held a 26-pin advantage as the teams were tied 8-8 after two games.

Hendersonville High senior Storm Sparks rolled a 615 series, which included a 230 game, in the Commandos’ District 12 Tournament semifinal victory over Gallatin.

HHS senior Wyatt Patterson tried to keep pace with a 242 in the final game, finishing with a three-game series total of 720 (223-255-242). But three Blue Devils – including senior Peyton Bell, the District 12 Most Valuable Player – rolled games in the 200s to help Lebanon pull away.

“(Lebanon) really stepped up and bowled some of their best,” Zajac said. “We had some matchups that we thought we were going to be able to take advantage of, because we liked the way the first two games went. We had a couple of bowlers bowl consistently well, and a couple of bowlers bowled below themselves.”

Lebanon jumped out to a 6-2 lead after one game, but the Commandos turned the tables in the middle contest to pull even. Patterson’s high game, along with a 213 from sophomore Brandon Paul, helped Hendersonville claim the two-point bonus for total pinfall and cut nearly two-thirds of a 75-pin deficit.

“This is the third time we’ve bowled Lebanon this season,” Zajac said. “We consider this a stumbling point, and it’s a teachable moment. I don’t think it’s anything we can’t recover from.”

The Commandos reached the championship match with a 19-8 victory over Gallatin in the semifinal round earlier on Thursday.

Patterson rolled a 231 in the opening game and a 230 in the third game, while classmate Storm Sparks finished with a series of 615 (230-218-167).

Senior Chris Stoveall rolled a 539 series (127-232-180) to lead the Green Wave (9-9), and classmate Jonathon Salyer had a 203 in the first game.

Gallatin High senior Chris Stoveall rolled a 539 series, which included a 232 game, in the District 12 Tournament semifinals on Thursday.

“We’ve grown a lot as a team, physically and mentally,” Gallatin head coach Jack Overholser said. “We probably have twice the numbers that we did from last year, and while the majority of them are seniors, we’re proud of how far they’ve come.”

After falling behind by a 7-1 margin in the opening game, the Green Wave nearly closed the gap by winning four of the six individual pairings in the second game. However, Hendersonville finished the middle game four pins better, snatching the two-point bonus to take an 11-5 lead into the final game.

“We haven’t made it this far in districts in at least four or five years,” Overholser said. “I’m interested to see where we’ll go. We have only about four or six underclassmen coming back. They’ve grown a lot, and we have a lot of positive players.”

>> Sparks (208.26) and Patterson (207.16) qualified for the individual state tournament by finishing with one of the top four averages in District 12.

Beech junior Mike LaRue qualified as a wild-card entrant by having one of the top 12 averages statewide among those bowlers not among their district’s top four.

“To have two out of seven make it to state is significant,” Zajac said. “And we had six of the seven make the top 15 or 16 in the district, so we’ve got some talent on this team.”

Commando freshman Chandler Griffin was named the district’s rookie of the year, while Sparks had the highest series total (803) and highest individual game (298) in district competition. Station Camp senior Bryce Ebbert was named the district’s most improved player (40.83 pins more per game than last year). Zajac and Hendersonville assistant coach Chris Ashworth were named the district coaches of the year.

Members of the All-District 12 Boys Bowling Team include: (seated, L to R, third-team members) Gallatin High senior Jonathon Salyer, Wilson Central junior Jared Violi, Hendersonville junior Braydon Satterfield, Wilson Central freshman Peyton King, Beech sophomore Alex Ezell, (middle row, second-team members) include Wilson Central senior Cody Fredricks, Wilson Central senior Jordan Anderson, Hendersonville freshman Chandler Griffin, Hendersonville senior Joey Maxey, Hendersonville freshman Timothy Smith, Gallatin senior Andrew Smith, (standing, first-team members) Lebanon sophomore Tyler Moore, Lebanon junior Jarred Bradshaw, Hendersonville senior Wyatt Patterson, Lebanon senior Peyton Bell (most valuable player), Hendersonville senior Storm Sparks, Mt. Juliet sophomore Ben Giacobbi and Beech senior Mike LaRue. Station Camp senior Bryce Ebbert, a third-team selection, is not pictured.

Hendersonville awaits the results of the District 13 and 14 tournaments to determine their Region 6 Tournament opponent. The District 13 champion will host the tournament, with the quarterfinals to be held on Tuesday and the final two rounds on Thursday.

Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.

District 12 Tournament

Semifinal

Hendersonville boys 19, Gallatin 8

Game one

GALLATIN (873) – Jonathon Salyer 203, Dylan Hester 114, Andrew Smith 147, Zach Taylor 144, Brandon Sheldon 138, Chris Stoveall 127.

HENDERSONVILLE (1,195) – Brandon Paul 162, Chandler Griffin 198, Wyatt Patterson 231, Timothy Smith 195, Braydon Satterfield 180, Storm Sparks 230.

Game two

GALLATIN (1,051) – Salyer 165, Tyler Lee 191, Smith 160, Taylor 127, Sheldon 176, Stoveall 232.

HENDERSONVILLE (1,055) – Paul 138, Griffin 180, Joey Maxey 181, Smith 199, Satterfield 199, Sparks 218.

Game three

GALLATIN (990) – Salyer 137, Lee 182, Smith 195, Austin Kemp 123, Sheldon 169, Stoveall 180.

HENDERSONVILLE (1,035) – Maxey 160, Griffin/Paul 153, Patterson 202, Smith 204, Satterfield 149, Sparks 167.

Total pinfall: 3,286-2,914, Hendersonville.

Championship match

Lebanon boys 18, Hendersonville 9

Game one

LEBANON (1,202) – Jake Sword 208, Tyler Burton 173, Tyler Moore 259, Peyton Bell 212, Tucker Laszczewski 161, Jarred Bradshaw 189.

HENDERSONVILLE (1,127) – Brandon Paul 168, Chandler Griffin 192, Wyatt Patterson 223, Timothy Smith 177, Braydon Satterfield/Joey Maxey 139, Storm Sparks 228.

Game two

LEBANON (1,145) – Sword 167, Burton 185, Moore, Bell 197, Hunter Fugate 167, Bradshaw 231.

HENDERSONVILLE (1,211) – Paul 213, Griffin 193, Patterson 255, Smith 183, Maxey 171, Sparks 179.

Game three

LEBANON (1,195) – Fugate 187, Burton 227, Moore 177, Bell 225, Sword 208, Bradshaw 171.

HENDERSONVILLE (1,087) – Paul 153, Griffin 183, Patterson 242, Smith 193, Maxey 169, Sparks 147.

Total pinfall: 3,542-3,408, Lebanon.

Ezell-Harding’s Marci Sneed will have her No. 12 jersey retired after Friday night’s matchup with Battle Ground Academy.

After five years of sinking 3-pointers and swiping steals wearing No. 12, Ezell-Harding senior Marci Sneed will become a rarity in the sports world.

Sneed will become a rare athlete who has a jersey retired while still playing for a team.

Sneed’s No. 12 will be retired and she will be presented with a framed jersey Friday night after the Ezell-Harding girls basketball teams squares off with Battle Ground Academy.

A five-year starter, Sneed has led the Lady Eagles to two sub-state championships, three state final four appearances and also eclipsed the 1,000-point mark last season.

She has picked up right where she left off this season, helping the Lady Eagles get out to a 12-1 start this season while boosting her career total to 1,247 points.

Heading into Friday night’s matchup with BGA, she’s averaging 12 points and five steals per game with 21 3-pointers made, and has only been held to single digits once so far this season.

Reach Sam Brown at 615-259-8232 and on Twitter @SamBrownTN.

HENDERSONVILLE Pope John Paul II High junior guard Jalon Cambridge feels that taking a potential game-winning shot is scary.

Pope John Paul II High junior forward Matt Galvin elevates for a layin over Father Ryan sophomore J.C. Clausi during third-quarter action.

However, Cambridge did not hesitate to take the shot his team needed the most.

With his team trailing rival Father Ryan by two points, Cambridge knocked down the go-ahead 3-pointer with 16 seconds left on the clock and later hit two free throws with six seconds left to give his squad a 46-43 win over the Irish.

Father Ryan’s 3-pointer in the final seconds didn’t fall.

“If you think about it, it is a very scary thing, and you can’t help but to think about it when you’re taking it,” Cambridge said. “My teammates just got me the ball, and I’m thankful for the confidence they showed in me.”

PJP II (14-3 overall, 1-0 in the Division II-Class AA East/Middle Region) for most of the contest but had trouble putting Father Ryan away.

Missed opportunities gave Father Ryan momentum entering the fourth quarter as a 3-pointer from the corner by Irish forward Griffin Bumpus cut the Knight lead to two pionts just 20 seconds into the fourth period.

Pope John Paul II High freshman Avishai Lowery dribbles into the lane during third-quarter action.

Back-to-back baskets by Mitchell Sorenson and Avishai Lowery stretched the lead to six points, but Father Ryan (10-6, 0-1) quickly mounted a comeback.

A three-pointer from Irish guard Reed Grandstaff followed by a runner from B.J. Bishop trimmed the lead to a point before Bumpus knocked down another trey that gave Father Ryan its first lead of the game with 4:24 remaining.

“We did have some opportunities slip by the wayside, probably in each quarter, and we could have got a couple buckets here and there and didn’t finish,” PJP II head coach Kip Brown said. “But it shows the resiliency we’ve developed.”

“We had a little bit of a let down and we drug out heads at the start of the second half, but we picked it back up, so other than that I was really proud of them.”

Resiliency showed with Cambridge, who scored nine of his 10 points over the final four minutes.

Cambridge’s responded by scoring the next four points for a 39-36 advantage.

Father Ryan responded with baskets by Cameron Fowler and J.C. Clausi to retake a 41-39 lead.

A pair of free throws by PJP II senior forward Ryan Hatten tied the contest only to be answered by a Clausi basket with one minute left that gave the Irish the lead.

Father Ryan looked to extend the two-point lead with 27.5 left but a bonus situation at the free-throw line. Hatten gathered the rebound, setting up Cambridge’s game-winner.

“He’s (Cambridge) is not scared to take the big shot, and he wants the ball,” Brown said. “He did a great job of not forcing shots, and he got a big steal and a layup … and obviously the go-ahead three, and our defense did a great job following his three by forcing a turnover.”

Pope John Paul II High sophomore Grayson Lang drives into the lane against Father Ryan senior Chris Camp during third-quarter action.

PJP II held Father Ryan scoreless for the first seven minutes of the contest as a quick basket by forward Matt Galvin followed by a jumper and a three from guard Grayson Lang opened up an early lead for the Knights.

A basket by Galvin gave the Knights its biggest advantage of the contest at 18-6 with 5:25 remaining in the first half, but PJP II only produced one more field goal, when Lang scored off a steal and layin just before the halftime horn sounded.

“What we were really going with was passing the ball into the paint to our bigs in Ryan and Matt, and we just stop doing that collectively as a team,” Cambridge said. “During the fourth quarter, we were just saying out there to slow down and play regardless of the score and that we can pull this out to give hope, because we needed it with Father Ryan hitting plenty of big shots.”

Hatten led the Knights with 12 points, and Galvin provided eight points.

Bumpus led Father Ryan with 12.

FATHER RYAN (43) – Griffin Bumpus 12, B.J. Bishop 8, J.C. Clausi 8, Chris Camp 6, Reed Grandstaff 5, Cameron Fowler 4.

POPE JOHN PAUL II (46) – Ryan Hatten 12, Jalon Cambridge 10, Matt Galvin 8, Grayson Lang 7, Mitchell Sorenson 4, Jayson Brown 3, Avishai Lowery 2.

Half: 23-15, PJP II. Three-point goals: Father Ryan 5 (Bumpus 2, Camp 1, Fowler 1, Grandstaff 1), PJP II 3 (Brown 1, Cambridge 1, Lang 1). Records: Father Ryan 10-6 overall, 0-1 in the Division II-Class AA East/Middle Region; PJP II 14-3, 1-0.

PORTLAND The Hendersonville High School boys basketball team scored a season-high 70 points for the second consecutive game, tossing in 12 3-pointers in Friday evening’s 70-43 victory at Portland.

Hendersonville High senior guard Jason Hernando dribbles into the lane as Portland sophomore Luke Jones defends. Hernando scored six points.

“We were passing the ball around good, and we were getting open shots,” Commando sophomore guard Dyilin Hoosier said. “Everybody was doing what coach (Kerry West) said.”

Both Hoosier and senior teammate Preston Brown accounted for four of those 3-pointers.

“The first six or seven games of the year, defensively, we were solid, but we couldn’t put the ball in the hole,” West said. “We were averaging about 47 points a game, and we were only giving up 50. We’ve tried to get the tempo up and play more guys. Shots are going in better.

“I’m proud of the effort of our guys. It reminded me of some of the teams from years past, making the extra pass (for open shots).”

Panther senior guard Eric Kirk converted back-to-back layins early on to give his squad a brief lead, but Portland (4-12 overall, 0-4 in District 9-AAA) managed just two more points over the final five-plus minutes of the opening period.

Portland High senior guard Eric Kirk elevates for a shot in the lane in front of Hendersonville junior Jordan Amis. Kirk scored four points.

“We had to pick up the tempo early because we got down,” Panther head coach Chris Carney said. “That wasn’t in our favor tonight.”

First-quarter baskets from Brown, Hoosier and juniors Jordan Amis and Ryne Loper created a seven-point margin, and Hendersonville senior Austin Kirby and Hoosier opened the second-quarter scoring with consecutive 3-pointers, creating a 19-6 margin.

Those were two of the five 3-pointers that the Commandos (5-9, 1-3) made in the second stanza, resulting in a 32-16 lead by halftime.

“There were a couple of guys we wanted to get to on the three,” Carney – whose squad played for most of the night without sophomore guard Dawson Simmons due to an injury – said. “The others, they haven’t made them yet (this season).

“The team that wins usually is the one that puts the ball in the net. They shot the ball really well. I think their athletic director and assistant coach might have made one tonight.”

Five more 3-pointers fell in the third quarter, with Brown making the first two. Hoosier, junior guard Justin Ernst and senior guard Jason Hernando also tossed in shots from behind the arc.

Hendersonville High sophomore guard Dyilin Hoosier releases a second-quarter 3-pointer.

The margin swelled to as much as 31 points on Hoosier’s final 3-pointer, which fell in the final minute of third period.

Both Hoosier and Brown scored 20 points, which was a career-high production for Hoosier. Junior teammate Justin Ernst came off of the bench to provide 11 points.

Sophomore guards Bryce Keith and Luke Jones led Portland offensively with 14 and 10 points, respectively.

Portland High sophomore guard Luke Jones releases a first-quarter layin as Hendersonville junior Ryne Loper. Jones scored 10 points.

“This is really going to help us out,” Hoosier said. “It will get our confidence back up. We didn’t have the start we wanted. Now, we’ll be better off.”

After starting the season 1-8, Hendersonville has won four of its last five games.

“Coach just made us turn it up more,” Hoosier said. “He got on to us more.

“Everything started coming together. We started hitting shots and doing good.”

West added, “Our football guys have gotten mixed back in. Amis has gotten his basketball legs. We’ve started picking up the pace and playing a lot more guys. This group of kids is fun. They are working and want to get better. I’m glad for them to have some success.”

The Commandos host Mt. Juliet on Tuesday, while the Panthers host Beech on Tuesday.

Reach Craig Harris at charris@mtcngroup.com or at 615-575-7138. Follow him on Twitter @HarrisGNESports.

HENDERSONVILLE (70) – Preston Brown 20, Dyilin Hoosier 20, Justin Ernst 11, Jason Hernando 6, Austin Kirby 5, Jordan Amis 4, Ryne Loper 2, Alec Kirby 1, Weston Schwerdt 1.

PORTLAND (43) – Bryce Keith 14, Luke Jones 10, Austin Hicks 6, Caelum Utley 6, Eric Kirk 4, Jakeb Hester 3.

Half: 32-16, Hendersonville. Three-point goals: Hendersonville 12 (Brown 4, Hoosier 4, Hernando 2, Ernst 1, A. Kirby 1), Portland 6 (Keith 3, Jones 2, Hester 1). Records: Hendersonville 5-9 overall, 1-3 in District 9-AAA; Portland 4-12, 0-4.

Forty is the new 20, former Vanderbilt defensive tackle Ian Smith says.

Former Vanderbilt defensive tackle Ian Smith (1995-1998) decided to go into bodybuilding after his 40th birthday.

“I feel like I can do things a lot of 20-year-olds can’t do, which I think is a good thing” said Smith, who was a senior in 1998.

Not only does Smith believe he’s capable of performing physical feats individuals half his age can’t, but he also has the look to go with it.

Unlike many former college athletes, who let their bodies go after their playing careers end, Smith has maintained the same Adonis-like figure he had 17 years ago when he was a Commodores starter.

He’s just as sculpted and even more muscular today standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 285 pounds, which is about 15 pounds heavier than his playing weight.

Smith also still has the same competitive drive he had as a player and will put that to the test later this year when he competes in his first bodybuilding contest. It will be a drug-free competition because Smith said he has never taken performance-enhancing drugs.

“When I turned 40, subconsciously I felt like I needed to push myself harder,” said Smith, who is a surgical device sales representative. “Since my birthday (Oct. 21) I definitely have been logging more gym time, been more focused and set more goals.”

Instead of building muscle to prepare for a contest next fall, Smith is now trying to get smaller while maintaining his rock-hard physique.

“I have never been out of shape and I probably lift weight excessively,” he said. “I do things you would only do if you really want to maintain large muscles because I get a kick out of it. It’s obsessive, but it’s fun for me. But one of the goals I set when I turned 40 was to do something I’ve always wanted to do and that is to drop my body fat percentage down low.”

Smith realizes, even if those around him don’t, that the focus in bodybuilding is as much on muscle definition as it is size.

“My wife thinks I look great and my friends always tell me, ‘You’re really big and you look really good,’” Smith said. “And I say, ‘Yeah, I’m big, but I’ve always wanted to be totally ripped.’ It’s been a long time since I was totally ripped, probably when I was 29 or 30. I want to be totally ripped, but it’s a commitment.”

More of a commitment even than the routine Smith has kept since he left Vanderbilt, which has been to work out five or six times a week for more than two hours each time.

He will continue doing that while also incorporating more cardiovascular work on the elliptical machine and stationary bike in order to drop about 40 pounds. He can’t run because of a knee injury he suffered in a game against Mississippi State in his junior season, which required arthroscopic surgery.

He plans to get his body fat percentage, which currently is 20 percent, down to 6 percent.

It will be a tall order, but Smith is confident he can reach his goals because of the tenacious work ethic he developed while he was at Vanderbilt training under strength coaches Chris Gaines, who later became linebackers coach, and Todd Suttles.

“There were lessons technique-wise I learned from those guys I still use today, but even more importantly it was the enthusiasm and energy they had that stuck with me,” Smith said. “It was the training table at Vanderbilt with (former chef) Magic (Majid Noori) and the routine that Chris Gaines and then Todd Suttles that really got me into all of this. I was really skinny in high school. Those guys put 20 pounds on me in just a couple of months. It was all muscle and it was just crazy.”

Navy quarterback Reynolds returns to Goodpasture

Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds spoke at chapel Thursday morning at his alma mater, Goodpasture.

Reynolds is the FBS career leader in touchdowns scored with 88 and his 4,559 yards are the most ever by a quarterback.

His career record as a starter was 32-13 and he led the Midshipmen to a school record 11 wins this season.

Don’t be surprised if Goodpasture makes a permanent tribute to Reynolds before the school year ends.

Titans not most-watched local sports event

For the second time this season, the Titans game was not the most-watched sports event in the Nashville market for the week.

The college football semifinal playoff game between Alabama and Michigan State was the most-watched with a 21.1 rating, according to WTVF-5 research and programming director Mark Binda.

The Titans-Colts game, which the Titans lost 30-24 in Indianapolis, was second with a 19.7 rating.

The other week the Titans game was not the most-watched was Nov. 2-8. The Broncos-Colts game earned a 23.9 rating that week while the Titans-Saints earned a 22.7.

The Outback Bowl between Tennessee and Northwestern was the sixth-most-watched sports event of the week with a 13.9 rating, and the Music City Bowl between Texas A&M and Louisville was 10th with a 10.2.

Former Cumberland coach Ellis gets 700th DI win

Former Cumberland basketball coach Cliff Ellis won his 700th game on the NCAA Division I level this past week.

Former Cumberland basketball coach and athletics director Cliff Ellis claimed his 700th career victory on the NCAA Division I level recently.

Ellis, 70, earned the milestone win after leading Coastal Carolina to an 82-63 victory over Winthrop on Jan. 2.

After serving as a graduate assistant at Middle Tennessee State, Ellis began his head coaching career at Cumberland in 1972 when the school was still a junior college. In three seasons, he posted a 78-12 record and won two league championships.

His head coaching stints have included Auburn, Clemson and South Alabama.

Midstate family now has 18 holes-in-one

The Pearce family recently added two more holes-in-one to its total.

Gene Pearce sank his eighth ace two weeks ago at the Executive Course in Sarasota, Fla., on the 133-yard, No. 4 hole using an 8-iron.

Then last week, his son Ray made his third hole-in-one at Champions Run in Rockvale using an 8-iron on the 150-yard No. 13 hole.

Gene’s other son Barry has made four holes-in-one and Gene’s wife, Beverly (Eller), three for a total of 18 for the family.

“I told my mother we need to step it up,” said Ray, the head pro at Champions Run. “We are tied for third in a four-person family.”

Local junior colleges among nation’s leaders

Motlow State’s Jaylen Barford leads the National Junior College Athletic Association in scoring with a 27.8 point average.

The 6-foot-4 guard, who was named the national player of the week each of the first two weeks of the season, has helped the Bucks post a 13-3 record.

Columbia State, meanwhile, is averaging 99.4 points per game, which is tied for seventh nationally.

Gallatin bowler rolls back-to-back perfect games 
Gallatin’s Jon Freeman accomplished a rare feat recently by bowling back-to-back 300 games.
Freeman was competing in league play at Strike N’ Spare Family Fun Center in Hendersonville.
He actually bowled 31 consecutive strikes.
Freeman finished his first of a three-game series by rolling seven straight strikes and then had 24 strikes in the last two perfect games.
His series total was 827.

Corbin speaking engagement Tuesday open to public

Vanderbilt baseball coach Tim Corbin is scheduled to speak Tuesday at the Institute for Supply Management-Nashville Inc.

The event is open to the public and will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at One Century Place Conference Center.

There will be a question-and-answer session after Corbin speaks.

Tickets are $35 and $5 for students. For more information, visit ismnashville.com.

Pitchers, catchers can audition for college representatives 

The third annual M.L. King Day College Showcase Camp is scheduled for Jan. 18 at Nashville Baseball Academy on Allied Drive.

The event is for high school pitchers and catchers who have not yet made a commitment to play for a college team and will graduate in 2016-19.

Representatives will be there from Vanderbilt, Belmont, Lipscomb, Memphis, Cumberland, Western Kentucky, Tennessee Tech, Trevecca, Columbia State, Christian Brothers, Lee and North Alabama.

Each participant will receive a written evaluation from the Nashville Baseball Academy staff.

Cost is $75. For more information, call 615-837-5858 or visit NashvilleBaseballAcademy.com.

Sounds launch scholarship program

The Sounds have started a scholarship program for four graduating high school seniors in Middle Tennessee.

Each of the recipients will receive $2,500 toward college tuition.

“This is something we expect to grow by leaps and bounds in future years,” Sounds general manager Garry Arthur said.

Seniors should complete the application at nashvillesounds.com no later than Feb. 15.

The scholarships will be awarded during the Sounds’ first homestand of the season in April.

Vandy assistant director headed to George Mason

Vanderbilt assistant sports information director and editor of “Commodore Nation” magazine Jerome Boettcher accepted a position this week in the George Mason athletic communications department.

Boettcher has been at Vanderbilt since leaving the Nashville City Paper as a sports writer in 2013.

Grizzlies teaming up with West Nashville Sports League

Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandan Wright will meet with members of the West Nashville Sports League on Jan. 18.

The West Nashville Sports League, which is celebrating its 20th basketball season, has been selected as a partner with the Memphis Grizzlies.

That means the Grizzlies will give tickets to 200 WNSL youth players for their game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 18).

Former Brentwood Academy star Brandan Wright, who is in his eighth season in the NBA and first with the Grizzlies, will meet the players and their families for an autograph and photo session.

The Grizzlies also will sponsor the WNSL March Madness Tournament (March 4-6), which will feature nearly 300 teams.

If you have an item for Midstate Chatter, contact Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 and on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.

SPORTS ON NASHVILLE TV

The top five local ratings for sporting events on television Dec. 28-Jan. 3.

1. College football playoffs: Alabama-Michigan State, 21.1 rating

2. NFL: Titans-Colts, 19.7 rating

3. NFL: Chargers-Broncos, 19.2 rating

4. College football playoffs: Clemson-Oklahoma, 15.8 rating

5. NFL: Vikings-Packers, 15.2 rating

SEC Network ratings not available. Each rating point is equal to 9,902 Nashville homes.

Source: Mark Binda, WTVF-5 programming & research director

Portland High senior Al Chatmon elevates for an interior shot in front of Hendersonville junior Peyton Sheehan during second-quarter action. Chatmon scored eight points.

PORTLAND Morgan Wettengel is a role player.

The Hendersonville High School sophomore guard was on a roll in the first half of Friday evening’s game at Portland.

Wettengel came off of the bench to score nine points before halftime, helping the Lady Commandos build a double-figure lead en route to a 51-39 victory.

Hendersonville High senior point guard Carleigh Short dribbles into the lane as Portland senior Erica Keen defends during first-quarter action. Short scored a team-high 13 points in Friday evening’s 51-39 victory.

“I just get super excited when I go into the game,” Wettengel said. “It’s just extra energy to let off.

“(Head coach Drew Johnson) wants me to play solid defense and not turn the ball over. Any time we score baskets, that’s extra.”

Back-to-back 3-pointers from seniors Joslyn Jarrett and Carleigh Short in the first quarter broke a 4-4 tie and placed Hendersonville in front to stay.

Wettengel scored five consecutive points beginning with a layin in the final minute of the opening period, turning a four-point lead into a 16-7 cushion.

Wettengel’s transition layin with 2:37 remaining in the second stanza gave her squad its biggest lead of the half (24-13), and the margin stood at eight points at halftime.

Portland High senior Al Chatmon and Hendersonville junior Makensie Cotter leap for a first-quarter rebound.

“Her role is to play defense and take care of the basketball, and the scoring is a bonus,” Johnson said. “It’s obvious that she can go out and get buckets. She’s going out with extra energy. That’s what I expect. When somebody works as hard as she does, good things happen.”

Senior guard Cristina Herrera and junior forward Mackenzie Trouten accounted for all of the production during a 10-2 run in the third period, pulling the Lady Panthers back to within four points. Trouten sank a pair of 3-pointers during the surge, while Herrera made four consecutive free throws.

“Sometimes, we get too comfortable with our lead, and we lose it,” Wettengel said.

Portland High junior forward Mackenzie Trouten elevates for a second-quarter shot between Hendersonville sophomore Elizabeth Hatfield and junior Peyton Sheehan. Trouten scored a game-high 17 points.

However, Portland (7-8 overall, 1-3 in District 9-AAA) didn’t get any closer as two free throws from Short, Brooke Long’s 3-pointer and Jarrett’s three-point play quickly stretched the margin back to 12 points with less than six minutes remaining.

“We’re never satisfied,” Johnson said. “We’d like to be better defensively. We’d like to play defense without fouling. It’s going to be more important for kids like Morgan coming off of the bench (due to foul trouble). So far this season, other teams that we’ve played, their field-goal percentage is low, but a lot of their points are coming from the free-throw line.

“We are still improving in areas and getting better.”

Long and Short scored 13 points each, and Jarrett provided 10 points.

Trouten finished with a game-high 17 points, and Herrera and senior Al Chatmon contributed nine and eight points, respectively.

Portland High senior Al Chatmon and Hendersonville junior Makensie Cotter leap for a first-quarter rebound.

Hendersonville improved to 9-6 overall and evened its district record at 2-2.

“We want to win as many district games as we can,” Wettengel said. “Any district win is good.”

Both teams host district foes on Tuesday, with the Lady Panthers entertaining Beech and the Lady Commandos welcoming Mt. Juliet.

Reach Craig Harris at charris@mtcngroup.com or at 615-575-7138. Follow him on Twitter @HarrisGNESports.

HENDERSONVILLE (51) – Brooke Long 13, Carleigh Short 13, Joslyn Jarrett 10, Morgan Wettengel 9, Peyton Sheehan 6.

PORTLAND (39) – Mackenzie Trouten 17, Cristina Herrera 9, Al Chatmon 8, Taylor Cole 3, McKenzie Fletcher 2.

Half: 26-18, Hendersonville. Three-point goals: Hendersonville 3 (Long 1, Sheehan 1, Short 1), Portland 4 (Trouten 3, Cole 1). Records: Hendersonville 9-6 overall, 3-1 in District 9-AAA; Portland 7-8, 1-3.

Longtime Metro coach Bill Brimm died Sunday.

Longtime Metro coach Bill Brimm, who was known for creating Madison High’s famous polka dot basketball uniforms, died Sunday afternoon. He was 92.

Visitation will take place Saturday at Madison Middle School, formerly Madison High School, from 10 a.m. to noon. The funeral is at noon.

After graduating from Central High (where he was three-sport star), Tennessee Tech and Peabody College, Brimm began his coaching career in 1949 at Goodlettsville as a football assistant under Bill Harris.

He replaced Harris for two seasons as the head coach at Goodlettsville before leaving to become the head coach at Madison when it opened in 1953.

Brimm also coached basketball and baseball at Madison through 1970, winning Nashville Interscholastic League championships in all three sports.

In 1960, Brimm designed Madison’s orange, black and white basketball uniforms with 168 polka dots on each one, including the socks. His intent was to confuse the Rams’ opponents.

Coach Bill Brimm designed Madison’s basketball uniforms, which featured 168 polka dots on each one.

The design made national news, and a story was written about it in the March 14, 1960, issue of Sports Illustrated.

Brimm’s 1961 Madison basketball team advanced to the state tournament. His football teams participated in nine bowl games including the Clinic Bowl and won 28 consecutive games during one stretch.

The football field and basketball court at Madison were named in honor of Brimm. He was inducted into the TSSAA Hall of Fame in 1999, the Tennessee Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2014 and is a member of the National Football Foundation and Metro Nashville Football Coaches Association halls of fame.

He coached through the 1970 school year and then ended his teaching career as a guidance counselor at McGavock High in 1974.

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 and on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.

Here’s a look at the top boys basketball teams in Middle Tennessee, as ranked by The Tennessean:

Cane Ridge coach Marlin Sims

10. Rossview (12-2) — Brad Allen (18.6 points per game) is one of four players averaging in double-figures for the 10-AAA-leading Red Hawks, who are coming off a 50-49 win over district foe Clarksville Northeast. Last week: NR. Streak: Won 8.

9. Lebanon (13-3) — The Blue Devils, currently second in District 9-AAA, dropped a pair of nail-biters a week ago, suffering losses to White County and Station Camp — teams with a combined 33-0 record — by a total of just seven points. Last week: No. 10. Streak: Lost 2. 

8. Maplewood (12-2) — The Bo Hodges-led Panthers have put together 10 straight wins since suffering consecutive November losses to Memphis-area foes Mitchell and Brighton, including Friday’s 62-53 triumph over 10-AA rival Pearl-Cohn. Last week: No. 8. Streak: Won 10. 

7. Oakland (13-1) — The Patriots tasted defeat for the first time this season Friday at Blackman, falling behind 10-0 before ultimately suffering a 62-45 setback to the unbeaten and top-ranked Blaze. Last week: No. 7. Streak: Lost 1.

6. Ensworth (12-1) — The Tigers, who open DII-AA East/Middle Region play Tuesday at Brentwood Academy, are coming off their first loss of the season — last Friday’s 61-52 setback at Hopkinsville (Ky.). Last week: No. 6. Streak: Lost 1.

5. Cane Ridge (12-1) — Arkansas-Fort Smith signee Kyree Elder scored 24 points to lead the Ravens in Friday’s 59-52 win over district foe Hillsboro, vaulting Cane Ridge to a perfect 4-0 in 12-AAA play. Last week: No. 5. Streak: Won 3.

4. Station Camp (18-0) — The Bison, winners of 18 in a row, notched a huge district victory on Friday, fending off a formidable Lebanon squad to remain unbeaten and atop the 9-AAA standings. Last week: No. 4. Streak: Won 18.

3. Independence (15-1) — The Eagles, clinging to a one-game advantage atop the 11-AAA standings, are coming off back-to-back wins over Williamson County rivals Ravenwood and Brentwood. Last week: No. 3. Streak: Won 7.

2. Brentwood Academy (14-1) — The defending state champion Eagles got off to the right foot in region play, coasting to lopsided wins over MBA and Baylor, but the competition level increases Tuesday as BA welcomes East/Middle Region rival Ensworth. Last week: No. 2. Streak: Won 2. 

1. Blackman (16-0) — The Blaze made a statement in Friday’s Rutherford County showdown with rival Oakland, cruising to a 62-45 win over the previously unbeaten Patriots to claim sole possession of first place in District 7-AAA. Last week: No. 1.Streak: Won 16.

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports. 

Here’s a look at the top girls basketball teams in Middle Tennessee, as ranked by The Tennessean:

FRA players celebrate Friday’s win over Davidson Academy

10. FRA (13-2) — The Lady Panthers scored a big district win on Friday, edging Division II-A East/Middle District 2 foe Davidson Academy 57-55 behind sisters Taylor and Riley Casey’s combined 24 fourth-quarter points. Last week: No. 10. Streak: Won 2. 

9. Rossview (15-1) — The Lady Hawks, coming off a 10-point non-district win over Sycamore, beat their previous two 10-AAA opponents West Creek and Clarksville Northeast by a combined score of 156-80. Last week: No. 9. Streak: Won 5. 

8. Stewarts Creek (14-2) — The Lady Red Hawks put up a pretty good effort in last Tuesday’s matchup with top-ranked Blackman — a 71-55 defeat — but things will only get tougher as their District 7-AAA slate rolls on. Last week: No. 9. Streak: Lost 1. 

7. Dickson County (15-2) —The Lea Lea Carter-led Lady Cougars claimed sole possession of first place in 11-AAA following last week’s district wins over Ravenwood and Centennial. Last week: No. 7. Streak: Won 3. 

6. Oakland (11-3) — The Lady Patriots came awfully close to knocking off two-time defending Class AAA champion Blackman on Friday before suffering a 60-59 defeat to the rival Lady Blaze. Last week: No. 5. Streak: Lost 2. 

5. Wilson Central (15-0) — The District 9-AAA-leading Lady Wildcats, led by sharpshooting senior guard Kendall Spray,  outscored their two previous opponents — Hillsboro and Gallatin — by a combined tally of 136-44. Last week: No. 4. Streak: Won 15.

4. Father Ryan (15-0) — The Lady Irish, one of just six unbeaten girls teams in the state, are surrendering a state-low 25.7 points per game — nearly seven points less than the second stingiest team (Northpoint Christian, 32.1). Last week: No. 6. Streak: Won 15. 

3. Brentwood Academy (12-3) — Juniors Sydney Harvey and Bria Dial, senior Bre Jackson and sophomore Makaila Wilson have carried much of the scoring load for the Lady Eagles, who play host to rival Ensworth on Tuesday. Last week: No. 3. Streak: Won 5. 

2. Riverdale (16-1) — Junior Anastasia Hayes is averaging 19.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game for the Lady Warriors, currently ranked 22nd in the USA Today Super 25 national rankings. Last week: No. 2. Streak: Won 9.

1. Blackman (14-2) — The Lady Blaze, ranked 20th in this week’s USA Today Super 25 national rankings, narrowly escaped with a win over 7-AAA foe Oakland on Friday, edging the Lady Patriots 60-59. Last week: No. 1. Streak: Won 2. 

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports. 

Associated Press high school basketball rankings

The Associated Press’ Top 10 teams in each of Tennessee’s three Division I non-financial aid classifications and in the combined Division II financial aid classification as selected by Tennessee AP-member sportswriters and broadcasters. With first-place votes in parentheses, records through January 4, total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 10th-place vote:

Boys

CLASS AAA
School Record Pts Prv
1. Memphis East (12) 13-1 120 1
2. Blackman (1) 16-0 115 2
3. Germantown 15-1 94 3
4. Station Camp 18-0 79 6
5. David Crockett 15-4 66 5
6. White County 15-0 58 7
7. Oak Ridge 19-2 50 4
8. Cordova 14-3 45 10
9. Independence 15-1 20 T8
10. Oakland 13-1 17 T8
Others receiving 12 or more points: None.

CLASS AA
School Record Pts Prv
1. Fulton (12) 15-0 129 1
2. Jackson SS (1) 12-0 118 2
3. Upperman 15-2 89 6
4. Cascade 12-1 67 3
5. Maplewood 12-2 58 10
6. Ripley 15-5 54 4
7. Chattanooga Central 10-1 53 9
8. East Nashville 14-4 51 5
9. Westview 11-3 48 7
10. Obion County 12-3 21 8
Others receiving 12 or more points: Knoxville Catholic 13.

CLASS A
School Record Pts Prv
1. Halls (9) 16-0 126 2
2. Mitchell (4) 12-4 111 4
3. Clay County 17-1 95 1
3. Huntland 14-2 95 3
5. Union City 15-4 87 5
6. Meigs County 15-3 58 7
7. Middleton 11-3 51 8
8. Clarkrange 14-4 25 6
9. MAHS 9-1 14 NR
10. Van Buren County 13-3 13 NR
Others receiving 12 or more points: Hampton 12.

DIVISION II
School Record Pts Prv
1. Christian Brothers (13) 17-0 130 1
2. Brentwood Acad. 14-1 116 2
3. McCallie 16-2 105 3
4. Briarcrest 16-3 83 T5
5. Ensworth 12-1 79 4
6. Pope John Paul II 14-2 61 T5
7. St. George’s 6-4 40 10
8. USJ 12-5 31 8
9. Father Ryan 10-5 27 7
10. Webb Knoxville 12-6 19 9
Others receiving 12 or more points: None.

The Tennessean Midstate boys basketball top 10
The Tennessean Midstate girls basketball top 10

Girls

CLASS AAA
School Record Pts Prv
1. Blackman (13) 13-2 130 1
2. Riveredale 16-2 113 2
3. Morristown West 16-2 94 T3
4. Memphis Central 19-0 91 T3
5. Wilson Central 15-0 72 7
6. Bearden 15-3 48 8
7. Oakland 12-3 47
8. White County 13-2 40 10
9. Dyer County 15-2 32 T5
10. Memphis Overton 6-1 25 9
Others receiving 12 or more points: Dickson County 12.

CLASS AA
School Record Pts Prv
1. Elizabethton (13) 17-0 130 1
2. McMinn Central 14-2 114 2
3. Westview 15-2 102 3
4. Upperman 17-2 96 4
5. Westmoreland 15-2 66 6
6. Lexington 14-2 52 7
7. Grainger 13-4 43 5
8. Livingston Academy 12-5 35 8
9. Gatlinburg-Pittman 14-3 31 9
10. Greeneville 15-2 28 NR 
Others receiving 12 or more points: East Nashville 14.

CLASS A
School Record Pts Prv
1. Middleton (12) 15-0 129 1
2. South Greene 18-2 111 2
3. Gibson County 19-0 100 3
4. Pickett County (1) 17-1 97 4
5. Community 15-1 72 5
6. Meigs County 13-2 56 7
7. Dresden 11-3 40 8
8. Jackson County 12-3 34 9
9. MTCS 13-3 32 6
10. Eagleville 12-3 14 10
Others receiving 12 or more points: None.

DIVISION II
School Record Pts Prv
1. Brentwood Acad. (8) 12-3 114 T1
2. Father Ryan (4) 15-0 110 T1
3. USJ 15-1 77 4
3. St. Benedict 12-3 77 5
5. FRA 13-2 76 T1
6. Northpoing 13-1 64 6
7. Harpeth Hall 11-3 37 7
8. Baylor 11-5 31 8
9. Ezell-Harding 12-1 30 9
10. Ensworth 5-2 14 NR
Others receiving 12 or more points:

All Associated Press members in Tennessee are eligible to participate in the high school basketball poll. Those who voted for this week’s poll are: The Daily Post-Athenian, Athens; Cookeville Herald-Citizen, Cookeville; State Gazette, Dyersburg; The Jackson Sun, Jackson; Johnson City Press, Johnson City; The Knoxville News Sentinel, Knoxville; Marshall County Tribune (Lewisburg); The Tomahawk (Mountain City); The Commercial Appeal, Memphis; The Daily News Journal, Murfreesboro; The Tennessean (Nashville); Union City Daily Messenger, Union City; WCMT, Martin.

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports. 

Lipscomb coach Ernie Smith has led the Lady Mustangs to 30 district and region titles, along with a Class AA state title, in 38 season as head coach.

Make it 900 times two for Lipscomb Academy coach Ernie Smith.

Smith, who won his 900th game as Mustangs baseball coach during last postseason, picked up win No. 900 as the school’s girls basketball coach Tuesday evening in a 51-28 triumph over Martin Luther King Magnet.

“Right now it feels good,” said Smith, who has spent his entire coaching career at Lipscomb. “The biggest thing is that there were a lot of former players here tonight, and everyone has been so good to me.”

Smith, who has been coaching at Lipscomb (following an athletic career at David Lipscomb University) for 39 years (being head girls basketball coach since 1980) was inducted into the TSSAA Hall of Fame last year. He now has 1,800 career coaching victories at the school, split evenly with girls basketball and baseball.

“I feel really blessed,” said Smith, who will be retiring from coaching girls basketball following the season. “It doesn’t really feel like a job. I’ve enjoyed it so much – it’s a job you enjoy working at. I’m lucky to be able to have done this as long as I have.

“You’ve got to be lucky in a lot of ways. We’ve had a lot of great players and great coaches here. I was in the right place at the right time. I’ve had a lot of good kids to work with.”

Lipscomb (11-5, 4-1 in 10-AA) controlled Tuesday’s game from the outset, holding leads of 9-5 after one quarter, 25-11 at halftime and 44-14 at the end of three periods.

Gracie Simpson had a big night for the Lady Mustangs, scoring 18 points and hitting four 3-pointers.

PORTLAND Cristina Herrera found her shooting touch in warm-ups.

Portland High senior guard Cristina Herrera releases a 3-pointer in front of Beech freshman Destiny Tinker during third-quarter action. Herrera scored 24 points in the Lady Panthers’ 60-37 victory.

The Portland High senior carried it over to Tuesday evening’s contest against visiting Beech as well, scoring 22 points in the Lady Panthers’ 60-37 victory.

Herrera hit four of Portland’s seven 3-pointers in the District 9-AAA battle.

“I was shooting well in practice,” Herrera said. “It just kind of carried over to the game.”

The Lady Panthers (8-8 overall, 2-3 in District 9-AAA) jumped out to an 11-0 lead over the game’s first 4:30, getting four points from both junior Mackenzie Trouten and senior Alyssa Chatmon in addition to a 3-pointer from senior Erica Keen.

“That (early run) always gets us going,” Portland head coach Miranda Cravens said. “We got some stuff off of our (full-court) press. Our defense got us going too.”

Portland led 17-5 after the opening quarter and maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way.

“It’s big for us,” Herrera said. “It really helps our confidence. I think we’re getting better every day, and it’s good for us to win like that.”

Beech High senior guard Deja Smith elevates for an interior shot against Portland senior Erica Keen during second-quarter action.

Trouten hit two 3-pointers in the contest as well and finished with 17 points.

“(Portland) shot it really well,” Beech interim head coach Troy Carnes said. “Even people who we weren’t sure could shoot it shot it well. I didn’t know (Trouten) could shoot it like that. (Keen) made a big one early. I knew (Herrera) could shoot it, but we let her get too many looks.”

Cravens added, “The past couple of games, we’ve shot the ball poorly … I’m talking like 20 or 30 percent. We had a good shooting night, and the kids play harder when they’re shooting well too. That’s kind of human nature.”

Senior guard Deja Smith led Beech (5-13, 2-3) with 11 points. The Lady Buccaneers pulled to within 10 points on a couple of occasions but were unable to cut Portland’s lead into single digits after the Lady Panthers’ opening run.

“We talked a lot about being the aggressor and coming out with intensity,” Carnes said. “It seems like we’re trying to do that, and we didn’t pull that off very well.”

Beech has now suffered five consecutive losses.

Portland High sophomore point guard Rachel Jennings dribbles as Beech junior McCall Decker defends during second-quarter action.

“We’ve got some soul-searching to do,” Carnes said. “We’ve got some decisions to make as a team, and I feel like we’re capable of being better than we’re playing.”

Portland broke a three-game losing streak with the victory.

“We’ve gotten smarter,” Cravens said. “We’re learning about what is and what isn’t a good shot. We’re taking better shots.”

Chatmon also reached double figures for the Lady Panthers, scoring 13 points.

Portland hit the 60-point mark for the fourth time this season, and the Lady Panthers are undefeated in those games.

Beech was held to less than 40 points for the 11th time this season, and the Lady Buccaneers hold a 1-10 record in those contests.

The two teams are slated to play each other at Beech on Feb. 5.

Beech travels to Lebanon on Friday, while Portland plays at Wilson Central.

Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.

BEECH (37) – Deja Smith 11, McCall Decker 6, Savannah Jarratt 6, Kendra Mueller 4, Reese Taylor 4, Joslyn Brinkley 2, Kennedy Powell 2, Destiny Tinker 2.

PORTLAND (60) – Cristina Herrera 22, Mackenzie Trouten 17, Alyssa Chatmon 13, Erica Keen 6, Rachel Jennings 2.

Half: 30-17, Portland. Three-point goals: Beech 2 (Decker 2), Portland 7 (Herrera 4, Trouten 2, Keen 1). Records: Beech 5-13 overall, 2-3 in District 9-AAA; Portland 8-8, 2-3.

Brentwood Academy’s Tyler McNair (#24) shoots a basket while being guarded by Jordan Bone of Ensworth during their game Tuesday January 12, 2016 at Brentwood Academy.

Reigning Division II-AA state champion Brentwood Academy faced one of its biggest tests of the season Tuesday night, but emerged with a 55-53 win over visiting rival Ensworth.

While the Eagles narrowly escaped with the win, Coach Hubie Smith said it’s something he’s come to expect from his squad.

“I know my kids,” Smith said. “And they’re big-game guys.”

The biggest of those big-game guys may be sophomore point guard Darius Garland. He scored a game-high 21 points, including nine in the second quarter, but it was Ensworth that took a 26-25 lead into halftime.

“I don’t think we played very well tonight,” Smith said. “But I don’t think they let us play well.”

Ensworth (12-2, 0-1 DII-AA E/M) kept it close, but the Eagles (15-1, 2-0) took back the lead and held a 41-36 advantage after three.

The Tigers managed to pull within one before BA pushed its lead back to three, but Ensworth’s Jordan Bone sank a 3-pointer with 1:48 to go to tie things at 51.

But Garland added four late free throws to put the Eagles ahead for good and keep Ensworth out of the region win category.

Ensworth coach Ricky Bowers said Tuesday’s win wouldn’t put a damper on their season.

“I’m not discouraged; I was encouraged,” Bowers said. “I was just using it as a barometer to see how good they were and how good we are.”

Smith said Tuesday’s game was an indicator of just how good both teams are.

“There’s going to be some wars the next couple times we play them,” he said. “They’re really good.”

For Bowers, Tuesday’s loss taught him what to hope for when the state tournament rolls around: “I hope we’re in different brackets.”

Brentwood Academy girls 51, Ensworth 37: Bria Dial scored nine of her game-high 15 points in the second half to help Brentwood Academy (14-3, 3-0 DII-AA E/M) pull away from Ensworth and remain undefeated in the region Tuesday night.

It was a tightly-contested first half, but BA finished on a 9-3 run to take a 22-16 halftime advantage.

Ensworth kept the deficit to just six in the third, but BA held the Lady Tigers to just 10 points in the fourth quarter to improve to 14-3.

Reach Sam Brown at 615-259-8232 and on Twitter @SamBrownTN.

PORTLAND Earlier in the season, head coach Darrin Joines felt that the Beech High boys basketball team would make strides as the season progressed.

Beech High sophomore Jake Butler dribbles along the baseline as Portland sophomore Bryce Keith defends during fourth-quarter action.

Tuesday evening was another step forward for the Buccaneers in his eye as visiting Beech outscored Portland by a 27-6 margin over a 10-minute stretch of the first half to pull away for a 57-29 victory.

Beech (11-7 overall, 3-2 in District 9-AAA) trailed 6-5 with 2:21 left in the first quarter before embarking on the decisive run, which extended all the way through the second quarter as the Buccaneers defeated their District 9-AAA rivals for the fifth consecutive meeting.

“We had a slow start, so we just had to pick up the intensity,” Buccaneer sophomore guard A.J. Robertson said. “It was like flipping a switch.”

Robertson hit four of Beech’s nine 3-pointers and scored a game-high 16 points. Outside shooting proved to be a catalyst for the Buccaneers as seniors Noah Chatman and Caleb Walton battled with Portland senior Caelum Utley in the paint all evening.

“(Utley’s) a really tough player, and (Portland) plays really good defense,” Joines said. “Their positioning’s really good. It’s not like we were getting open layups. We hit some big shots.”

Portland High senior Caelum Utley (right) releases a shot over Beech senior Noah Chatman during first-quarter action.

Chatman did reach double figures, finishing with 11 points, but Walton was held to four points in the contest.

“We got a great lift from A.J. shooting the three,” Joines said. “I think sometimes folks would say ‘just get it inside. You’re bigger,’ but they were taking that away. We got in there, and they were doubling down. That really opened things up (outside).”

Robertson hit all four of his 3-pointers in the first half as Beech took a 32-12 lead into halftime.

“I was just running the offense, looking for spots to get open,” Robertson said. “I’m thankful that my teammates were looking my way.”

Portland head coach Chris Carney added, “(Beech) made a couple of shots in the first half, and instead of staying the course and staying disciplined, guarding the way we’ve been taught to defend, we started flying out at people and not rebounding. Other stuff started to snowball on us.”

Portland welcomed senior small forward Jay Crutchfield back into action on Tuesday after he missed 10 games due to an injury he suffered in a 69-21 loss at Station Camp on Dec. 8. Crutchfield, who only saw limited minutes, did not score.

“We were working Jay back in tonight,” Carney said. “That’s the first time he’s played in 10, 11 games. We were working him in, but he had some minute restrictions on him. I thought his maturity helped, just having him back on the floor.”

Portland High sophomore Grant Cook spins away from Beech sophomore defenders Ty Dean (10) and Nelson Smith during first-quarter action.

The Panthers still aren’t totally healthy though. Portland sophomore guard Dawson Simmons left Friday’s 70-43 loss against Hendersonville with a shoulder injury and did not play on Tuesday.

“He’s a guy that makes good decisions,” Carney said of Simmons. “He can shoot. He’s one of our better defenders, and hopefully, we can have him back in a week or so. We’ve played pretty much the whole year with somebody injured. We haven’t had a complete five since maybe before Thanksgiving.”

Other than Utley, no other Portland player managed more than four points against the Buccaneers.

“We started going to our bench, and guys who had been playing for us all year just didn’t play well,” Carney said. “We just struggled.”

The win was Beech’s third consecutive victory, while Portland has now lost three straight games. The two teams are scheduled to meet again at Beech on Feb. 5.

Beech High junior T.J. Downing releases a 3-pointer over the outstretched arm of Portland senior Caelum Utley during fourth-quarter action.

Both teams are back in action on Friday, with Beech visiting Lebanon and Portland playing at Wilson Central.

Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.

BEECH (57) – A.J. Robertson 16, Noah Chatman 11, Nelson Smith 7, Ty Dean 6, Ben Buhrow 5, Heath Pentecost 4, Caleb Walton 4, Joel Littlepage 3, Drake Sanson 1.

PORTLAND (29) – Caelum Utley 14, Austin Hicks 4, Luke Jones 4, Eric Kirk 4, Grant Cook 2, Tobahis McNutt 1.

Half: 32-12, Beech. Three-point goals: Beech 9 (Robertson 4, Dean 2, Buhrow 1, Littlepage 1, Smith 1), Portland 1 (Hicks 1). Records: Beech 11-7 overall, 3-2 in District 9-AAA; Portland 4-13, 0-5.

Four Midstate high school football players will test their talents against some of the top players from Kentucky this Saturday in the Kentucky-Tennessee Border Bowl at 2 p.m. at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Ky.

For a player to be selected to either roster he must be nominated by his coach and undergo a review from a panel of coaches from the player’s home state.

Father Ryan senior Bryce Vickers, who recorded 28 tackles and an interception this season, was selected to the Tennessee team as a strong safety, and will be joined by three Rutherford County players.

Riverdale seniors Canaan Owens (linebacker) and Casen Sloan (offensive lineman) will share a sideline with regular-season rival and Oakland senior Hudson Smith (offensive lineman) for the first time this season.

Owens, a two-way starter at Riverdale, had 76 tackles, 10 for a loss, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles, while Smith was the Region 2-6A Co-Lineman MVP this past season.

This will be the ninth Border Bowl between the two teams.

Following last year’s 33-32 win for Kentucky, the two teams are tied at 4-4.

Father Ryan’s Bryce Vickers is one of four Midstate football players who will play in the Kentucky-Tennessee Border Bowl this Saturday at 2 p.m. at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Ky.

The first annual Music City Classic will take place this weekend at Hillsboro high school featuring five Midstate teams facing competition from across the United States and Canada.

The three-day classic will take place Saturday through Monday with Saturday’s noon tip-off being the first of 18 games to be played over the weekend by some of the top boys and girls programs in the nation.

The 20 schools from nine different states participating in the Martin Luther King Day weekend tournament come in boosting a combined 485-129 record from 2015, with 13 of the teams posting records with five losses or less and four of them coming in as reigning state champions.

Brentwood Academy, Cane Ridge, Lighthouse Christian and Montgomery Bell Academy will represent the boys side while back-to-back Class AAA state champion Blackman is the lone girls team from Tennessee.

Cane Ridge will play at 1:30 p.m. Saturday against North Carolina’s Mt. Zion Christian. MBA will face South Carolina’s Andrew Jackson High at 3 p.m. while Blackman will battle Chicago’s Whitney Young High at 6:15 and Brentwood Academy will take on Atlanta’s Pace Academy at 7:45.

On Sunday Lighthouse Christian will take on North Carolina’s Mt. Zion Christian at 1:30. Blackman’s girls will battle Alabama’s McGill-Toolen High Monday at 5 p.m. while Lighthouse Christian will play Canada’s Clarksen Academy at 7 p.m.

The first annual Music City Classic will take place this weekend at Hillsboro high school featuring four Midstate teams facing competition from Tennessee and eight different states.