PORTLAND The Gallatin High girls basketball team won the opening tip-off, but not much else went right for the Lady Wave on Wednesday evening.
Eighth-seeded Gallatin surrendered the first 19 points of the game to top-seeded Wilson Central and never recovered in a 79-17 loss in the District 9-AAA Tournament quarterfinals at Portland High School.
Gallatin senior point guard Rene Hudson scored all of her 10 points consecutively – the final five of the opening quarter and the first five points of the second period – to halt the Lady Wildcat run and pull the Lady Wave (5-19) within nine points (19-10).
Gallatin High senior Rene Hudson throws a one-handed pass as Wilson Central sophomore Kenadhi Killebrew looks on during first-quarter action. Hudson scored 10 points.
However, Wilson Central (27-0) – the state’s second-ranked club in the Associated Press Statewide Prep Basketball Poll in Class AAA poll – closed the first half by scoring 30 unanswered points to hold a 49-10 lead at halftime.
“They smelled blood in the water, and they went for the dagger quick,” Gallatin first-year head coach Malcolm Montgomery said. “I know that the score can be a little lopsided, but we got better tonight. That’s the only way you’re going to begin to get better is to play those types of teams. (Wilson Central) isn’t 27-0 for nothing.”
Gallatin High sophomore forward LaMonica Mintlow dribbles in the frontcourt as Wilson Central junior Anna Altman defends during first-quarter action.
Sophomore Bailey Kaposy led the Lady Wildcats – who made 13 3-pointers – with 17 points. Senior Kendall Spray – a Miss Basketball finalist and a University of Tennessee at Martin signee – scored 16 in limited action, sitting out the second half with the Lady Wildcats holding a comfortable lead.
Wilson Central won both regular-season meetings between the two teams, a 76-20 victory at Gallatin on Jan. 8 and a 87-39 triumph at Wilson Central on Feb. 2.
The Lady Wildcats moved on to face the winner of Thursday evening’s quarterfinal game between fourth-seeded Portland and No. 5 seed Lebanon in Saturday’s semifinal round.
Four seniors ended their Lady Wave careers on Wednesday – Hudson, Grayson Pryor, Keile Hale and Anastasia Blakemore.
Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.
GALLATIN (17) – Rene Hudson 10, Grace Pincock 5, Katie Whitefield 2.
WILSON CENTRAL (79) – Bailey Kaposy 17, Kendall Spray 16, Anna Altman 11, Addison Byrd 11, Kaythryn Bean 8, Taylor Tucker 5, Nathalie Ventura 4, Kenadhi Killebrew 3, Piper Elrod 3, Macey McClure 1.
Half: 49-10, Wilson Central. Three-point goals: Gallatin 3 (Hudson 2, Pincock 1), Wilson Central 13 (Kaposy 4, Altman 3, Byrd 2, Spray 2, Elrod 1, Tucker 1). Records: Gallatin 5-19, Wilson Central 27-0.