Tuesday Around UC Sports Nation: Clay County Sweeps Pickett County

The much-anticipated Clay County/Pickett County boys’ basketball game did not live up to the expectations most everyone had going into Tuesday night’s meeting of two of the top three teams in Class 1A. The third-ranked ranked Bulldogs played an outstanding defensive game, holding the top-ranked Bobcats to just five first half points, en route to a 64-23 blowout in Byrdstown. Grant Strong tallied a double-double for Clay County (12-4, 6-0 District) with 32 points and 13 rebounds, as the Bulldogs handed Pickett County (17-4, 5-1) their 13th consecutive defeat in the series. The two teams will meet again on Friday, February 4, in Celina.

Meanwhile, the girls’ meeting between the #2 Lady Bobcats and #3 Lady Bulldogs was more competitive, but the end result was the same, as Clay County earned a 50-43 victory. Halle Buford tallied 16 points for the Lady Bulldogs, while Briley Burchett added 13. Bella Ashlock pulled down 11 rebounds. Clay County (14-3, 5-1) pulls into a first place tie with Pickett County (16-3, 5-1) in the District 7-1A standings. Emmy Lowe scored 21 to lead the Lady Bobcats and all scorers.

Elsewhere Tuesday night, Cassie Gallagher led a balanced Cookeville attack with 13 points, as the Lady Cavs improved to 22-0 on the season with a 61-22 rout at Wilson Central. Joshua Heard scored 24 points in the nightcap, as Cookeville (12-12, 2-2) claimed a 49-40 victory. Cookeville will visit Green Hill on Friday.

Livingston Academy boys’ coach Jimmy Miller earned his 250th career coaching victory, as the Wildcats (12-9, 5-2) eked past Macon County (3-16, 0-8), 50-49. The Lady Wildcats (19-3, 6-1) roared past the Tigerettes (3-18, 0-3) in the girls’ game, 76-47, behind 16 points from Halle Ledbetter and 15 from Ellie Butler. Both Livingston teams are currently in a three-way tie for first place in District 7-3A.

Here’s the full Tuesday night scoreboard from UC Sports Nation:

Girls
#3 Clay Co. 50
#2 Pickett Co. 43
(District 7-1A)
(CCHS: Halle Buford 16, Briley Burchett 13)
(PCHS: Emmy Lowe 21)

#2 Cookeville 61
Wilson Central 22
(District 9-4A)
(CHS: Cassie Gallagher 13; Lady Cavs now 22-0)

Cumberland Co. 64
Stone Memorial 34
(District 7-3A)

#5 White Co. 67
DeKalb Co. 56
(District 7-3A)

Monterey 45
Jackson Co. 33
(District 5-2A)
(MHS: Kady Hopkins 11, Adeline Clouse 10)

#3 Livingston Academy 76
Macon Co. 37
(District 7-3A)
(LA: Halle Ledbetter 16, Ellie Butler 15)

Van Buren Co. at Whitwell

#6 Coffee Co. 62
Warren Co. 37
(District 6-4A)

Boys
#3 Clay Co. 64
#1 Pickett Co. 23
(CCHS: Grant Strong 32 points, 13 rebounds)
(PCHS: Held to 5 points in first half)

Cookeville 49
Wilson Central 40
(District 9-4A)
(CHS: Joshua Heard 24)

Stone Memorial 53
Cumberland Co. 48
(District 7-3A)
(SMHS: Matthew Bilbrey 17)
(CCHS: Kole Torres & Carson Conaster 16 each)

DeKalb Co. 61
White Co. 45
(District 7-3A)
(DCHS: Elishah Ramos 19)

#6 Jackson Co. 69
Monterey 57
(District 5-2A)
(JCHS: Ramon Cuevas 21)
(MHS: Brandon Dillon 18, Collin Fowler 14)

Livingston Academy 50
Macon Co. 49
(District 7-3A)
(LA: Coach Jimmy Miller 250 Coaching Wins)

Van Buren Co. at Whitwell

Coffee Co. 50
Warren Co. 38
(District 6-4A)