Wednesday Around UC Sports Nation: Cookeville Wins Marlin Christmas Classic

The Cookeville Cavaliers went to Panama City Beach having lost three of their previous four games heading into the Marlin Christmas Classic. The Cavaliers, however, showed no signs of being in a slump, as they reeled off three wins in three days to claim the tournament championship. Joshua Heard scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Cavs (9-8) to a 65-56 victory over Spain Park, AL, on Wednesday to win the title. Cookeville also beat Pleasant Grove, AL, 67-51, and the tournament host, Arnold, FL, 62-36, en route to the championship. D.J. Potts Heard added 17 points in Wednesday’s championship win.

Now riding a three-game win streak, Cookeville returns home to prepare for district play. Before their district opener against Green Hill on January 11, the Cavs will travel to York Institute on Tuesday, January 4, and host White County on Friday, January 7.

Meanwhile, the Pickett County Bobcats completed a three-game sweep at the Innisfree Hotels Tournament in Pensacola Beach, FL, with a 68-29 rout of Wayne County on Wednesday. The win earned the Bobcats (13-3) the championship in their division. Zach Amonett led all scorers with 26 points.

In girls’ action, the Clarkrange Lady Buffaloes were a perfect 3-0 at the Innisfree Hotels Tournament, and captured their division championship, after a 58-28 win over Gulf Breeze, FL, on Wednesday. The Lady Buffaloes (13-2) bested Breckinridge, KY, 57-53, to open tournament play on Monday, then followed with a 54-42 victory over Vicksburg, MS, on Tuesday. With the win, Clarkrange has seven wins in their last eight games, and will travel to Crossville to play Cumberland County, next Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Ellie Butler scored 13 points and led the Livingston Academy Lady Wildcats to a 49-34 victory over Summerville, SC, at the Carolina Invitational in Charleston, SC. The win was the eighth in a row for the Lady Wildcats (13-1), who wrap up tournament play today against Cannon, NC.

The Cookeville Lady Cavaliers opened play in the Tampa Bay Invitational with a 51-36 win over Gulf Coast, FL. Jamie Gillies led the Lady Cavs (14-0) with 14 points, while Emma Webb added 12. Cookeville will have Thursday off, then will return to the court to take on Union, OK, in the tournament semifinals, Friday at 11:00 a.m. CST.

The Upperman Lady Bees are a step closer to winning the championship at the Andrew Johnson Bank Classic in Greeneville. Abigail Johnson scored 23 points and grabbed six rebounds as the Lady Bees (12-1) edged Oak Ridge, 46-44. Upperman will play Greeneville in the semifinals, this evening at 6:30 p.m. CST.

Here’s Wednesday’s scoreboard and a look at scheduled tournament games for Thursday:

Girls
Clarkrange 58
Gulf Breeze, FL 28
(Innisfree Hotels Pensacola Beach Tournament)
CHS: Wins Tournament Division Championship

Gleason 57
Clay Co. 41
(Richland Christmas Classic)

Cookeville 51
Gulf Coast, FL 36
(Tampa Bay Invitational)
CHS: Now 14-0; Will play Union, OK in the semifinals Friday at 11 a.m. CST

Cumberland Co. 72
North Port, FL 22
(Tampa Bay Invitational)
CCHS: Will play Booker, FL in the semifinals Friday at 11 a.m. CST

DeKalb Co. 57
Gallatin 56
(AFLAC Shootout – Watertown)
DCHS: Ella VanVranken GW shot at the buzzer; Will play Pearl Cohn today at 3 p.m. in their last game of the Shootout

Livingston Academy 49
Summerville, SC 34
(Carolina Invitational)
LA: Will play Cannon, NC, today at 9:30 a.m.

Upperman 46
Oak Ridge 44
(Andrew Johnson Bank Ladies Classic)
UHS: Will play Greeneville in the semifinals today at 6:30 p.m.

Warren Co. 73
Wesley Chapel, FL 20 (Tampa Bay Invitational)
WCHS: Will play Newsome, FL in the semifinals Friday at 6:30 p.m. CST

Boys
Harlan, KY 56
Clay Co. 54
(Monticello, KY Bank Classic)

Cookeville 65
Spain Park, AL 56
(Marlin Christmas Classic Championship)
CHS: Wins Tournament Championship

DeKalb Co. 52
Community 49 (OT)
(AFLAC Shootout – Watertown)
DCHS: Will play Moore Co. today at 4:30 p.m. in their last game of the Shootout

Trousdale Co. 59
Livingston Academy 45
(AFLAC Shootout – Watertown)
LA: Will play Eagleville today at 4:30 p.m. in their last game of the Shootout

Pickett Co. 68
Wayne Co. 29
(Innisfree Hotels Pensacola Beach Tournament)
PCHS: Wins Tournament Division Championship

Stone Memorial 77
Maryville 75
(Renasant Bank Classic – Maryville)
SMHS: Will play Fulton for tournament championship today

White Co. 55
Bell County, KY 54
(Innisfree Hotels Pensacola Beach Tournament)

York Institute 74
Allen Co., KY 54
(South Central Bank Halston Classic – Scottsboro, KY)

Thursday, December 30
Girls
DeKalb Co. vs. Pearl Cohn (AFLAC Shootout – Watertown) 3:00 p.m.
Livingston Academy vs. Cannon, NC (Carolina Invitational) 9:30 a.m.
Upperman vs. Greeneville (Andrew Johnson Bank Ladies Classic – Semifinals) 6:30 p.m.
White Co. vs. Prestonwood Christian, TX (Cactus Jam) 3:45 p.m. (3rd Place Game)

Boys
Cumberland Co. vs. Woodward, OH (Tampa Bay Invitational) 3 p.m.
DeKalb Co. vs. Moore Co. (AFLAC Shootout – Watertown) 4:30 p.m.
Livingston Academy vs. Eagleville (AFLAC Shootout – Watertown) 4:30 p.m.
Stone Memorial vs. Fulton (Renasant Bank Classic Championship – Maryville) 5:45 p.m.