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DAVID HUNTER
The Cannon Courier
The Cannon County High School Basketball teams picked up their first home win of the season last week during a three-game home stand at Robert A. Harris Gymnasium over the Thanksgiving holidays. The Lionettes beat Warren County without their top player, while the Lions knocked off Johnson County in trilling fashion during the Mitch Wilson State Farm Classic.
CCHS opened the home stand on Nov. 22 against hated neighbor Warren County. The Lionettes were without their All-District star Maleah Scott, who was in street clothes because of an injury. During the first half, CCHS fell behind 28-14 at the half. However, the Lionettes came back to life late in the third quarter when they went with full court pressure and an all-freshman lineup.
"We knew we had to work hard, rebound and play good defense, be physical and get back in it," CCHS freshman Wing Kristen Fann said. She was the leading Lionettes scorer with 18 points.
They finally took the lead for good, 33-31 when one of those diaper dandies Taylor Meeks nailed a three-point bomb during the final minute of the third quarter. CCHS pulled away for good early in the fourth with a 10-0 run to start it, including another long distance shot from Kauffman. The Lionettes got their second win of the season, 59-47.
"In was in a nutshell energy," Lionettes head coach Jonathan Odom said. "WCHS was the team that should have been fatigue, playing five games in five days. As a coaching staff, we told them they are whipping our butts up and down the floor on both ends. We are the team that needs to be showing the effort. We basically told them that we were being outworked, and that is not who we are. We are not reverting to the bad habits that we had last year. They really took that message, and took control of the game in the second half.
In the boys' game against WCHS, it was a back and forth affair. With 18 seconds left in the game, the Lions were down by five, but junior Lane Willis nailed a three with 11 seconds left to make the score, 71-68. The Pioneers missed two free throws with 9.5 seconds left, and fellow junior Lionette Trey Fann hit a layup at the buzzer to send the game into overtime. However, WCHS held on for the 83-76 win.
On the day after Thanksgiving during the first day of the 2016 Mitch Wilson State Farm Classic, the Lionettes fell to Cookeville 63-44, while the Lions played another tight game this time against Johnson County. Fann was once again the hero both on offense and defense, including causing a five second violation by guarding the Longhorns inbounds pass with 11 seconds left. He then connected on a jumper from the foul line with three seconds remaining to put the Lions ahead, 71-70.
"You always got to have confidence, but it was a last-ditch effort," Fann said. "The win was much needed."
The Longhorns tried to drive down the floor during the last seconds of the game, but junior Austin Duggin stole the ball to preserve the Lions first win of the season as time ran out.
"I was really trying to deflect the three from him, but I really was not trying to get the steal," Duggin said.
CCHS both fell during the final day of the Mitch Wilson State Farm Classic on Nov. 26 as the Lionettes lost 57-45 to Red Boiling Springs, while the Lions lost to Smyrna, 69-58.
Both teams opened district play at state power Upperman on Dec. 2, and they host Smith County on Dec. 6 with tipoff at 6 p.m.
CCHS Scorers
Nov. 22 Warren County 83, Lions 76 OT
Lions- Austin Duggin- 18, Brandon Miles- 15, Trey Fann 13, Charlie Parrish-10, Cole George-9, Lane Willis-4, Anton Knox-3, Blake Bush-3, Dalton Hills- 1
Lionettes 59, Warren County 47
Lionettes- Kristen Fann- 20, Taylor Meeks-13, Madison Gaither-9, Tori Knox-9, Anna Grace Sissom-5, Olivia Walkup- 2, Jessie Kauffman-1
Nov. 25 Lions 71, Johnson County 70
Lions- Cole George- 19, Trey Fann- 17, Brandon Miles-11, Charlie Parrish-9, Austin Duggin-9, Anton Knox-2, Lane Willis- 2, Dalton Hillis-2.
Cookeville 63, Lionettes 44
Lionettes- Jessie Kauf-fman-13, Olivia Walkup-10, Anna Grace Sissom-6, Tori Knox- 5, Kristen Fann-4, Madison Gaither-3, Taylor Meeks-3.
Nov. 26 Smyrna 69, Lions 58
Lions- Brandon Miles- 16, Austin Duggin-15, Trey Fann- 12, Cole George-11, Charlie Parrish-3, Dalton Hillis-1
Red Boiling Springs 57, Lionettes 45
Lionettes- Jessie Kauf-fman-11, Taylor Meeks 10, Olivia Walkup-8, Maleah Scott 8, Kristen Fann-6, Anna Grace Sissom-2.
