Look for CC on the courts during Christmas break

DAVID HUNTER
The Cannon Courier

While, most of the local students were enjoying the holiday break, the four Cannon County basketball teams had a successful week on the hardwood. Each of them picked up at least one road win, and the Middle Grade basketball team made history in the process.
The CCHS basketball teams traveled to Sparta this past week for the Sonic Shootout on the campus of White County High School. Both teams enjoyed mixed results, but they keep getting better in preparation of the meat of the district schedule after the first of the year.
The Lionettes started out the three games in three days' series against a familiar foe, Cookeville. CHS won the first meeting this season between the schools during the State Farm Mitch Wilson Classic during Thanksgiving week. Once again, CHS got the best of the Lionettes winning 60-45.
However, the Lionettes never gave up with two hard fought come from behind wins in the loser's bracket. First on Dec. 21, they defeated Bledsoe County, 63-60 in overtime, and then a day later CCHS stormed all the way back from 20 points down to defeat Trousdale County, 47-45 to improve their record to 5-7 on the season and finish in fifth place.
"I am very proud of their resiliency, and that is a staple of this group," Lionettes head coach Jonathan Odom said. "I told them after the Trousdale game that was the only positive of that game was their resiliency, then diligence, and their willingness to buckle down and play defense, battle back and win a game that quite frankly they did not deserve to win, especially with the way we played in the first quarter. We still have to improve drastically on putting together four consistent quarters."
As for the Lions, they opened Shootout with an impressive 77-74 win over Trousdale County to advance to the winner's bracket. However, it was tough sledding for CCHS as they fell in their remaining two games, 70-56 against the host White County and 66-39 to Warren County to finish the event in fourth place and drop to 2-10 on the season
Next week, CCHS will make the long trip to Pigeon Forge for two separate tournaments as the Lionettes will play in the Winterfest Shootout at Sevier County, while the Lions will compete in the King of the Smokies event. It will be their final games of the 2016 calendar year.
The CCMG basketball teams made history on Dec. 16 in White County as both the Junior Lions and Junior Lionettes swept their opponents and in the process, each of them picked up their first wins in program history.
The Junior Lionettes won 46-24, while the Junior Lions took care of business with a 48-42 victory.
"They finally played together, and cheering each other on," Junior Lions head coach Jared Nave said. "They are finally starting to come together as a team."
A few days later, both teams fell at Avery Trace, which is in Cookeville as the Junior Lions lost 51-20, and the Junior Lionettes lost 53-36.
At the halfway point of the season for the CCMG teams, both have a current record of 1-4. However, each of them are starting to get used to playing on the same team after going against each other during the Fall grammar school season.
"We are just improving every day, every game and in practice," Nave said. "You can tell they are starting to gain some confidence on what we want to do, so I am hoping results follow.
The CCMG teams will be back in action on Jan. 5 at Robert A. Harris Gymnasium against Covenant Academy with tip off the girls' game scheduled at 6 p.m. against the loser of the same game on Dec. 21 at 6:30 p.m.
Depending on how the Lions do in their first two games, they could play at 9:30 am, 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., or 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 22.
The other four teams in the men's' bracket include Cookeville, University School of Jackson, Warren County and Smith County.
After the Christmas holidays, CCHS will travel to Pigeon Forge starting on Dec. 27 to compete in two separate events. The Lions will be in one, while the Lionettes will take part in the other one.

CCHS Box Score
Dec. 9 at DeKalb
Lionettes- Maleah Scott 10, Jessie Kauffman 9, Kristen Fann 8, Anna Grace Sissom 7, Madison Gaither 6, Taylor Meeks 2.
Lions-Trey Fann 18, Cole George 9, Brandon Miles 9, Austin Duggin 9, Charlie Parrish 3, Anton Knox 2.

Dec. 13 at York
Lionettes- Maleah Scott 29, Taylor Meeks 8, Anna Grace Sissom 6, Madison Gaither 4, Kristen Fann 4.
Lions- Trey Fann 15, Charlie Parrish 9, Austin Duggin 9, Brandon Miles 6, Cole George 5, Anton Knox 2, Lane Willis 2, Dalton Hillis 2.