By Michael Lindsay
Girls
The White County Warriorettes wrapped up regular-season District 7-3A play Thursday evening in Sparta as they defeated Livingston Academy, 54-49.
“In this district, whether you win by 1 or 31 it’s a good win,” said White County head coach Michael Dodgen. “Livingston did a good job tonight of changing some things up defensively, and in the second half we were finally patient enough to let stuff come to us.”
Miss Basketball finalist Celeste Reed led the Warriorettes with a double-double as she recorded 22 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore guard Bella Winningham also scored in double figures with 14 points.
“A lot of people will see her 22 points and 10 rebounds, but two of Celeste’s biggest plays were hitting Piper Price and Gracie Clark on the back side for four easy points late,” said Dodgen. “She had a good all-around game. Bella Winningham knocking down back-to-back threes was big for us.”
Mallie-Gene Coleman and Ellie Butler led Livingston Academy with 16 points each.
“Mallie-Gene played really good for them tonight,” said Dodgen. “Especially from the point guard spot. It was a good challenge for us at the end of the year.”
White County controlled the early portions of the contest as the Warriorettes jumped out to a 14-4 lead with 2:55 left in the opening quarter via a pair of Ava Jones free throws. White County held a 14-6 lead after one quarter.
Livingston Academy battled within one possession in the second quarter as an Emma Poston three-pointer cut White County’s lead to 22-19 with 1:36 left until halftime.
A pair of Keely Mullins free throws with less than 20 seconds left in the second cut Livingston’s deficit to 24-22 at halftime.
Livingston tied the contest early in the third quarter as a Butler basket evened the game at 24 points each. Sparta held off Lady Wildcats through the middle portions of the third period as a pair of Winningham three-pointers gave the Warriorettes a 37-34 lead with 3:24 left in the frame.
The Lady Wildcats caught White County on the final possession of the third quarter as Coleman was fouled at the buzzer, sending her to the free-throw line for two shots to give Livingston a 41-39 lead after three periods.
Livingston held a 43-41 lead with 6:02 remaining before a Gracie Clark and-one gave Sparta a 44-43 advantage with 5:42 left.
The Lady Wildcats tied the game again at 44 points each before a Reed basket gave her team a 46-44 lead with 4:14 left. The Warriorettes held off Livingston in the final 4 minutes as baskets from Pyper Price, Reed and Clark gave White County a 52-49 lead with 34 seconds left.
“We had to rely on Pyper quite a bit tonight,” said Dodgen. “She did solid defensively and had a big basket late.”
Livingston Academy had a shot attempt down 52-49 points with 23 seconds left that fell short, resulting in a Winningham transition layup to seal White County’s 54-49 victory.
White County improves to 26-2 overall and 9-1 in District 7-3A play while Livingston Academy falls to 18-10 and 5-5 in league play.
The Warriorettes play their regular-season finale on Friday as they host Signal Mountain (17-5) and Class 3A Miss Basketball finalist Carlee Lowry, who is up for the award alongside Reed.
“To our knowledge, Celeste is the first to get that accolade here, and there’s been some really good basketball players to come through White County,” said Dodgen. “It’s a big honor for her and her family, and for our school. She was very humbled; the first people she wanted to thank after her parents were her teammates. When you’ve got that leadership from your senior, that’s a positive.”
White County (54): Celeste Reed 22, Bella Winningham 14, Gracie Clark 7, Ava Jones 4, Lakelyn Grasty 3, Ashlyn Selby 2, Pyper Price 2
Livingston Academy (49): Mallie-Gene Coleman 16, Ellie Butler 16, Keely Mullins 10, Emma Poston 3, Malllie Carwile 2, Chloe Jenkins 2
Boys
Livingston Academy picked up a key road victory in District 7-3A play Thursday evening as they won at White County, 55-50.
“It is hard to win in White County,” said Livingston head coach Jimmy Miller. “It’s one of the best atmospheres in a high school gym that I can think of. Coach Eric Mitchell’s teams play hard and they don’t go away; all the respect in the world to those guys.”
A trio of Wildcats scored in double figures Thursday as Cole Harris posted 19 points, Tucker Miller scored 15 and and Daniel Bilbrey recorded 13. Tripp Pinion led White County with 25 points.
After a back-and-forth start, Livingston Academy took a 15-11 lead at the end of the first quarter via a Harris buzzer-beating floater to end the frame.
An early second-quarter basket gave the Wildcats a 17-11 lead before White County stormed back within one point (17-16) via a Pinion layup with 4:26 left until halftime.
The Warriors tied the game at 19 points each via a Lucas Dickerson three-pointer with 3:55 left in the second quarter, but Harris answered with a basket to give Livingston a 21-19 lead. The Wildcats held a 24-19 halftime advantage.
Livingston took control of the early portions of the third quarter as they pushed their lead to 11 points (36-25) via a Miller basket with 3:48 left in the third. White County battled back in the final 3:30 of the third quarter to cut their deficit to 4 points at 38-34.
LA opened the fourth quarter with a Miller corner three-pointer to extend their lead back to 7 points at 41-34. White County responded with back-to-back baskets from Gage Stephenson and Jackson Young to cut their deficit to one possession at 41-39.
A Bilbrey free throw and Miller transition basket pushed Livingston’s lead back to two possessions at 44-39 midway through the fourth quarter.
White County stayed within two possessions for the entirety of the fourth quarter, but Livingston’s Miller went a perfect 6-6 from the free-throw line in the final minute of action to preserve his team’s 55-50 victory over the Warriors.
“I’m really proud of Tucker tonight,” said coach Miller. “He’s been under the weather and not near like he was able to do earlier. He was able to really help us at the end of that game. I don’t brag on him enough; he makes smart plays and to have him at the end, that gives our guys a lot of confidence.”
Friday’s win closes out the 2023-’24 regular season for the Wildcats at 18-11 overall and 6-4 in District 7-3A play. Livingston will be the 3 seed in the upcoming district tournament.
“We’ll still be getting in the gym and have some bumps and bruises to nurse,” said Miller. “But we have to stay ready. When we walk on the floor again, it’s win or go home.”
White County falls to 10-12 overall and 5-5 in league play and will play their final regular season game on Friday as they host Signal Signal Mountain. The Warriors are locked in to the fourth seed in the district tournament.
Livingston Academy (55): Cole Harris 19, Tucker Miller 15, Daniel Bilbrey 13, Rocco Carwile 4, Brodey Coffee 2, Wyatt Hargis 2
White County (50): Tripp Pinion 25, Cole Sims 7, Gage Stephenson 6, Lucas Dickerson 6, Lucas Smith 2, Nate Griffin 2, Jackson Young 2
