Stories from Friday, December 20, 2013

Despite stumbling down the stretch, the Cornersville Lady Bulldogs (5-2, 2-1 District) defeated Mt. Pleasant for the 14th straight time on Tuesday night when they edged the Lady Tigers 54-51 at home. The Lady Bulldogs held 46-31 lead midway through the fourth quarter and appeared to have the game in hand, but were forced to operate without starting center Ashley Umbles and guard Breanne Umbles during crunch time after both players fouled out a short time later.

The Forrest Rockets took several shots on the chin Monday night in Santa Fe, but hung tough the entire contest to claim a bruising 66-50 win. There were 51 fouls whistled in the game and 51 free throws attempted with Forrest going 14-29, while Santa Fe managed only nine makes in 22 tries. "It was a very physical game and it always is coming over here," said Forrest head coach Wes Hobbs. "I am real proud of our post play, we were really able to get it inside and they were putting it up and finishing and they are starting to understand that this opens up the shots, opens up the driving lanes and really gets our offense going."

The Cornersville Middle School Lady Bulldogs (12-4) ended the 2013 campaign in fitting fashion, as they pulled out a thrilling 36-34 overtime victory against the Fayetteville Lady Tigers at home in their season finale. Fayetteville (10-8) had CMS on the ropes after taking a 31-28 lead in the waning moments of the fourth quarter, but the Lady Bulldogs scored three points in the final 20 seconds of regulation thanks to a free throw and a layup by center Morgan Terry to send the game into overtime tied at 31-31.

Although they turned in a strong first half performance, the Cornersville Middle School Bulldogs (10-6) were unable to keep pace with Fayetteville for four quarters, as CMS dropped a 37-30 decision to the Tigers at home in their season finale. Cornersville held a 20-18 lead at the break, but the Bulldogs saw their offense bog down in the second half while Fayetteville outscored CMS 19-10 over the final two quarters to take home the seven-point victory.

The Forrest Rocket wrestling team finished the first half of the season in style, routing Sycamore 54-15 in Chapel Hill Monday night. With the win, the Rockets go to Christmas break with an impressive 15-3 record and a ton of confidence. "The first half of the season has gone well and the biggest advantage we have had in this first half of the season has been numbers," said Forrest head coach Kyle Stacey. "We have had the ability to move wrestlers around and put them in a position/weight class that gives the team the best chance of winning."

The Lewisburg Middle School Tigers (7-4) completed the season sweep of E.O. Coffman on Monday night by defeating the Panthers 50-38 at home. E.O. Coffman, meanwhile, got the better of LMS in the girls' game, as the Lady Panthers thumped the Tigerettes 43-23 to capture the regular season series between the two teams.

The Marshall County Tigers showed some true early season grit Tuesday night at Columbia Central, coming back from a 17-point fourth quarter deficit before falling in overtime 82-69. "I am proud of the no-quit attitude, but I am not into moral victories when we lose," said MCHS head coach Adrian Wilson. "We put ourselves in a big hole throughout the game. We only had one good quarter and we can't play that way and expect to win. The missed layups and free throws really hurt us. Hopefully, these young guys will learn from this and it will make us better in the long run."

The Forrest Lady Rockets, minus an ill Savannah Brothers traveled to Santa Fe Monday night where they fell behind and could never catch up as the Lady Wildcats won 61-52, busting the Chapel Hill girls' five-game winning streak. "I think not having Brothers here had a little to do with it, but not enough to make a big difference," said FHS head coach Jeremy Jean. "We never got into a rhythm because they made us play faster than we wanted to play and that is hard to do. They made us take rushed shots and when that happens, you shoot 18-63."

Rockvale (4-5) handed the Lewisburg Middle School Tigerettes their second straight loss on Wednesday night when the Lady Ravens defeated LMS 29-20 in the first round of the Chargers Christmas Invitational at Oakland Middle School. With starting forward and second leading scorer Sydne Solomon unable to play due to an ankle injury, the Tigerettes (5-7) spun their wheels for much of the contest, as Rockvale built a 16-4 advantage in the first half before opening up a 19-4 advantage early in the third quarter.

After advancing to the Class A State tournament last season, the Mt. Pleasant Tigers showed why many people believe they have the potential to make another deep playoff run when they rolled to a 74-42 victory over the Cornersville Bulldogs (2-5, 1-2 District) on Tuesday night at CHS. Mt. Pleasant (5-2, 3-0 District) put the game out of reach early and built a 40-14 lead in the first half before outscoring the Bulldogs 34-28 over the final two quarters to cruise to the 32-point victory.

The Marshall County Wrestling Club competed in three different tournaments in two states last Saturday. The club continues to improve, piling up 25 wins over the weekend as the grapplers took home eight medals, including two championships. With the season just beginning, the MCWC looks toward another campaign of growth, development, and success.

The Marshall County Tigerettes saw a slight glimmer of hope before being mauled 65-29 at Columbia Central Tuesday night. The Tigerettes played inspired to begin the contest, leading 9-8 after the first quarter. Christy Pettigrew scored with 6:06 remaining in the second period to give MCHS a 15-14 lead before the floodgates opened on the Tigerettes.

Lillian Calvert Leonard, 79, of Chapel Hill, died Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013. A native of Marshall County, Mrs. Leonard was the daughter of the late Flurnoy Calvert and M.A. Marlin Calvert. She was a homemaker. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Edward Leonard Jr., and her husband, Lavan Leonard...

Andy Brown Vaughn, 93, of the Flat Creek Community of Williamson County, died Wednesday, Dec,18, 2013, at his residence. He was a native of Marshall County and a son of the late George Anderson and Jennie Edmondson Vaughn. Mr. Vaughn was a member of the Church of Christ, where he served as song leader for over 40 years, and was a lifelong farmer...

Barbara Kaye Shackelford, 71, of Pulaski, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013, at Hillside Hospital in Pulaski. A native of Hopkinsville, Ky., Ms. Shackelford was the daughter of the late Paul Pool and Ruth Davis Pool. She was a homemaker and attended New Life Church in Lewisburg...

Harvey Roger Dickerson, 56, of Cornersville, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013, at his residence. A native of Nashville, Mr. Dickerson was the son of the late David E. Dickerson and Mary Rogers Baker of Lewisburg, who survives. He was a photographer and a former member of Southside Church of Christ...

Robert W. Richardon, 85, of Bettendorf, Iowa, died Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013, at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf. Born Jan. 4, 1928, in Pulaski, Robert was the son of Lester L. and Sara E Thurman Richardson. Robert was a veteran of World War II, serving as part of the Eighth Army occupational forces in Japan. ...

By Karen Hall Editor A Lewisburg man who was found guilty by a jury in October was sentenced last week to nearly three years in jail. William B. "Smoke" Gatlin, 42, of Holly Grove Road, was charged with possession with intent to sell not less than ½ ounce or more than 10 pounds of marijuana, a Schedule VI controlled substance. He was also charged with possession with intent to deliver a Schedule VI controlled substance, and possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia...

By Jessica Moore Staff Writer This year is the last year Eldred Allen will be putting up his Christmas lights as he has been doing every year for the last 38 years. He first started when he and his family moved to Lewisburg from Arkansas in 1975. In years past he has had as many as 50,000 Christmas lights, with a nativity scene, icicles hanging from his home, and other figurines that he and his family have enjoyed so much...

By Jessica Moore Staff Writer "Everyone has a story to tell, and I have a lot of chapters in my story," said Jimmy Gentry, 88, of Franklin, as he began talking to the U.S. History and A.P. U.S. History classes at Marshall County High School this week...

By Karen Hall Editor Cornersville Elementary students had a very special day Wednesday, the last full day of school. For the first time, staff and principal Cheryl Ewing planned a full morning of activities that saw all grades moving around the school, completing a variety of fun projects...