The Mt. Pleasant Tigers, fresh off a season opening win over Zion Christian Academy, came and renewed an old rivalry with the Cornersville Bulldogs, who were coming off a road loss in their season opener at Culleoka.

The Tigers, led by the 22-point effort from Kentra Frierson, rolled over the Bulldogs by the score of 66-41.

The Bulldogs played with only eight players in the loss at Culleoka, but were aided Thursday night by the addition of football players, who finished their season last Friday night at Huntingdon.

“It was nice to get the football guys in there for depth and size even though they only had one practice,” Cornersville coach Peyton Newton said. “I liked our effort against Culleoka in our first game, we just didn’t have the depth or size to compete the whole game.”

The opening tip was controlled by the Tigers, but a missed shot and a Cornersville rebound gave the Bulldogs a chance to draw first blood when Michael Ashley promptly buried a three-pointer for a 3-0 lead.

The lead was short-lived as Tip Marlow canned a three pointer for Mt. Pleasant and after a Bulldog miss, Keyshaun Hudson found the range for a three-point goal and the Tigers were up 6-3.

Eli Welch came off the bench for the Bulldogs and made an immediate contribution, making two baskets and blocking shot.

Hudson helped maintain the lead for the Tigers with another basket and Mt. Pleasant began to turn up the defensive pressure on the Bulldogs that buoyed the Tigers to score the last six points of the quarter with baskets from Marlow, Jacob Smith, and Hudson to lead 15-9 at the end of the first period.

The second quarter saw the Tigers start to adjust to the three-two zone that Newton’s charges were employing as Frierson began firing from the corner and baskets by Collyn Foshee, Kayne Forest, and Marlow pushed the Tigers’ lead to 23-9.

A driving basket by Cornersville’s Khi Canty was wiped off on a charging foul and the Bulldogs continued to be pressured on both ends of the court.

Welch added a basket and a free throw for the Bulldogs and Canty canned a basket and a free throw for the Tigers.

Ashley tallied the Bulldogs’ last point of the first quarter with a free throw.

Frierson found his range in the second quarter as he poured in eight points and when the halftime buzzer sounded, the Tigers led the Bulldogs 32-16.

The third quarter began with the Tigers getting the ball and Frierson buried a three-pointer from deep in the corner.

Mason Calahan showed he can make the adjustment from football to basketball easily as he sliced down the lane for two baskets, sandwiched around another basket from Frierson.

“Mason (Calahan) had a very good game and when you consider only having a day to prepare, he didn’t show much rust,” Newton said. “He will help us is many ways right away.”

“And Eli (Welch) is a difference maker with his length. He takes up space in our zone, he grabs rebounds above everyone, and we want to feed him when we can because he can finish around the basket. It’s just getting them into basketball shape, and that will happen in time.”

Bryce Woodard canned a three for the Bulldogs, but Frierson was on fire as he posted 11-out-of-14 points by the Tigers in the quarter.

Calahan made two more baskets to score eight points for the Bulldogs in the third period before the horn sounded with the Tigers holding a 46-28 lead.

The fourth quarter saw the Tigers add to the lead and Frierson continuing to fire away.

The Bulldogs were showing signs of heavy legs, especially from the football players, but they continued to fight as time and short falling shots would not allow them to close the gap.

Newton’s team showed much promise of better days to come.

“We have preached since Day One this summer of teamwork and attitude,” Newton said. “We are trying to create a culture of encouragement and brotherhood amongst our guys.”

The addition of the football players with their grit and determination will serve the Bulldogs well as late fall turns to winter.

“We had nine guys work their tails off during football season and then Wednesday the football players joined in and they have bought into what we are doing,” Newton stated. “It’s refreshing and encouraging, so even with two losses, we see good things and we know what we need to do as the season progresses.”

“We have a very young team overall, so it’s about developing them, and having the few older ones we have help them along the way as well.”

Mt Pleasant 15 17 14 20 - 66

Cornersville 9 7 12 13 - 41

Mt. Pleasant (66) Kentra Frierson 22, Keyshaun Hudson 13, Tip Marlow 10, Kayne Forest 8, Jacob Smith 7, Daniel James 2, Collyn Foshee 2, Demarcus Brown 1.

3-Point Goals (7): Frierson 4, Hudson, Smith, Marlow.

Free Throws (10-for-16): Forest 3-for-4, Brown 2-for-2, Smith 2-for-3, Hudson 2-for-4, Frierson 0-for-1, Marlow 1-for-2.

Cornersville (41): Eli Welch 9, Mason Calahan 8, Bryce Woodard 7, Andrew Santini 6, Michael Ashley 4, Khi Canty 4, Jackson Mitchell 3.

Three-Point Goals (3): Santini 2, Mitchell.

Free Throws (3-for-6): Ashley 1-for-2, Canty 1-for-2. Welch 1-for-2.

Halftime Score: Mt. Pleasant 32, Cornersville 16.