TCHS boys fall to Westmoreland, Jackson County

WESTMORELAND — The Trousdale County High School boys basketball team suffered a 53-31 loss to eighth-ranked Westmoreland on Jan. 26.

The two teams played in Hartsville on Jan. 5, with the Eagles winning 52-38.

In the rematch, the Yellow Jackets got off to a hot start as they put up the first eight points of the contest, but the momentum shifted in the second quarter as TCHS trailed 22-16 at halftime.

The visitors were outscored by 16 points in the second half in the program’s fourth consecutive setback to coach Cherie Abner’s boys.

“They were such a tough match-up,” TCHS head coach Ryan Sleeper said. “I felt we had a great game plan coming in and exposed them in the first quarter, but after that, the wheels fell off.

“We still don’t look right offensively after our snow break, so that’s something we are focusing on in practice.”

For the third time this year, the Yellow Jackets did not have a player score in double figures.

Senior Jake Fergusson managed eight points, while classmates Cole Gregory, Kobyn Calhoun and Dalton Stafford provided seven, six and four, respectively. Cooper Henley, Titus Mitchell, and Cain Ray chipped in two points each.

• On Monday evening, Trousdale County traveled to Gainesboro and fell to the Blue Devils, 60-44.

Jackson County won the two teams’ earlier in Hartsville meeting by a 59-48 score on Dec. 15.

The score was tied at 23 at halftime before the visitors were outscored by 16 over the final two quarters.

“We competed well for a half, but we have struggled since that break to put together four quarters,” Sleeper said. “I believe most of it to be mental, so we will have to get over the hurdle together.”

Fergusson tossed in 14 points, and Calhoun had 12. Gregory scored eight. Stafford produced five points, Mitchell two, Jake Malmin two and Gavin Linville one.

The Yellow Jackets travel to Wilson Central on Monday before entertaining Monterey for homecoming on Thursday and then traveling to Liberty Creek on Friday.