JACKSON -- Kayla Hudson and Zeinab Chan each scored 19 points and top-ranked Union University shot 53 percent from the field, posting a 78-45 victory over Cumberland University Thursday night at Fred DeLay Gymnasium.

Cumberland (8-10, 1-5 TranSouth) put together an 11-0 run late in the first half but gave up a 3-pointer just before the break and trailed 40-26 at intermission. A five-minute spell without a bucket midway through the second half allowed Union (19-0, 6-0) to put the game away with a 13-0 spurt.

The Bulldogs committed 16 turnovers in the contest, which turned into 15 points for the home team. Union also outscored CU, 42-12, in the paint, using a great size advantage and 15 offensive rebounds to control the game around the bucket.

Yalonda Davis scored 16 points for lead the Bulldogs, while Casie Cowan added 11 points.

Lavanda Ross netted 15 points for Union and Hope Adams added 13, including nine of the first 14 points for the game for UU.

The Bulldogs hung tough early and trailed 12-9 after a pair of Jessica Pace free throws six minutes into the game. But Union put together a 16-0 run over the next five-plus minutes, with Hudson capping the spurt with a 3-pointer from the wing.

Cumberland trailed by as many as 22 points in the period but strung together an 11-0 run of its own just before the half with five points from Davis and four by Cowan.

Ross hit a 3-pointer for Union just before the halftime buzzer, giving the home team a 40-26 lead at intermission. Ross scored 10 points in the half and Adams and Chan both netted nine. Cowan led the Bulldogs with nine points in the period, while Davis added seven.

Cumberland plays the second of three straight road games Saturday at Martin Methodist at 2 p.m. and then next Thursday at Fisk University before returning home Saturday, January 29 to face Mid-Continent at 2 p.m. at the Dallas Floyd Recreation Center.

From Post staff reports
PORTLAND -- Lebanon High's basketball teams picked up a District 9AAA sweep at Portland High Tuesday night. The Devilettes improved to 9-6 overall and 2-4 in the district with a 53-37 win over the Lady Panthers.

Senior Marissa Jennings scorched the nets for 24 points while guard Lulia Fox ripped three 3-pointers and finished with 14.

The Blue Devils got a 21-point effort from post man Cameron High en route to a 66-42 win over the Panthers. LHS (6-12 / 1-5) saw Hunter Christian drill three 3-pointers and finish with 20 while Shaq Cragwall and Cody Yarbrough each had nine points.

Lebanon will host Beech High for homecoming Friday, Jan. 21. Girls action tips-off at 6:30 p.m.

SMITH CO. SWEEPS WATERTOWN
CARTHAGE -- Class AA Smith County swept a pair of non-district games from Watertown Tuesday night.

The Purple Tigerettes fell to 11-7 overall with a 40-35 loss in the opener. Morgan Gartner had 11 for Watertown in the loss.

The nightcap found Smith County pulling away in the second half for a 67-53 victory. Watertown (7-7) was led by 14 points each from KeAnDre Bates and Marcieo Gaines.

The Tiger teams visit Trousdale County High Firday, Jan. 21 in a District 8A doublehader.

BEARS THROTTLE WILSON CENTRAL
Mt. Juliet's boys played a smothering defense Tuesday night in a 42-26 win at Wilson Central High.

No Wildcat reached double figures in the loss while Mt. Juliet's Caleb Chowbay led all scorers with 20 points. Mt. Juliet improved to 13-5 overall and 4-2 in District 9AAA while Central slipped to 13-5  / 4-2.

Wilson Central visits Hendersonville Friday night while Mt. Juliet plays at Station Camp.

FIRST LOSS OF YEAR FOR WILSON CENTRAL

By TOMMY BRYAN
Down 16-8 early, Mt. Juliet's Lady Bears rallied for a 57-45 road win over previously undefeated Wilson Central Tuesday night. Coach Chis Fryer's team improved to 17-2 overall / 6-2 in District 9AAA with the victory while Central fell to 14-1 / 5-1.

"Wilson Central came out hot, scoring almost at will," Fryer said after the game, "I told our kids to calm down, they'd cool off a little and we could make a run."

Make a run they did as Mt. Juliet responded with a 10-run to lead, 18-16, then held off a Wilson Central charge for a narrow 30-29 lead headed into intermission.

A 3-pointer by Central's Sydney Vanlandingham tied the score at 34-all at the 3:17 mark of the third period, but it was all Mt. Juliet the rest of the way.

Junior post Caya Williams paced Mt. Juliet with 20 points while point guard Helen Mitchner added 12, including a 6-of-8 effort at the line in the fourth quarter.

Central's Vanlandingham led all scorers with 23, including four 3-pointers. Heather Hall added three 3-pointers and finished with nine points.

Mt. Juliet visits Station Camp Friday, Jan. 21 while Central plays at Hendersonville.

LEBANON -- Cumberland University's Michael Sweat has been named the TranSouth Conference's weekly Player of the Week for the week ending January 16.

Sweat, a 6-foot-7 junior forward from Gallatin, led the Bulldogs to a 2-0 week.

The Columbia State transfer averaged 19 points and five rebounds in his first two starts for the Bulldogs. He shot 12-20 (60%) from the field, hit 6-11 (54%) from three-point range, and hit all eight of his free throw attempts.

His top game came in 75-59 win over Trevecca Saturday, Jan. 15 when he scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Sweat has reached double figures in scoring in five of the last six games.

Cumberland is now 7-7 on the season and are tied for second in the TranSouth at 3-1.

The Bulldogs of Coach Lonnie Thompson return to action tonight as they host Bethel College in another TranSouth matchup.

By TOMMY BRYAN, sports editor
Lebanon High principal Myra Sloan has organized a committee to aid her in the search for a new Blue Devil head football coach. Joining Sloan on the committee are LHS assistant principal Jonathan Hall, former NFL player and local TYFA organizer Mike Jones, longtime Lebanon supporter Larry Tomlinson and Devilette basketball coach Larry Joe Inman.

Sloan, midway through her first year as LHS principal, is tasked with finding a replacement for Bobby Brown, who resigned in mid-December after nine seasons and a record of 44-51.

“I have high expectations and only quality applicants will be interviewed,” Mrs. Sloan said. “My number one priority is to hire a person of character and integrity -- someone that will be a role model and inspiration for our students.” 

The school system’s human resources department will serve as the initial point of contact for applicants, not Principal Sloan.

“For this and all other positions, we only consider applications submitted through our Wilson County Schools website,” said Mary Ann Sparks, Human Resources Supervisor for Wilson County Schools. “As those applications are received, they are reviewed for teaching credentials and work history. 

“Those applicants who are not eligible to teach under guidelines from the State Department of Education are not be included on the list which is sent to the principal.”

Here is an excerpt from the job posting: Qualified applicant must hold, or be eligible for, a valid Tennessee teaching license with 7-12 endorsement. Endorsements in English, Math, Special Education, Science or Physical Education preferred. A highly qualified status in the appropriate endorsement/content area is also required.

It is believed the job will continue to be posted online at wcschools.com and tssaa.org until it is filled. Mrs. Sparks indicated interviews of initial applicants could begin shortly.

Coach Brown’s nine-year tenure at Lebanon was the longest since Clifton Tribble retired in the mid 1960s. He was hired by former LHS principal Kip Puryear following the 2001 season to replace Ron “Moose” Marshall.

Prior to his tenure at Lebanon, Brown was an assistant coach for nine seasons at Trousdale County High where he worked under Clint Satterfield

Marshall, now the head coach at Gordonsville High, went 16-25 in four seasons (1998-2001) at Lebanon.

Prior to Marshall, Bob Dillard had four seasons as head coach of the Blue Devils (1994-1997) with a record of 18-26.

Dillard’s predecessor was Mark Medley, who in seven seasons (1987-1993) went 64-18 overall and qualified every single year for the TSSAA playoffs.

Over the last 25 years, Lebanon High has employed five head football coaches who have gone a combined 143-129, a winning percentage of .525. Removing the Medley years from the equation, Lebanon went a combined 78-102 under Dillard, Marshall and Brown over the last 17 seasons, 24 games under .500 -- a .433 winning percentage. None of the three coaches during that time frame had any head coaching experience prior to taking on the Lebanon job.

Despite the fact Lebanon is coming off four consecutive six-loss seasons, and the base salary here is well below those in neighboring Rutherford and Sumner Counties, the opening has reportedly drawn initial interest from well over 20 persons with various levels of coaching experience.

Current Lebanon High assistant coaches Eric Lawrence, Tim Lounsbury, Amariah Robb and Brody Ferrell are supervising the after school off-season weight lifting / conditioning program.