Hunter girls reach area title game

HENDERSONVILLE The unbeaten Hunter Middle School girls basketball team stormed into the Tennessee Middle School Athletic Association (TMSAA) Area 3 Tournament championship game with a 40-31 victory over West Wilson Middle School on Tuesday evening at Knox Doss Middle at Drakes Creek.

The Lady Buccaneers advanced to face Mt. Juliet – a 46-23 winner over Hawkins in Tuesday evening’s other semifinal contest – in Thursday evening’s championship game.

Hunter also earned the right to host a sub-sectional contest. Winners of sub-sectional games move on to the Middle Tennessee Sectional Tournament, which will be played next week at Murfreesboro’s Central Magnet School.

There were three lead changes and a tie in the first quarter, but Lady Buccaneer guard Mia Dean ended the period by launching a 60-footer that found the net, creating an 11-7 advantage for her squad.

Dean scored seven of her team-high 14 points in the opening period.

Six different players scored in the second stanza as Hunter extended its lead to 25-16 by halftime.

The margin was still at seven points (32-25) entering the final period.

The Lady Buccaneers (17-0) made 10 of 18 free-throw attempts, with four of those conversions coming in the fourth quarter, to help them hold on.

Jana Claire Swafford backed Dean’s offensive production with eight points, and both Keonna Chumbly and Laci Walmer scored five points.

The backcourt tandem of Teoria Woods (15 points) and Sydnee Richetto (9) led the Lady Wildcats (9-8) offensively.

The loss forced West Wilson to face Hawkins in Thursday afternoon’s championship game.

WEST WILSON (31) – Teoria Woods 15, Sydnee Richetto 9, Sydney Dalton 4, Taylor Allen 2, Nicole Brill 1.

HUNTER (40) – Mia Dean 14, Jana Claire Swafford 8, Keonna Chumbly 5, Laci Walmer 5, Ryleigh Piotto 4, Mariah Green 2, Teagan Vieth 2.

Half: 25-16, Hunter. Three-point goals: West Wilson 1 (Richetto 1), Hunter 2 (Dean 2). Records: West Wilson 9-8, Hunter 17-0.