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Devils can't bear the Cubs

WHITE HOUSE The Cheatham County High boys basketball team had the look of a team who had been there and done that.

The top-seeded Cubs did it once again on Tuesday evening, handing No. 2 seed White House a 76-54 setback in the District 9-AA Tournament championship game at White House Heritage High School.

“We ran into a buzzsaw,” Blue Devil head coach Gary Smith said. “I think they would have handled anybody in our district the way they played tonight. They played really well. As someone said, I don’t know if it would have mattered if we had played well. They were just much better … in just about every phase of the game.

“We started out and missed several layups and got down, and we tried to (full-court) press. That just played into their hands.”

White House High senior guard Gavin Herrell dribbles into the lane as Cheatham County junior Lucas Harlan defends during first-quarter action.

White House High senior guard Gavin Herrell dribbles into the lane as Cheatham County junior Lucas Harlan defends during first-quarter action.

It was the fourth consecutive district title for Cheatham County, the last three of which have come since the program joined 9-AA.

“Success breeds success,” Smith said. “They’re still having some carryover from the success of two or three years ago. (No.) 22 is the younger (Nate) Saunders. He grew up watching his brother (Jake Saunders) and (Jordan) Darden dominate this league (during the 2013-14 season). We’ve seen that, where the school has some successful teams and then have younger brothers or sisters who say, ‘I’d like to do that some day.’

“About the time they graduate a bunch of people and you expect them to fall off, it doesn’t happen. They have a group of kids waiting in the wings.”

The regular-season meetings between the two teams were considerably closer, wins of 68-50 and 82-76 for the Cubs.

However, Cheatham County (22-4) – which has won 12 consecutive games – raced out to a 30-6 lead on Tuesday.

Cub senior guard Nate Goode made four 3-pointers in the first quarter, two of which came over the first three minutes.

Junior guard Bradley Cole scored the next five points for White House (15-14), but then, Cheatham County scored 18 unanswered points.

White House High junior forward Malik Morgan releases a first-quarter shot in the lane amidst pressure from Cheatham County senior Gage Lipscomb (at left) and junior Matthew Mayberry. Morgan scored nine points in Tuesday evening's 76-54 loss.

White House High junior forward Malik Morgan releases a first-quarter shot in the lane amidst pressure from Cheatham County senior Gage Lipscomb (at left) and junior Matthew Mayberry. Morgan scored nine points in Tuesday evening’s 76-54 loss.

The Cubs also had success in generating offense via offensive rebounds, converting on two tip-ins and three putbacks over the first 11 minutes.

“We spent a lot of time trying to keep them from going to the boards, and we haven’t stopped them yet,” Smith said.

The margin continued to swell, reaching 29 points (46-17) on senior standout Austin Douglas’ floater that fell in the final seconds of the first half.

Douglas – who was the district regular-season and tournament most valuable player – scored on three consecutive possessions in the third quarter, giving his squad its biggest lead (57-21).

Douglas finished with a game-high 33 points, and Goode provided 17 points.

Cole and freshman teammate Jared Ward made 3-pointers during a 10-0 run midway through the third quarter, but Douglas scored six of the nine points during a 9-3 surge to conclude the third period. That created a 66-34 margin entering the fourth quarter.

Cole scored a team-high 22 points.

White House High junior guard Bradley Cole dribbles to the basket as Cheatham County senior Austin Douglas defends. Cole scored a team-high 22 points.

White House High junior guard Bradley Cole dribbles to the basket as Cheatham County senior Austin Douglas defends. Cole scored a team-high 22 points.

Ward and senior point guard Luke Hopkins joined Douglas, Goode and Cheatham County junior Matthew Mayberry on the all-tournament.

“Coach (Josh) Stuart has done a great job,” Smith said. “They have a target on their back every week. They’re in a league by themselves, and then, it’s the other six (teams in 9-AA).

“It’s a credit to their players and coaches … and their whole community there. Their girls and boys swept (the championships) tonight.”

The Cubs will host Hume-Fogg for their Region 5-AA Tournament quarterfinal on Saturday evening, while the Blue Devils host East Nashville, which captured a 53-38 win over Hume-Fogg in Monday evening’s District 10-AA Tournament consolation game.

“We lost our last three regular-season games,” Smith said. “Some people said the guys were ready to quit … that they had lost their legs … that the coaches had lost them. Then, we come back and did something that White House hasn’t done in a long time, which is get to the district championship game. I’m sure there will be some things said after this.

“We’re still playing. It’s like a boxer. We’re still in the ring. Ever since the United States beat Russia in hockey (during the 1980 Winter Olympics), people believe anything can happen. We better play well on Saturday night against East Nashville, because they’re super quick and are used to winning.”

Reach Craig Harris at charris@mtcngroup.com or at 615-575-7138. Follow him on Twitter @HarrisGNESports.

WHITE HOUSE (54) – Bradley Cole 22, Malik Morgan 9, Jared Ward 9, Luke Hopkins 5, Logan Trimmer 3, Jim Headrick 2, Bryant Reynolds 2, Marquise Williams 2.

CHEATHAM COUNTY (76) – Austin Douglas 33, Nate Goode 17, Nate Saunders 9, Matthew Mayberry 8, Lucas Harlan 4, Sterlin Jenkins 2, Gage Lipscomb 2, Danny Chaleunsak 1.

Half: 46-17, Cheatham County. Three-point goals: White House 4 (Cole 2, Ward 2), Cheatham County 7 (Goode 5, Saunders 2). Records: Cheatham County 22-4, White House 15-14.

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