Yellow Jackets drop a pair

The Trousdale County High School boys’ basketball team opened District 6-2A action on Jan. 5 with a 52-38 loss to visiting Westmoreland.

It was the Jackets third consecutive loss to head coach Cherie Abner’s program.

The Trousdale County boys trailed 21-19 at the half but were outscored by 12 points in the second half.

“We shot ourselves in the foot with 21 turnovers,” TCHS head coach Ryan Sleeper said. “(You) can’t have that and expect to beat great teams. We have to take care of the ball to have a chance against teams in this district.”

Senior Kobyn Calhoun scored a team-high 14 points, and T.C. Rotella had a career-high of eight points. Dalton Stafford and Jake Fergusson scored seven and five points, respectively, and both Cole Gregory and Titus Mitchell provided two points.

• The following night, the Yellow Jackets traveled to Gordonsville for their third game of the season with the Tigers and suffered a 52-44 loss.

The visitors were outscored in every quarter, suffering their second loss of the year to head coach Greg Bibb’s squad.

“I thought we played pretty good being a little short-handed,” Sleeper said. “I thought Jake and Kobyn played well offensively, but I have to do a better job manufacturing touches for Cole and Dalton. They have to score as well for us to win.”

Fergusson led all scorers with 22 points. Calhoun added 11 points, Gregory five and Cooper Henley two.

Trousdale County fell to 4-10.

After road games at Merrol Hyde Magnet and White House Heritage this week, TCHS will host district foe Liberty Creek on Friday.

The TCHS alumni games have been moved to Feb. 3, starting at 6 p.m.