Sycamore's Izzy McPherson and Cheatham's Torrin Pfeffer prep for the tip (Photo: The Post)
The Cheatham County Cubs came to Pleasant View on Friday, December 10, 2023, for the first of two scheduled War Eagles-Cubs matchups. The anticipated game packed the house as expected.
The Lady War Eagles and Lady Cubs hit the hardwoods first, with Sycamore gaining first possession on the tip. While the first two minutes remained scoreless, a Sycamore turnover led to the Lady Cubs' first points of the game- an easy layup by junior Montana Lee. When senior Macie Harter attempted Cheatham's next bucket, it was met by a clean block from Sycamore senior Izzy McPherson. On the inbound, Cheatham sophomore Gracie Weakley sunk an easy bank, giving the Lady Cubs a 4-0 lead. A McPherson assist to fellow senior Gaibri Allen put the War Eagles on the board, but a quick foul sent Harter to the line to sink two.
Sycamore began finding their footing after sophomore Belle Gwen fired back with a nothing-but-net three, putting the War Eagles within one. Later in the quarter, another block by McPherson prevented Cheatham from scoring again in the first quarter.
Sycamore sophomore Belle Gwyn guards Cheatham's Montana Lee, junior, on Friday night (Photo: The Post)
Determined to lead the way in the start of the second, McPherson wasted no time in dropping a three. Steadily building upon their momentum, the War Eagles closed out the half with a 21-14 lead. In the third quarter, both Cheatham and Sycamore were held to just four points each, closing it out 25-18.
Slowly, in the fourth, the Lady Cubs began creeping back into the game. After two critical free throws were missed by Sycamore, the two points made by Lee that followed put the Cubs ahead by one with just 15 seconds left. In a hurry to sneak in one more basket to secure the win, Sycamore turned over the ball, allowing no chance for recovery.
"It was a game that Sycamore dictated to us," said Cheatham Head Coach Jim Gibbs. "They controlled the flow of the game and outplayed us for most of the night. We were able to force some tunrovers in the fourth quarter that allowed us to get a little rhythm on the defensive end. We called a timeout late, and Coach Hunter made some modifications in how we normally run the play and the players executed the final play exactly the way it was drawn up; we were able to get a defensive stop on the next posession and get away with the win."
Final Score: 30-29, Cheatham
Cheatham Leaders: M. Lee- 12 points; M. Harter- 10 points
Sycamore Leaders: I. McPherson- 11 points; G. Allen- 10 points
Exactly like the game before theirs, the boys went scoreless for almost the first two minutes before sophomore Hicks Hunter netted two from an assist by junior Lucas Morris. As the seconds dwindled, Morris sunk a three, allowing Sycamore to close out the quarter with a 12-5 lead.
Cheatham found more ambition in the second quarter, and Sycamore struggled to take control. While the War Eagles maintained a small lead for most of the second, Cheatham junior John Bumpus sunk a three with just over a minute left to give the Cubs a momentary lead (18-17) before junior Brayden Bracey struck back with two, closing out the half, 19-18.
Sycamore junior Daegan Allen and Cheatham's junior Bryson Williams (Photo: The Post)
"We came out flat and lacked intensity in the first half," Sycamore Head Coach Fisher Bailey said. "Going in to halftime, we knew we had to make some adjustments and turn up the pressure.
Whatever Coach Bailey said in the locker room seemed resonate, and the War Eagles came out recharged, ready for a productive third quarter.
Putting up more points in the third quarter (23) than they did in the first two combined, Sycamore appeared unstoppable in their newfound momentum; they closed out the quarter with a 42-26 lead. In the fourth, both teams tallied another 15 points but it was not nearly enough for the Cubs who ultimately fell with a final score of 57-41.
"We played like we were supposed to play and were able to have a productive second half," Bailey said of his team that shot 88-percent from the foul line and 42-percent from the three-point line.
Sycamore's Owen McMahan, sophomore, guards Cheatham's John Bumpus, junior, on Friday night (Photo: The Post)
The intensity and emotional charge of the matchup, that included three technicals and an intentional foul, did not go unaddressed by Sycamore's coach. "One thing we are going to have to improve on is maintaining our composure when facing adversity; we need to stay disciplined no matter what is happening in the game," he said. "We have set a very high standard for our team and we have to make sure we are reaching that standard no matter who the opponent is or what the energy/atmosphere is like. Playing with poise is a must every time we step on the floor."
Final Score: 57-41, Sycamore
Sycamore Leaders: D. Allen- 11 points; H. Hunter- 11 points; B. Bracey- 10 points
The Cubs and the War Eagles will face each other once again on Friday night (December 15, 2023) at Cheatham County Central High School. The games will begin with junior varsity girls at 3:30PM.
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