by Zachary Lohn
MTN Sports Reporter
February 26, 2021
The Community High School Vikings basketball team won their second straight district title on Friday night after defeating the Murfreesboro Central Magnet High School Tigers by a score of 75-62. This is the first time that the boys have won two straight district championships since they three-peated as champs from 1988-90.
The first quarter was hotly contested as all five starters for Community scored. Will Reed lead the way for the Vikings with six points off of two three pointers.
The Tigers stayed close thanks to Elijah Conard scoring 11 of the team’s 17 first quarter points including nine in a row for the tigers.
At the end of the first quarter, Community held a slim 19-17 lead.
Evan Petrie dominated the second quarter for the Vikings scoring nine of the team’s 15 points of the second quarter.
Sratton Lovorn and Will Reed both tallied multiple steals in the quarter which helped the Vikings hold the Tigers to 13 total second quarter points.
Community ended the half up 34-30 after a small run from the Tigers brought the score down back to a two-possession game.
District 12 AA’s Most Valuable Player Will Reed took over the second half for the Vikings scoring 19 of his 25 points in the third and fourth quarters.
Reed and the whole Central Magnet both scored 11 points in the third quarter. Reed also scored nine in a row for the Vikings at one point in the frame.
The Vikings were up 53-41 at the end of 3, and that was the closest that the score would get.
The Vikings took their biggest lead in the fourth quarter going up by 18 on a 4-point possession courtesy of a technical foul.
The Tigers did not stop fighting, though, getting a 5-0 run courtesy of a Jayden Hernandez layup and an and-one from Avery Lambert.
This did not affect the Vikings as Jackson Bailey and Reed combined to score 16 points in the final frame to keep Community with a double-digit lead throughout the whole quarter.
The Vikings pulled all five starters with a little under two minutes left to go in the game to a standing ovation from the home crowd. They had all 75 points for the Vikings to clinch the district championship.
Reed lead the way for the Vikings with 25 points. Petrie and Bailey also were in double figures as Petrie finished with 21 and Bailey had 18.
There were also three Tigers who finished in double digits with Conard leading the way with 18 points. Hernandez had15 and Lambert finished with 11.
The Community Vikings will host the fourth seeded Stewart County Rebels from District 11 in the Region 6 AA quarterfinals Saturday at 7 p.m.
The Murfreesboro Central Magnet Tigers will return home to face District 11 consolation winners Camden Lions in the region quarterfinals.
Central Magnet – 17 13 11 21 – 62
Community – 19 15 19 22 – 75
Central Magnet – Elijah Conard 18, Jayden Hernandez 15, Avery Lambert 11, Kyle Messerly 6, Mason Brown 6, Corey Greeson 4, Alex Perry 2, Gage Swanson.
Community – Will Reed 25, Evan Petrie 21, Jackson Bailey 18, Stratton Lovorn 9, Jacob Cooper 2, Maki Fleming, Emery Smith, Corey Patrick, Trace Broiles, Braxton Thompson, Jacob Flanagan, Jacob Harden.
3- point field goals: Central Magnet (6): Elijah Conard 4, Mason Brown 2; Community (4): Will Reed 2, Stratton lovorn, Jackson Bailey.
Halftime score: Community 34, Central Magnet 30.