Hendersonville Standard
HENDERSONVILLE WEATHER

Strong defensive effort carries Gallatin




Gallatin’s Janaya Newsom knocks the ball from Beech guard Riley Messer before picking up the loose ball and racing to the other end for two points. ZACH WOMBLE

Gallatin’s Janaya Newsom knocks the ball from Beech guard Riley Messer before picking up the loose ball and racing to the other end for two points. ZACH WOMBLE

HENDERSONVILLE – Despite a sluggish start from the Gallatin Lady Wave, Tuesday night’s critical District 9-AAA contest ended in their favor, 54-50, thanks in large part to stellar defensive play. 

The Lady Wave found themselves down 14-0 after the first quarter and 21-5 nearly 16 minutes into the game. 

However, a 10-2 run to close out the final two minutes of the half brought the Lady Wave to within striking distance, 23-15. 

“We knew we were not going to get that 15 back in a minute, but we can chip away at it,” Gallatin head coach Jerry Landers said of the halftime deficit and slow start. “We’ve been preaching for a long time to get mentally tough and I think we showed some of that tonight. Once we got it down to eight at the break, we wanted to win the third quarter by as many as we did the second and then carry that to the fourth.”

Defensively the Lade Wave play great team defensive basketball, but it is hard to overlook the play of Janaya Newsom. One of their best defenders, Newsom routinely put Beech in bad positions in the second half resulting in easy baskets for the Green and Gold. 

“Her feet are unreal,” Landers said. “Her ability to create gaps and her understanding of how low she needs to be, how quick she is, she creates a lot of problems for point guards and we feed off that.” 

Gallatin tied the game at 30-30 in the third quarter following a Newsom three-point play the hard way, then followed that momentum shifter with a 9-4 run for their biggest lead of the game. 

The final three minutes saw two ties, including 50-50 with 27 seconds left following a Carson Sisk layup. 

Following a missed Gallatin shot, senior Jeremia Montgomery pulled down the biggest offensive rebound of the game before being fouled and sent to the free throw line with 7.9 seconds remaining. 

Montgomery sank her free throws, plus two more to seal the victory and the 7-2 record for Gallatin in league play. 

The Lady Wave are back at home Friday night for a huge game against third-place Green Hill while Beech travels to Wilson Central. 

 

District 9-AAA girls standings 

Lebanon (10-0)

Gallatin (7-2)

Green Hill (5-3)

Beech (5-4)

Hendersonville (4-4)

Station Camp (4-6)

Portland (3-7)

Wilson Central (2-7) 

Mt. Juliet (1-8)

Box Score: 

Gallatin (54): Jeremia Montgomery 15, Talor Crenshaw 7, A’Niya Boone 6, Janaya Newsom 8, Maggie Hale 8, Je’Leah Cole 5, Ed’Niya Wilks 5. 

Beech (50): Bri Ellis 24, Laci Walmer 10, Christa Dean 6, Jada Jones 4, Natasia Jones 4, Carson Sisk 2. 

Ed’Niya Wilks and Jeremia Montgomery double team Beech’s Bri Ellis on the low block. 

Ed’Niya Wilks and Jeremia Montgomery double team Beech’s Bri Ellis on the low block. 

Ed’Niya Wilks dives on the ground for a loose ball, winning possession over Laci Walmer. 

Ed’Niya Wilks dives on the ground for a loose ball, winning possession over Laci Walmer. 

Janaya Newsom calls for Je’Leah Cole to help on the screen from Loryn Oneal for Bri Ellis.  

Janaya Newsom calls for Je’Leah Cole to help on the screen from Loryn Oneal for Bri Ellis.  

Jeremia Montgomery pulls down an offensive rebound for the Lady Wave in their win over Beech Tuesday night. 

Jeremia Montgomery pulls down an offensive rebound for the Lady Wave in their win over Beech Tuesday night. 

Gallatin’s Janaya Newsom knocks the ball from Beech guard Riley Messer before picking up the loose ball and racing to the other end for two points. ZACH WOMBLE 

Gallatin’s Janaya Newsom knocks the ball from Beech guard Riley Messer before picking up the loose ball and racing to the other end for two points. ZACH WOMBLE 

Jeremia Montgomery throws up a left-handed runner during fourth quarter action at Beech High School. Gallatin won 54-50. 

Jeremia Montgomery throws up a left-handed runner during fourth quarter action at Beech High School. Gallatin won 54-50. 

Emma Donley drives towards the basket before being picked up by the double team from Beech. JOHN DECKER 

Emma Donley drives towards the basket before being picked up by the double team from Beech. JOHN DECKER 

Je’Leah Cole makes sure nothing came easy for Beech junior Bri Ellis Tuesday night. JOHN DECKER 

Je’Leah Cole makes sure nothing came easy for Beech junior Bri Ellis Tuesday night. JOHN DECKER 

 Bri Ellis steals the ball away from Gallatin’s A’Niya Boone. ZACH WOMBLE 

 Bri Ellis steals the ball away from Gallatin’s A’Niya Boone. ZACH WOMBLE 

Jada Jones runs the offense as Laci Walmer comes to set her a screen at the top of the key. 

Jada Jones runs the offense as Laci Walmer comes to set her a screen at the top of the key. 

Natasia Jones picks the pocket of Je’Leah Cole. 

Natasia Jones picks the pocket of Je’Leah Cole. 

Jada Jones closes in for a layup as Gallatin’s Janaya Newsom defends. 

Jada Jones closes in for a layup as Gallatin’s Janaya Newsom defends. 

Riley Messer puts up a runner over Gallatin’s Emma Donley. 

Riley Messer puts up a runner over Gallatin’s Emma Donley. 

Christa Dean takes the contact from Gallatin’s A’Niya Boone as she attempts the layup.

Christa Dean takes the contact from Gallatin’s A’Niya Boone as she attempts the layup.

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 Laci Walmer boxes out A’Niya Boone before pulling down an offensive rebound. 

 Laci Walmer boxes out A’Niya Boone before pulling down an offensive rebound. 

 Loryn Oneal lets one fly from distance during the Lady Bucs’ loss against Gallatin. JOHN DECKER 

 Loryn Oneal lets one fly from distance during the Lady Bucs’ loss against Gallatin. JOHN DECKER 

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