The Forrest Rockets were mired in a 15-game losing streak coming into Tuesday night’s District 12-AA contest at Nolensville, but they had played the Knights tough in their first meeting, losing by just four points at Chapel Hill on January 22.

After spotting the Knights nine unanswered points to start the game and a 14-6 lead at the end of the first quarter, Forrest turned the tables.

“In our first part of the district schedule we started out games great, now it's kind of reversed and we've been struggling to get started,” Forrest coach Corey Bishop said. “We are seeking to improve on all aspects of the game and play four strong quarters from here on out.”

The Rockets used a huge 19-point second period that included two Brennan Mealer 3-pointers, five points each by Andrew Timmons and CJ Sanchez, plus four points in the low post by Walker Herring to cut the Nolensville lead to two points at 27-25 at the half.

“I was very proud of the way we battled back in the second quarter,” Bishop said. “We just had to settle down and get into our style on offense and defense.”

“I thought we did a great job of competing, while playing in a tough environment.”

The second half started with a Deason Jones drive to then hoop to tie the game and they finally went ahead 37-36 on a Sanchez bucket with just over three minutes remaining in the third period.

Keidron Batey scored for Nolensville to retake the lead before Hunter Bennett rained home a 3-pointer for the Rockets, making it 40-38.

Grady Powers hit one-of-two from the free throw line for the Knights moments later, but the Rockets responded with a Herring rebound and put-back and a Timmons bucket late in the stanza to take a 44-39 lead to the final quarter.

Nolensville scored to open the fourth quarter and Timmons made two free throws for the Rockets.

After a Batey bucket made it 46-43 there was no scoring for several minutes until Max McAlister drilled a 3-pointer for the Knights to tie the game with 3:50 remaining in the contest.

Timmons was fouled again and he swished both charity shots before Riley Byron scored on a three-point play the old-fashioned way, putting the Knights in front 49-48 with 2:14 left in the game.

Nolensville got the ball back on a blocked shot and Byron went to the free throw line and canned both ends of a one-and-one situation to give the Knights a three-point lead with 32 seconds left.

“We played strong in the fourth quarter,” Bishop said. “We kept attacking the basket and feeding the ball down low to Walker, which I believe is where we will be most successful late in games is getting the ball in the paint.”

A Forrest missed shot at the other end sent the Knights back to the free throw to try to ice the game, but they missed and the Rockets had a chance, but could not convert and Batey did put it away with two free throws to seal the five-point win.

“We had some good opportunities late in the fourth but just couldn't cash them in,” Bishop said. “Give them credit for knocking down some clutch free throws at the end.’

“We still had a chance to tie the game with six seconds left which is a testament to our guys for competing.”

The Rockets (2-17, 0-9) host Giles County (2-12, 2-7) for senior night on Friday while Nolensville (11-9, 4-3) travels to Lewisburg where the Tigers (14-5, 8-1) will win the district title with a win over the Knights.

“I think they want to win really badly and want to play well at home,” Bishop said about Friday’s senior night contest.” “I am very proud of the way (seniors) Cole (Perryman), C.J., and Walker have represented Forrest basketball this year and in years' past and we want them to have those memorable senior night moments with their teammates and families.”

Forrest 6 19 19 4-48

Nolensville 14 13 12 14-53

Forrest (48): Walker Herring 14, Andrew Timmons 12, CJ Sanchez 11, Brennan Mealer 6, Hunter Bennett 3, Deason Jones 2.

Three-Point Goals (4): Mealer 2, Bennett, Sanchez.

Free Throws (14-for-19): Herring 8-for-8, Timmons 6-for-6, Mealer 0-for-2, Sanchez 0-for-1, Bennett 0-for-1, Jones 0-for-1.

Nolensville (53): Riley Byron 12, Ashton Smith 11, Max McAllister 8, Davin Watkins 7, Keidron Batey 6, Vaughn Jaworski 4, Grady Powers 3, Reese Turner 2.

Three-Point Goals (5): Smith 3, McAllister 2.

Free Throws (9-for-14): Byron 6-for-8, Batey 2-for-2, Powers 1-for-2, Jaworski 0-for-2.

Halftime Score: Nolensville 27, Forrest 25.