Tigers squeeze by Rockets in district opener

Anthony S. Puca Sports Editor
Posted 1/13/21

The Forrest Rockets hosted Murfreesboro Central Magnet School (MCM) Tuesday night in the District 12-AA opener at Chapel Hill and the two teams battled the entire night with the Tigers coming up with a one-point, 45-44 win to extend Forrest’s losing streak to six games.

"We played better, we thought we had a good game plan going in to try and surprise them,” Forrest coach Corey Bishop said. “The guys did a great job. I let them down. I need to be doing a better job of putting them in winning situations in critical moments.”

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Tigers squeeze by Rockets in district opener

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The Forrest Rockets hosted Murfreesboro Central Magnet School (MCM) Tuesday night in the District 12-AA opener at Chapel Hill and the two teams battled the entire night with the Tigers coming up with a one-point, 45-44 win to extend Forrest’s losing streak to six games.

"We played better, we thought we had a good game plan going in to try and surprise them,” Forrest coach Corey Bishop said. “The guys did a great job. I let them down. I need to be doing a better job of putting them in winning situations in critical moments.”

“We seek continuous growth every day, so I know we will improve."

Walker Herring had a career game for the Rockets, securing game-high scoring honors with 20 points and Andrew Timmons was all over the place and was also in double figures with 10 points.

"Definitely played the way we want to, defense and effort are going to keep us in games,” Bishop said. “It may be the first game since I've been here that I thought we played a sound defensive game the whole time.”

“It's a process and we have guys willing to buy into that vision."

Brennen Mealer had a pair of 3-pointers for six points, CJ Sanchez was in high gear and ended up with four points while Deason Jones and Hunter Bennett added two points apiece.

Jayden Hernandez had 18 points to lead the Tigers in the scoring column and Avery Lambert was also in double figures with 11 points.

Elijah Conrad had nine points, Gage Swanson netted four, and Kyle Messerly nailed one 3-pointer.

The Rockets got off to a nice start and a Timmons 3-pointer gave them an early 7-4 lead.

The Tigers settled in and went on a 7-2 run to take an 11-9 lead after Messerly’s three-bomb capped the spurt.

Herring and Hernandez traded buckets at the end of the first period and the Tigers led 13-11.

Hernandez also opened up the second quarter scoring before the Rockets got hot, reeling off nine straight points as Mealer drilled a 3-pointer to start the run, Herring scored twice in the low post, and Bennett finished it up with a layup to make it a 20-15 ballgame.

The Tigers responded in a big way as they finished the first half with an 8-2 run and a one-point, 23-22 lead.

Timmons banged home a 3-pointer to start the second half and then came up with a steal and score before Sanchez gave Forrest a 29-23 lead with a drive to the hoop.

Conrad halted the Forrest run with a 3-pointer and one Hernandez free throw cut the Chapel Hill lead to 29-27, forcing a Bishop timeout with 4:35 remaining in the third period.

Herring went back to work, scoring six out of the next eight points in the game in the low post and the Rockets went on to lead 37-32 at the end of the stanza.

"Walker Herring is the most improved player I've ever coached,” Bishop said. “He is a tremendous leader and player that I have a lot of confidence in.’

‘He's only getting better and we are going to need him in this district."

Hernandez lifted the Tigers back up with five straight points to make it a one point contest before Mealer drained a 3-pointer to make it 40-36.

A few minutes went by and two Sanchez free throws kept the Forrest lead at four points at 42-38 before the Tigers scored five straight points, capped off by another Hernandez bucket to take a 42-41 lead with 1:10 remaining in the contest.

Herring scored in the low post again to put the Rockets up by a single digit, but Swanson scored at the other for the Tigers with 22.2 seconds left.

The Rockets came up court and the Tigers had a foul to give with 5.4 seconds left.

Forrest threw the ball in and a last second heave bounced off the rim.

"There are critical moments that we just aren't used to being in,” Bishop said. “The only way you get that experience is by going through it.’

“We need to continue to work on it behind the scenes in practice."

The Rockets (2-7, 0-1) host Community (7-8, 0-1) on Friday before a road trip to Huntland (1-6) on Saturday.

They return home next week as the host Marshall County (7-4, 1-0) on Tuesday and Nolensville (8-4, 1-0) on Friday, January 22.

MCM 13 10 9 13-45

Forrest 11 11 15 7-44

MCM (45): Jayden Hernandez 18, Avery Lambert 11, Elijah Conrad 9, Gage Swanson 4, Kyle Messerly 3.

Three-Point Goals (2): Messerly, Conrad.

Free Throws (7-for-12): Lambert 3-for-4, Hernandez 2-for-4, Conrad 2-for-4.

Forrest (44): Walker Herring 20, Andrew Timmons 10, Brennen Mealer 6, CJ Sanchez 4, Deason Jones 2, Hunter Bennett 2.

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

Free Throws (2-for-2): Sanchez 2-for-2.

Halftime Score: Murfreesboro Central Magnet 23, Forrest 22.