The Marshall County Tigerettes hosted Community in Friday night’s senior night doubleheader at the Dottie Kelso Memorial Gymnasium in Lewisburg, trying to avenge an earlier season loss to the Viqueens at Unionville.

There was not much offense in the contest as both teams struggled to score with the Tigerettes coming out on the short end of a 32-24 loss.

“We struggled offensively the entire night and I give them all the credit,” MCHS coach David Steely said. “They do a good job matching up with us and taking away our strengths.”

“I wouldn’t say we didn’t play well, they made us not play well, they know each girl and what their best attributes are and they take that away and when we did get an open shot, we could not put it in the hole.”

MCHS did not have any players in double figures in the scoring column as Israel Hurt had eight points, senior Dionna Crutcher added seven, senior Karlye Wiser had two 3-pointers for six points, Demiyah Blackman had two, and senior Sydney Tidwell netted one point.

“I went in the dressing room after the game and told them we will discuss it Monday, its senior night and we are going to celebrate our seniors,” Steely said.

“I love my three seniors, they have been with me three of my five years, I trust them, I believe in them, and they have been in the biggest of games and have won.”

Community’s MJ Simmons led all scorers in the contest with 13 points, Brianna Beech had nine, Zoey Dixson and Breanna Whitaker added three points apiece, and Haley Mitchell and Shelby Cawthon both had a deuce.

Marshall County scored in single digits in the first, second, and third quarters, including just two points in the second period that put them behind 20-9 at halftime.

Wiser hit a 3-pointer to start the game and that was the only time MCHS led all night.

The Tigerettes trailed 10-7 at the end of the first period before they went ice-cold from the field with their only bucket coming on a Hurt rebound and put-back early in the stanza.

The Viqueens led by 11 points at the half and the only thing that kept Marshall County in the game was some tough defense in the third period that was a 4-4 draw.

The Tigerettes made a move to begin the fourth quarter as Wiser drilled a 3-pointer and after a Community foul, Tidwell hit one of two from the free throw line to make it a 24-17 contest.

On Tidwell’s missed second attempt, Crutcher grabbed the rebound and fed Hurt for another basket to cut the Viqueens’ lead to five points and two possessions later, Hurt scored again in the paint to make it a three-point game at 24-21.

“We did make a little run, we were good enough defensively to still be in a position to give ourselves a chance,” Steely said.

Unfortunately, the Tigerettes went cold from the field again and the Viqueens made six free throws over the next several minutes to take a 10-point lead at 31-21.

A late Crutcher 3-pointer was the Tigerettes final tally of the ballgame in the 12-point loss.

“They are a tough match for us, but we have been in the games with them,” Steely said. “We led most of the game at their place and they led the whole game here, so if we get them again we will go all out with them again and I think it will be closer than it was tonight.”

The Tigerettes have four District 12-AA games remaining with away games at Giles County and Murfreesboro Central Magnet School and home games versus Forrest and Nolensville.

“I’m glad we have Giles County next because that makes an easy bounce back mentally,” Steely said. “We are always gonna be ready to play Pulaski, it’s been our biggest rival for 50 or 60 years and still is, so we will go down there ready to play Tuesday night, knowing it’s a big game.”

Community 10 10 4 8-32

Marshall Co. 7 2 4 11-24

Community (32): MJ Simmons 13, Brianna Beech 9, Zoey Dixson 3, Breanna Whitaker 3, Haley Mitchell 2, Shelby Cawthon 2.

Three-Point Goals (1): Dixon.

Free Throws (17-for-26): Beech 7-for-10, Simmons 7-for-7, Whitaker 3-for-4, Addison Brothers 0-for-2, Dixon 0-for-2, Mitchell 0-for-1.

Marshall County (24): Israel Hurt 8, Dionna Crutcher 7, Karlye Wiser 6, Demiyah Blackman 2, Sydney Tidwell 1.

Three-Point Goals (3): Wiser 2, Crutcher.

Free Throws (1-for-6): Tidwell 1-for-2, Hurt 0-for-2, Crutcher 0-for-2.

Halftime Score: Community 20, Marshall County 9.