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Friendship found itself down early as a multi-faceted scoring attack from Goodpasture had the Cougars up 15-12 after the first quarter of play.

The Commanders had an answer, though. A 23-point second quarter, highlighted by 11 points from D Boone, pushed the Commanders ahead 35-27 at halftime. The Cougars, who entered the tournament as the No. 4-seed, had a matchup advantage in terms of stature, but No. 3-seed Friendship’s style of play kept the Cougar frontcourt off balance.

In the third stanza, Goodpasture found its stride on offense, unleashing for 19 points to bring the game within a possession several times. While they were outscored in the quarter, the Commanders managed a 48-46 lead going into the final quarter.

Difficult shots and acrobatics around the rim became the norm for both teams throughout the game. Many contested layups and deep 3-point shots from both teams found home to keep the score tight. The final quarter was much of the same. Rez Parker tallied nine points for the Commanders in the period. His efforts were accompanied by five points from Boone and some timely free throws from Miles Fitzpatrick, giving the Commanders a 65-60 win to secure the district title.

At one point in time, some rankings had the Commanders inside the top 10 teams in all of Tennessee, but they finished as the 3-seed in District 4. Coach Michael Teeter’s squad was unaffected by this.

“We’ve preached all year about being grateful for where we’re at,� said Teeter, in his second season as coach at his alma mater, where he was part of the Commanders’ 2007 District 8-A tourney title as a senior. “I don’t think anybody wanted to be in third, but I think our guys owned the wins and losses that got us there.�

Teeter also noted the fact that his team shares the ball very well.

“It can be anybody on any given night,� he said. “[Each player is] willing to let others shine on any given night.�

This proved true throughout the tournament. Fitzpatrick and Parker aided the Commanders through the tournament on several points beyond the arc. The frontcourt of Billy Young and Xavier Humphrey tallied several points on the interior.

In the championship, Boone’s 22 points was a significant contribution to the team’s success. He was followed by Humphrey with 15 points, Parker with 11 and Fitzpatrick with 10. Boone and Parker were honored with a spot on the all-district tournament team, and Fitzpatrick was declared as the tournament Most Valuable Player following the conclusion of the game. Each of the three were also a part of the all-district regular-season team.

The Commanders advance to the region tournament and are now one win away from the State XII tournament (Division II’s version of the sectional). They will host the Cougars of Middle Tennessee Christian tonight at the Bay Family Sportsplex with a tip-off time to be determined. The winner will advance to Friday’s semifinal at Providence Christian in Murfreesboro and play at least three more games.

A win tonight will advance Friendship further than the Commanders have advanced during their Division II era, which tipped off in 2014. It would also be the first time they’ve reached the sectional since the 2012 team won the D-IA state championship.

Commanders turn tables on Ezell-Harding as Parker, Fitzpatrick combine for 40

NASHVILLE — After two regular-season losses to Ezell-Harding, the third time was the charm for Friendship Christian last Friday night in the District 4-IIA semifinals wit a 65-54 win at Davidson Academy.

The Commanders led 19-10 at the first-quarter break, 30-25 at halftime and 48-35 going into the fourth.

Rez Parker pumped in two first-quarter 3-pointers as he led Friendship with 21 points wihle Miles Firzpatrick fired in three triples and all eight of his free throws on his way to 19. Dee Boone scored seven points, Xavier Humphrey six, Billy Young and Brock Winfree five each and Sam Fitzpatrick two.

Jamal Culver scored 17 points for Ezell-Harding. Noah Hughes had all of his points after halftime, including nine in the fourth quarter, while Zay Bridges buried three triples and had all but three of his points before intermission as each threw in 13.

The win put Friendship into a Middle Region first-round home game tonight at the Bay Family Sportsplex.

Friendship rolls into 4-IIA semifinals, Middle Region tournament

Friendship Christian bought three more games in the Division II postseason last Wednesday with a 58-42 defeat of visiting Donelson Christian in the District 4-IIA elimination round at the Bay Family Sportsplex.

The scene then moved to Davidson Academy where the Commanders faced Ezell-Harding on Friday in the semifinals. Championship and consolation games were played Saturday. All four remaining teams will play in the Middle Region tournament this week.

Friendship widened a 12-10 first-quarter lead to 27-17 by halftime and 42-26 going into the fourth.

Miles Fitzpatrick fired in two second-quarter 3-pointers and sank all eight of his free throws, six came in the fourth quarter, in leading Friendship with 20 points. Fellow senior Dee Boone tossed in 12 while Billy Young added eight, Xavier Humphrey six in the third period, Rez Parker five, Sam Fitzpatrick four and Brock Winfree a 3.

Grayson Scragg scored 15 to lead DCA.

Nashville Christian girls turn back Friendship in district tournament opener

NASHVILLE — Host Nashville Christian took control early Tuesday night and advanced in the District 4-IIA tournament with a first-round elimination of Friendship Christian 54-38.

Friendship led 4-2 early. But a 9-0 run send the Lady Eagles into a 13-4 lead. It was 19-6 at the first-quarter break and 28-12 at halftime.

The Lady Commanders closed the third quarter with an 11-2 run to cut the margin to 41-32 going into the fourth. They got as close as 48-36 before the Lady Eagles scored the final six to move into Friday’s semifinals with a 16-11 record.

Friendship’s season is finished at 8-16.

Aniston Allgood led the Lady Eagles with 24 points while Anadia Hinton hit two 3-pointers during her 10-point first period as she finished with 14.

Eighth-grader Haivyn Boone led Friendship with 13 points while senior Natalie Major added 11 as the pair combined for 13 third-period points to key the second-half rally. Norah Box and Ella Bryson each finished with five, all in the second half, while Anna Kate Reed racked up four in the second quarter.