Beech Basketball Sweeps Gallatin with Statement Wins on Both Sides of the Court
If you’re looking for a blueprint on how to dominate a district matchup, Beech High School just handed you one-twice. On Friday night, the Buccaneers swept Gallatin in convincing fashion, with the boys rolling to a 62-35 win and the girls putting on a clinic in a 65-35 blowout. Both squads leaned on a common theme: relentless defense, balanced scoring, and a commitment to doing the little things right.
Beech Boys Stay Unbeaten in District Play with Smothering Defense and Paint Presence
Head coach Kip Brown summed it up best: “It all starts with defense.” And for Beech, that wasn’t just coach-speak-it was the foundation of a dominant 27-point win that pushed the Bucs to 19-2 overall and a perfect 5-0 in District 7-4A.
From the opening tip, Beech set the tone. Mari Bowman got things rolling with a pair of early steals and four quick points, while Cutter Sisk went to work in the paint, scoring three layups in the first quarter. Gallatin tried to hang around with second-chance points and trips to the free-throw line, but the Bucs' energy on both ends started to separate them.
By the second quarter, Beech took full control. The defense tightened, the rebounding edge grew, and the Bucs went on a six-point run that left Gallatin searching for answers. Sisk, Bowman, Rashawn Hoosier, and Sam Plourde kept attacking inside, combining for 10 more points to stretch the lead at the break.
Then came the third quarter-and Sisk took over. The senior dropped 12 of his game-high 20 points in the period, including a personal 8-0 run that cracked the game wide open. Beech poured in 29 points in the quarter, using offensive rebounds and fast-break finishes to bury the Green Wave.
“We come in with the attitude that everyone’s even,” Sisk said. “If we don’t play our hardest, we’re going to lose. We need that mindset every single day, no matter who we’re playing.”
That mindset showed up in every hustle play. Bowman delivered a highlight-reel assist to Plourde for an easy bucket, and Beech’s transition game continued to wear down Gallatin.
Bowman praised Coach Brown’s system, particularly the way it emphasizes movement and mismatches. “He runs a lot of backdoor cuts and wants me to post up smaller defenders, and I really love that,” Bowman said. “Us staying focused and disciplined is what makes us win.”
Gallatin found a few late buckets from beyond the arc-Davon Day, Jack Brosche, and Ke’shaun Scott each knocked down threes-but it was too little, too late. Beech’s rebounding and defensive pressure had already sealed the deal.
Coach Brown pointed to unselfishness as a key ingredient: “We pass the ball well and try to run up and down the court to wear the other team out. My philosophy is the open man gets a shot, whoever that is.”
The Bucs now turn their attention to a district showdown with Green Hill on Tuesday.
Beech Girls Ride Hot Shooting and Turnovers to Blowout Victory
The girls game followed a similar script-early intensity, defensive grit, and a star performance that left no doubt. Beech rolled to a 65-35 win behind senior Tia Nix, who lit up the scoreboard for 31 points and sparked a second-half surge that Gallatin couldn’t match.
Nix wasted no time getting started, burying three triples in the first quarter. She and Seleste Ricks combined for 14 points in the opening frame, putting the Bucs in control early. Gallatin tried to respond behind Jamiyah Vaughn’s two threes and some inside work from Jevonna Montgomery, but Beech’s depth and shooting touch kept the pressure on.
The second quarter saw more of the same. Ricks stayed hot, scoring seven points in the period, while Mary Kate Long and Nix each connected from deep. Gallatin’s Sarai Shadowens did her best to keep it close with three three-pointers of her own, but Beech’s rhythm and spacing were simply too much.
“We really just focus on keeping intensity,” said head coach Lauran Hudgins. “We focus on doing the little things because night in and night out, you don’t know. You can have a bad shooting night, but defense travels.”
That defensive mindset paid off in the third quarter. Nix came up with three steals and turned them into quick buckets, scoring 10 in the period. Ricks and Aubrey Sons added key baskets, and just like that, the lead ballooned to 28.
Nix wasn’t done. She added eight more points in the fourth to cap off a 31-point night-one that showcased not just her scoring ability, but her leadership and poise.
“I just think we’ve seen growth in all our players,” Hudgins said. “Tia had 31 tonight, but we have multiple people who have the ability to put a lot of points on the board. Tonight was her turn.”
Beech also dominated the glass, creating second-chance opportunities and controlling the tempo. Gallatin got some late offense from Shadowens, Vaughn, and Ella Ritchie, but the outcome was never in doubt.
With the win, Beech improved to 15-5 and 3-2 in district play, building momentum heading into the heart of the season.
Box Scores
Beech Boys (62):
Cutter Sisk 20, Mari Bowman 15, Sam Plourde 6, Jackson Heinly 3, Champ Nix 3, Noah Stevenson 3, Elijah Stevenson 2, JR French 2, Rashawn Hoosier 2, Addison Brown 2, Jayden Williams 2, Joe Joe French 2
Gallatin Boys (35):
Davon Day 7, Noah Bandy 6, Zach Wakefield 4, Braylon Boone 3, Jack Brosche 3, Ke’shaun Scott 3, Makadence Cole 2, Thomas Oglesby 2, Terrell Starks 2, Clarence McCord 2, J’terrian Brown 1
Beech Girls (65):
Tia Nix 31, Seleste Ricks (points not individually listed), Mary Kate Long, Aubrey Sons, others contributing
Gallatin Girls (35):
Sarai Shadowens, Jamiyah Vaughn, Ella Ritchie, Jevonna Montgomery (points not individually listed)
What’s Next
Beech’s boys and girls both return to district action Tuesday night, with a key matchup against Green Hill. Gallatin will look to bounce back when they face Mt. Juliet on the same evening.
If Beech keeps playing with this kind of energy and execution, they’re going to be a tough out for anyone in District 7-4A.