Mary Kate Long’s Late Three Lifts Beech Over Hendersonville in District Thriller
When the game was hanging in the balance and the clock ticked under 30 seconds, Mary Kate Long didn’t hesitate. The junior guard found herself with a clean look from beyond the arc - and she delivered. Her clutch three-pointer with just over 20 seconds remaining gave Beech a 42-40 lead, and the Buccaneers held on from there to secure a gritty district win over rival Hendersonville on Friday night.
“I was open and it was a shot I know I can make consistently, so I took it,” Long said after the game - calm, confident, and clearly built for moments like this.
This was a game that had all the hallmarks of a classic district battle - physical defense, momentum swings, and a finish that came down to the final possession. Neither team scored for nearly three minutes to open the contest, as both defenses brought the intensity early. But once Beech (9-1, 1-1) found a rhythm, they pieced together an 8-1 run that helped them grab the early edge.
Hendersonville (5-3, 0-2) responded behind Desi Walker, who knocked down a three to stop the bleeding and give the Commandos their first real spark. Walker was a problem on both ends all night, finishing with 10 points and four steals, constantly disrupting Beech’s flow.
By the end of the first quarter, Beech led 11-5, thanks in part to Long’s early scoring burst - she had five points in the opening frame and looked locked in from the jump.
But Hendersonville wasn’t going anywhere. Mady Grace Riley took over in the second quarter, scoring eight of the Commandos’ 14 points in the period. Her aggressive drives and midrange touch helped Hendersonville flip the momentum, while their defense clamped down and held Beech to just six points in the quarter.
“They play with so much heart over there,” Beech head coach Lauran Hudgins said. “I’m telling you, these district games are just different.”
Riley capped her strong first half with a late bucket to give Hendersonville a 19-17 lead heading into the break.
The third quarter turned into a back-and-forth sprint. Both teams traded buckets and defensive stops, but Hendersonville managed to stay in front despite six turnovers in the quarter. They carried a 31-28 lead into the fourth.
That’s when things really got wild.
The final three minutes featured five lead changes, with neither side able to pull away. Every possession mattered.
Every shot felt like it could decide the outcome. And when it mattered most, Beech’s backcourt delivered.
Junior point guard Tia Nix, who had been steady all night, found Long open on the wing. No hesitation.
Nothing but net. The shot gave Beech the lead for good.
“We were considering a timeout, but sometimes when you have a confident shooter you just have to let them take the shot, and I’m glad we did,” Hudgins said.
Long finished with a game-high 17 points to lead the Buccaneers, who picked up their first district win of the season. Hendersonville will look to regroup when they travel to Liberty Creek on Dec.
- Beech, meanwhile, hit the road earlier this week to face Smith County in search of win number 10.
Scoring Summary - Girls Game
Beech (42): Mary Kate Long 17, Seleste Ricks 11, Aubrey Sons 8, Tia Nix 4, Katie Cathey 2
Hendersonville (40): Desi Walker 10, Mady Grace Riley 8, Ilaiah Mack 6, Sydney Hines 5, Tatum Taylor 5, Mackenzie Brown 3, Kyndall Cripps 3
Cutter Sisk Drops 24 as Beech Boys Handle Hendersonville on the Road
In the boys’ matchup, Beech got it done with defense, discipline, and a heavy dose of Cutter Sisk.
The Wofford signee poured in 24 points and added three blocks and several rebounds as the Buccaneers rolled to a 55-42 win over Hendersonville, picking up their second District 7-4A victory of the season.
“Really proud of our guys for going on the road and getting a crosstown district win,” said Beech head coach Kip Brown. “I really liked how we played tonight, but I really loved the defensive effort.”
The tone was set early. Beech (8-1, 2-0) came out sharp and locked in, holding Hendersonville (4-4, 0-2) to just four points in the opening quarter. By the end of the first, Beech led 9-4.
Then Sisk went to work.
The senior standout scored 10 of Beech’s 16 points in the second quarter, showing off his full offensive arsenal - smooth jumpers, confident drives, and a deep three to cap the half. His presence on the defensive end was just as impactful, altering shots and cleaning up the glass.
At halftime, the Bucs led 25-13 and looked in full control.
That control only tightened in the third. With Hendersonville trying to claw back, Beech stretched the lead to 19 thanks to timely threes from forwards Champ Nix and Sam Plourde. Sisk added another triple of his own as the Buccaneers continued to apply pressure from all over the floor.
“He’s one of the best players I’ve ever coached,” Brown said of Sisk. “He makes us better, he makes us stronger, and he’s just a fun guy to coach and a fun guy to play with.”
Hendersonville made a push in the fourth, putting up 21 points - their highest-scoring quarter of the night - behind Weston Hall and Mont Seagraves, who each finished with nine. But the late surge wasn’t enough to erase the deficit.
With the win, Beech remains tied atop the district standings alongside Wilson Central, while Hendersonville will aim to regroup and chase its first district win after the new year.
Scoring Summary - Boys Game
Beech (55): Cutter Sisk 24, Sam Plourde 11, Mari Bowman 9, JR French 4, Elijah Stevenson 3, Champ Nix 3, Noah Stevenson 1
Hendersonville (42): Weston Hall 9, Mont Seagraves 9, [Other individual scores not listed in original article]
Bottom Line:
Both Beech squads walked away with hard-fought wins over their crosstown rivals, but neither came easy. From Long’s cold-blooded three to Sisk’s all-around dominance, the Buccaneers showed they’re built for the big moments - and in district play, that’s what separates contenders from the pack.