Boone’s Fourth-Quarter Surge Lifts Friendship Christian to Key District Win Over Clarksville Academy
Friendship Christian’s boys basketball team made a major move in the Division II-A District 4 race Thursday night, and they did it behind a senior who knows how to take over when it matters most.
D Boone poured in a game-high 22 points - with half of that coming in a dominant fourth quarter - to push the Commanders past Clarksville Academy, 53-42. The win gives Friendship Christian (15-6, 9-3) a half-game lead in the district standings, leapfrogging both the Cougars and Ezell-Harding as the regular season enters its final stretch.
This wasn’t a wire-to-wire blowout. In fact, the game was a grind for much of the night. After a tightly contested first quarter, Friendship Christian edged ahead by three at halftime, thanks in part to Perez Parker’s six-point burst in the second and a timely three-pointer from Boone.
But Clarksville Academy (11-10, 8-3) wouldn’t go quietly. The Cougars clamped down defensively in the third quarter, limiting the Commanders to just six points and trimming the deficit to a single point heading into the fourth.
That’s when Boone took over.
The senior guard opened the final frame with a traditional three-point play, setting the tone for what would be a personal scoring clinic. He added two more buckets and calmly knocked down four free throws to seal the win. It was the kind of late-game performance that championship teams lean on - poised, aggressive, and efficient.
Boone wasn’t alone, though. Miles Fitzpatrick gave the Commanders another reliable scoring option, finishing with 13 points. He hit three triples on the night, including two in the second half, helping stretch the floor and keep the Cougars honest defensively.
Parker chipped in nine points, and while his scoring came mostly in the second quarter, his energy and playmaking were key in helping Friendship Christian maintain their early edge.
On the other side, Clarksville Academy was led by JaRohn Johnson, who scored 15 points despite being relatively quiet in the third. Andrayas Scott and Tahj Davie each added nine, giving the Cougars enough firepower to stay in the game - but not enough to match Boone’s closing burst.
With the win, Friendship Christian now controls its own destiny in the district. The Commanders close out their league slate with games against USN, Davidson Academy, Ezell-Harding, and Nashville Christian. If they can hold serve, they’ll claim their first regular-season district title since the Division II classification was introduced in 2017 - a milestone that’s been a long time coming.
Final Score: Friendship Christian 53, Clarksville Academy 42
Scoring Breakdown:
- Friendship Christian: 12 | 13 | 6 | 22 - 53
- Clarksville Academy: 12 | 10 | 8 | 12 - 42
Friendship Christian Scorers:
D Boone 22, Miles Fitzpatrick 13, Perez Parker 9, Billy Young 4, Xavier Humphrey 3, Sam Fitzpatrick 2
Clarksville Academy Scorers:
JaRohn Johnson 15, Tahj Davie 9, Andrayas Scott 9, Treyce Majors 7, Marcell Jackson 2
Girls Game Recap:
In the earlier matchup, Clarksville Academy’s girls team came out on top with a 59-48 win over Friendship Christian. Sicily Robinson led the way with 20 points, while Trinity Bankston added 18 in a balanced offensive effort. The Cougars used a strong second and fourth quarter to pull away, outscoring the Commanders 37-24 in those frames combined.
Final Score: Clarksville Academy 59, Friendship Christian 48
Scoring Breakdown:
- Clarksville Academy: 13 | 18 | 9 | 19 - 59
- Friendship Christian: 13 | 10 | 11 | 14 - 48
Clarksville Academy Scorers:
Sicily Robinson 20, Trinity Bankston 18, Layla Clark 8, Camilee Thomas 6, Vicky Anderson 5, Jayda Anderson 2
Friendship Christian’s boys now turn their focus to finishing strong - with a district title within reach and momentum clearly on their side.