White House Edges Harpeth in Twin Nail-Biters; Lady Indians and Indians Fall Just Short
It was a night of near-misses and heartbreak in Kingston Springs on Tuesday, as both Harpeth High School basketball teams came up just shy in a pair of tightly contested matchups against visiting White House. The Lady Indians dropped a one-point thriller, 48-47, while the boys’ squad fell in overtime, 60-58, after a dramatic finish that left the home crowd stunned.
And if Tuesday wasn’t tough enough for Harpeth fans, Thursday brought more frustration. Hosting White House Heritage, the Lady Indians couldn’t keep pace late in a 39-27 loss, and the boys ran into a buzzsaw, falling 69-35. Now, with Division II powerhouse CPA on deck Friday night, Harpeth is staring down another serious challenge to close out the week.
Lady Indians Rally Late, But Fall Just Short
The girls’ matchup against White House was everything you’d want in a high school basketball game-tight from start to finish, with momentum swinging back and forth and both teams trading big shots in key moments.
Harpeth came out strong, building a 10-6 lead after the first quarter. But White House responded, flipping the script by halftime to take a narrow 24-22 edge. The Lady Blue Devils maintained a slim cushion heading into the final period, and despite a strong push from the Lady Indians down the stretch, the comeback effort fell just short.
Savannah Jenkins led Harpeth with 10 points, but it was a tough night at the stripe-she went just 4-for-12 from the free-throw line, a stat that loomed large in a one-point loss.
Jalyn Murphree and Lilly Stinson each added nine points, while Brooke Hamilton chipped in seven. Cayleigh Duke added five, Brailyn Goddard scored four, Cameron Hayes had two, and Ella Pomeroy rounded out the scoring with one.
The Lady Indians connected on three shots from beyond the arc-Murphree, Duke, and Hamilton each knocked one down-but White House had the edge from distance. Ruby Wright led the Lady Blue Devils with 13 points, including a pair of threes. Caroline Pond added 11, also hitting two from deep, and Brae Lynn Perkins added nine as White House finished with six triples on the night.
Turnovers and Overtime Drama Sink Harpeth Boys
The boys’ game delivered just as much drama-if not more. From the opening tip, this was a back-and-forth affair with neither team able to create separation.
The first quarter ended deadlocked at 18, and Harpeth managed a slim 25-23 lead at halftime. By the end of the third, it was tied again at 36, and regulation couldn’t settle it either-42-42 heading into overtime.
In the extra period, both teams had their chances. But it was a late turnover that proved costly for Harpeth. With the game hanging in the balance, White House forced a steal and converted a layup at the buzzer, sealing a 60-58 win and silencing the home crowd.
Senior Caiden Johnston, still working his way back into rhythm after returning from injury, contributed nine points in just his second game back. Jonny Kendrick led the way for the Indians with 12, while Lucas Barton and Eli Johnson also added nine apiece.
Pete Johnson scored six, Henry Cable added three, and Preston Merritt chipped in one to round out the scoring for Harpeth.
White House got a big night from Louis Taylor, who poured in 18 points, while Drew Richardson added 13 to help the Blue Devils escape with the road win.
Looking Ahead: CPA Awaits
Now, Harpeth turns its attention to a Friday night matchup against Division II CPA-a team known for its athleticism, discipline, and postseason pedigree. It’s another big test for both the Lady Indians and the Indians, who will need to regroup quickly after a tough week of close calls and hard lessons.
Tipoff for the doubleheader is set for 6 p.m., and if the past few games are any indication, fans can expect another night of intensity, emotion, and high school basketball at its most compelling.