Harpeth Splits Senior Night Showdown with Cheatham County Central
Senior Night is always emotional, and on Monday, Harpeth High made sure it was memorable-both for the players honored and the fans in the stands. The Indians celebrated eight seniors across their boys’ and girls’ basketball programs, recognizing Lady Indians Brailyn Goddard and Brooke Hamilton, along with Lucas Barton, Henry Cable, Eli Johnson, Pete Johnson, Jonny Kendrick, and Preston Merritt from the boys’ squad.
The night tipped off with the girls’ matchup, but it was all Cheatham County Central from the opening whistle. The Lady Indians showed early spark, jumping out to 3-0 and 6-5 leads, but the Lady Cubs quickly found their rhythm. Behind a fast-paced, aggressive first quarter, Cheatham surged ahead 19-9 and never looked back.
Emma Orange led the charge with 14 points, as Cheatham’s depth and ball movement overwhelmed Harpeth. By halftime, the Lady Cubs had built a commanding 23-point lead, and they kept their foot on the gas en route to a 64-26 win. Cayleigh Duke and Lilly Stinson each dropped 6 points to lead the Lady Indians, but it wasn’t enough to slow down a Cheatham squad firing on all cylinders.
The boys’ game, though, told a different story-one filled with grit, momentum swings, and a dramatic finish that lived up to the Senior Night billing.
From the jump, it was clear this one would go down to the wire. The teams traded buckets in a tightly contested first quarter, and Harpeth managed to carve out an 8-point lead by halftime thanks to steady offensive execution and some timely defense.
But Cheatham County Central wasn’t going away quietly. With three players-Sebastian Bryant, Warner Hamm, and Liam Lockert-each putting up 13 points, the Cubs clawed back in the third quarter and edged ahead by one heading into the final frame.
That’s when senior Lucas Barton took over.
Barton, who finished with a game-high 19 points, made his presence felt in crunch time. Whether it was driving the lane, knocking down mid-range shots, or stepping up on defense, the senior guard was everywhere. With under 30 seconds left and Harpeth clinging to a 1-point lead, the Indians hit a clutch free throw to stretch it to two.
Cheatham had one last shot to tie or take the lead. They pushed the ball up the floor, looking for a clean look-but Harpeth’s defense stepped up in a big way. A steal near midcourt led to a dagger three-pointer as the final seconds ticked away, sealing a 54-49 win and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
Caiden Johnston added 15 points for Harpeth, while Eli Johnson chipped in 11. It was a balanced effort, but Barton’s leadership and late-game poise were the difference.
With the regular season now wrapped up as of Friday, Feb. 13, all eyes turn to the district tournaments this week. Every possession, every defensive stop, every free throw is about to matter just a little more. And if Monday night was any indication, Harpeth’s seniors are ready for the moment.
Box Scores
Girls
Cheatham County Central (64):
Emma Orange 14, Gracie Belle Weakley 13, Emma Hawkins 11, Mylah Harter 10, Charlotte Hunter 8, Amelia Coker 3, Avery Hamm 2, Campbell Wilcox 1
Harpeth (26):
Cayleigh Duke 6, Lilly Stinson 6, Cameron Hays 4, Ella Pomeroy 4, Brailyn Goddard 3, Jalyn Murphree 3
Boys
Cheatham County Central (49):
Sebastian Bryant 13, Warner Hamm 13, Liam Lockert 13, Wyatt Kessler 8, Cooper Jennette 2
Harpeth (54):
Lucas Barton 19, Caiden Johnston 15, Eli Johnson 11, Jonny Kendrick 5, Spencer Barton 2, Preston Merritt 2
Now, with postseason play looming, both Harpeth squads will look to carry the lessons-and momentum-of Senior Night into the next chapter.