MURFREESBORO - The Community Viqueens trailed by seven points in the fourth quarter, but rallied in the last minute with a pressure defense and clutch free throw shooting by Breanna Whitaker to defeat the Central Magnet Lady Tigers 50-47 in a District 12-AA basketball contest with huge playoff implications Friday night.

With the win, Community (11-10, 6-4) clinched the second seed in the final district standings and a first-round bye in the district tournament along with a spot in the Region 6-AA tournament.

"We made that as hard as we possibly could," Coach Cody Pierce of the Viqueens said.

"We played awful for three and one-half quarters, but the last four minutes I think they realized our second place was at risk and they decided they wanted to win more."

The Viqueens took a 10-4 lead in the opening quarter as all five starters accounted for one basket each.

Three of the Community baskets were three-pointers, but the Lady Tigers responded with a 6-0 run and took a 14-13 lead to the second quarter.

Turnovers and poor rebounding by the Viqueens led to several easy Central Magnet baskets in the quarter.

Despite eight points from Community's M. J. Simmons, the Lady Tigers went on a 9-0 run to take a 23-15 lead and took a 30-23 advantage into halftime.

After the Viqueens scored the first basket of the third quarter, it was discovered a boys' basketball was being used for the first two minutes of the quarter.

Even after the proper ball was put into play, points were at a premium as each team could only manage six points.

The Lady Tigers took a 36-29 lead to the final quarter.

Turnovers once again plagued the Viqueens early in the quarter as Central Magnet led 40-33 with 5:39 left.

With Whitaker scoring 10 points and Simmons adding six, the Viqueens mounted a rally.

Community scored four straight points but still trailed 44-39 with 2:48 to play.

A free throw and field goal by Zoey Dixon along with a basket by Simmons tied the game at 44-44 with 50 seconds left.

A trey put Central Magnet up 47-44 with 35 seconds left, but the Viqueen defense came to the forefront as the Lady Tigers turned the ball over on their next possession.

The Viqueens responded with a field goal by Whitaker to cut the Central Magnet lead to 47-46 with 19 seconds left.

After a Lady Tiger miss on the front end of a one-and-one, Whitaker was fouled on the ensuing Viqueen possession.

Whitaker sank both shots of the one-and-one to put Community up 48-47 with 15 seconds remaining.

The Viqueen defense once again came up big, causing a Central Magnet turnover in the waning seconds with the game on the line.

Whitaker iced the contest with two free throws in the final second as Community took the come-from-behind win.

Simmons had 20 points and Whitaker added 14 to lead the Viqueens.

Olivia Hart led the Lady Tigers with 22 points.

The Viqueens were 11-of-15 at the free throw line while Central Magnet was 10-of-15.

"We started putting more pressure on them at the end and got a few turnovers to help us out," Pierce said.

"We hit some huge free throws at the end."

"It's a very hard place to play, but it's a great road win," Pierce added.

"Now we get a bye."

Community was scheduled to host the winner between Forrest and Marshall County in the district semifinals this week, however inclement weather has forced the game to be postponed.

A date had not been set by press time on Wednesday.

Community 13 10 6 21 - 50

Central Magnet 14 16 6 11 - 47

Community: M.J. Simmons 20, Breanna Whitaker 14, Zoey Dixon 8, Brianna Beech 5, Haley Mitchell 3, Shelby Cawthon, Addison Brothers.

Central Magnet: Olivia Hart 22, Kaitlin Polly 10, Addison Melton 6, Anaiyah Smith 5, Kathryn Hays 4, Helen Smith, Carly Phillips.

3-Point goals: Community (3): Simmons, Dixon, Beech; Central Magnet (1): A. Smith.

Halftime score: Central Magnet 30, Community 23.