NASHVILLE — A stellar defensive effort and a big night in the paint from junior M.J. Simmons powered the Community Viqueens past the Pearl Cohn Firebirds in the Region 4-AA semifinals on Monday night.
Community (24-7) held the Lady Firebirds (20-6) to just nine second-half points and punched its ticket to the tournament finals on Wednesday with a 63-28 win.
The Viqueens opened Monday night’s region semifinal with a monster first quarter.
Simmons led the charge and notched 12 of the Viqueens’ 16 first-quarter points, while defensively, the Purple and Gold held Pearl Cohn to just two points—a basket by Erianna Thomas with 6:58 to go in the quarter.
Aside from that, Community handled the Lady Firebirds by controlling the boards and limiting Pearl Cohn’s effectiveness in the paint.
While the first quarter was all Community, Pearl Cohn rallied for 17 in the second quarter and at one point, cut the Community lead to three points after a basket by Thomas to cap a 13-2 run.
“In the first half, we struggled and gave them some easy layups. We adjusted in the second half and made every shot tough and didn’t let them go by us,” Viqueen coach Cody Pierce said.
Community answered the Lady Firebird run with back-to-back three-point plays by Breanna Whitaker and Simmons to push the Community lead to 24-15 with 2:12 left in the half.
By halftime, Community built a 26-19 lead.
At the half, Pierce and his staff was able to make the necessary adjustments and in the third, it was another lopsided quarter in favor of the Viqueens.
Community went on an 18-point tear, with Simmons tacking on another nine points in the quarter by driving to the basket and also working the free throw line.
“She (Simmons) is who we played through. She did a good job finishing and knocked some free throws down. We hit one or two outside shots that opened the inside back up,” Pierce said.
Defensively, it was another lockdown effort by Community as the Viqueens held the Lady Firebirds scoreless from the floor.
The only points Pearl Cohn mustered up in the third quarter came on a pair of free throws by Thomas at the 2:00 mark, when Simmons was whistled for her third foul.
With Simmons being the spark plug for the Viqueen offense for the better part of three quarters, Community’s depth proved invaluable in the third.
After Simmons’ third foul, Pierce turned to Shelby Cawthon off the bench and Community didn’t miss a beat attacking the paint.
Cawthon entered the game and scored four points off the block in the final minute to help Community fuel an 18-point quarter.
“That’s huge when you have players you can bring off the bench and don’t miss a beat on offense. Shelby gave us some big minutes,” Pierce said.
Not much changed in the fourth quarter as the Viqueens rattled off another 19 points en route to the 35-point victory.
Pierce was quick to credit the Viqueens’ efforts off the glass and limiting second-shot opportunities by Pearl Cohn as helping guide Community to the Region 4-A A title game on Wednesday.
“To win big games like that, you have to box out every possession and that’s what we’re doing,” he said.
Not much went against Community’s game plan.
Simmons pitched in a game-high 29 points and junior Haley Mitchell broke loose for 10 of her 16 total points in the fourth quarter.
While Community managed just one 3-pointer, a make by Breanna Whitaker in the third quarter, Community shot an effective 14-of-20 at the free throw line, good enough for 70% on the night.
Thomas was the lone Lady Firebird to reach double figures with 15 points.
Monday’s game marked the 14th-straight win by the Viqueens and Community hopes No. 15 will mark a Region 4-AA title to go with their District 7-AA title won a week ago.
But at this stage of the game, there are no “bad” teams and every game is a battle.
Awaiting Community in the Region 4-AA championship is East Nashville, who was ranked No. 3 in the final Class AA AP poll.
The Lady Eagles currently are on a 17-game win streak, including beating Forrest in the other 4-AA semifinal on Monday evening.
While the prospect of facing such a talented opponent might be a daunting task for some, for Pierce and the Viqueens, it’s a business as usual approach in preparing for Wednesday’s championship game.
The winner of Wednesday’s game will host the Class AA state sectional game on Saturday night.
“We’re having a lot of fun. We’re going to continue to do the things we’ve done the last 15 or 16 games—play hard, rebound and take good shots on offense,” he said.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. against East Nashville at Whites Creek on Wednesday evening.

Pearl Cohn 2 17 2 7 — 28
Community 16 10 18 19 — 63

Pearl Cohn: Erianna Thomas 15, Christina Groves 5, Dynae Davis 3, Madison Woodard 3, Ayanna Batey 2.
Community: M.J. Simmons 29, Haley Mitchell 16, Breanna Whitaker 8, Shelby Cawthon 6, Zoey Dixon 2, Addison Brothers 2.
3-Point goals: Pearl Cohn (2): Davis, Woodard; Community (1): Whitaker.
Halftime score: Community 26, Pearl Cohn 19.