UNIONVILLE, Tenn – Grundy County hit the boards and amassed a 15-point lead in the first quarter that the Community Vikings never recovered from in Community’s District 9-AA opening game on Wednesday, falling to the Yellowjackets by 22 points, 72-50.

Charlie Haskins put the first two points on the board for the Vikings around the four-minute mark in the first quarter. Haskins led the Vikings with eight in the first, but Grundy County kept him from scoring again in the final three quarters. Austin Stickler added two baskets of his own, but Grundy County banked in four three-pointers from Dylan Garcia, Sam Parson, and two by Nate Roberts in the period as part of a 20-point first quarter. The Yellowjackets walked to their bench after the buzzer leading the Vikes by six points, 20-14. 

Jaxson Williams, Landon Lovvorn, and Moe Berman all collected four points apiece for Community in the second quarter, but never pulled ahead of Grundy County before halftime. Grundy County continued to showcase their outside shooting prowess, connecting on four more three-pointers to bring their total to eight made triples in the first half. Parson, Roberts, and two from Carson Magouirk all helped extend the Grundy County lead as the Yellowjackets scored 21 points in the second period. Grundy County took an imposing 41-28 lead into halftime. 

Community came out of the locker room ready to fight back, but for each two they collected, the visitors responded with a three. The Yellowjackets added four more three-pointers to their tally from Garcia, Magouirk, Parson and Roberts. With 3:18 left in the third quarter the Vikings still found themselves trailing by 13 points. Stickler led the Vikings with six of the team’s 14 in the quarter, but Grundy County entered the final frame with a comfortable lead, 55-42.

To open the fourth quarter, Grundy County went on an 10-3 run to extend their advantage to 65-45. Stickler finished the game with 10 points, Lovvorn with eight, and Haskins had eight as well for Community. Berman and Williams also chipped in with six points apiece. Parson ended with a game-high 23 points while Roberts added 15 for the Yellowjackets, who ended up taking home their first district win of the season, 72-50.

Community falls to 8-8 (0-1) with their next game tentatively scheduled for Friday night at home against Murfreesboro Central Magnet.