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By JUSTIN BEASLEY, Courier Sports Writer
Cannon County head coach Matt Rigsby will be the first to say that Friday's 59-37 win over the Tigers at Central Magnet wasn't pretty.
But he'll take a district road win anyway he can get it.
"We talk about winning the first three minutes," Rigsby said. "We didn't do it."
Tied up 8-8 early, the Lions (5-2, 1-0) ended the first quarter on a 9-0 tear with eight points from Josh Ruehlen.
"He's played pretty soundly all year," Rigsby said. "He can knock down a shot."
Ruehlen scored 21 points to lead three Lions in double figures as Jacob Nave and Austin Martin scored 10 each.
Defensively, Cannon County only gave up 14 points in the first half. But the Tigers shot 50 percent from the field in the third, outscoring the Lions 18-11.
"This is the first game so far out of the first seven that we have not won the first quarter," Rigsby said.
"We had many breakdowns and allowed them to many penetration lanes. Several times (Austin Martin) was there, four of five blocks maybe, able to be there and clean it up."
Leading by as much as 41-21 in the third, the Tigers ended the quarter on an 11-1 run.
But seven turnovers from the Tigers in the fourth resulted in 17 points for the Lions, extending their largest lead to 25 points.
"That's a huge stat, especially for us," Rigsby said of the seven turnovers.
Cannon County shot 48 percent (24-of-49) from the field.
Cannon County
17 14 11 17
Central Magnet
8 6 18 5
Cannon County: Josh Ruehlen 21, Austin Martin 10, Jacob Nave 10, A.J. Daniel 9, Colin Anderson 3, Marshall McReynolds 3, Garret McReynolds 2, Tyler King 1.
Central Magnet: Caleb Bartolotto 7, Zach McCrary 6, Aaron Kuhn 5, Patrick Blair 4, Cameron McGowen 4, Neal Burton 3, Jeremiah Petty 3, Wes Patrick 3, Ben Gregory 2.
Ruehlen leads CC
over Coffee Co.
Cannon County scored 27 points in the first quarter to defeat Coffee County Saturday night 68-52 at Cannon County.
Point guard Josh Ruehlen led the Lions with 14 points, followed by Marshall McReynolds and Jacob Nave with nine points each.
Ruehlen scored nine points in the second period, burying three 3s to extend the lead to 45-19 at the half.
The Lions led 27-6 after the first quarter. Overall, Cannon County shot 49 percent (28-of-57) and Coffee County was held to 36 percent (20-of-55).
The Lions previously won at Coffee County 67-45 on Nov. 21.
Up Next: Cannon County travels to Macon County on Tuesday for their second district 8-AA game.
Coffee County 6 13 13 20
Cannon County
27 18 13 10
Coffee County: Peyton Talley 5, Wyatt Day 8, Ty McGee 6, Zach Taylor 8, Stephen Sullivan 1, Garrett Eldridge 4, Boone Riddle 2, JP Duncan 9, Grant Sadler 9.
Cannon County: Josh Ruehlen 14, Austin Martin 8, Jacob Nave 9, Colin Anderson 4, Marshall McReynolds 9, Garret McReynolds 7, Tyler King 4, Anton Knox 4, Austin Brock 4, Briar Jakes 5.
