C.C. & The Music Factory

Freshman guard Carruthers directs Lady Rebels to pair of big district wins

Maryville’s Courtney Carruthers brings the ball up the floor in the win over Heritage on Friday. Photo by Wallace Bowden

A season ago, Courtney Carruthers established herself as a player to watch on the middle school level.

A year later, the Maryville High freshman, the Barley’s/Blount Press Row Player of the Week for the week ending Jan. 24, is a key component on a Lady Rebel squad intent on making the race for the district regular season championship a photo finish.

Carruthers, a point guard who can both score and distribute, led with 13 points, adding three assists, in a 54-33 win over District 4AAA frontrunner Bearden on Tuesday. The loss knocked the Lady Bulldogs from the ranks of the unbeaten in the standings, keeping Bearden, William Blount and Maryville tightly bunched at the top of the league table.

Friday, the Lady Rebels turned back a second half charge from visiting Heritage, Maryville pulling clear for a 62-47 win. Carruthers pumped in 10, including one of the Lady Rebels four 3s. Madison Coulter led four Lady Rebels in doubles figures with 12, with Anna Ray and Dee Fritz adding 11 each, Olivia Pepperman eight.

Carruthers averaged 11.5 points and 4.5 assists for the week.

If balanced scoring has anything to do with it, the Lady Rebels are sure to be a tough out the rest of the way.

This time a season ago, the playmaking Carruthers put up a game-high 13 points as Maryville Junior High fell in a close one, 33-30, to Carpenters Middle in the East Tennessee Area 3 Tournament title game.