Mt. Juliet displayed its usual efficiency in Thursday night's first semifinal, dispatching Franklin County 52-37 to reach its third straight Landair Classic championship game.
Middle Tennessee State signee Caya Williams canned 12-of-15 shots on her way to a game-high 25 points for the Bears (14-1), which decided matters in the first four minutes by scoring 15 unanswered points.
“We took advantage of some opportunities,” Mt. Juliet coach Chris Fryer said. “They were playing a junk defense and left some people unguarded. We were able to knock down those shots.”
The Rebelettes (7-10) managed to cut the deficit to 23-20 early in the second quarter as Chelsea Holman drained a couple of 3s while Danielle Jordan worked for six points and four assists.
But the Bears restored order by ripping off the half's last 11 points, then gradually built the lead as high as 22 in the fourth quarter.
Fryer said his team has looked forward to another crack at the championship it won in 2009, then lost last year to Hoover (Ala.).
“It would mean a lot to win another title here because we enjoy coming up here so much,” he said. “The girls remember how they felt after losing last year.”
Lacy Gaines led Franklin County with 11 points.  
MT. JULIET (52): Jackson 1-7 0-0 3, Baugher 3-5 0-0 9, Mitchner 3-5 0-0 8, McCabe 3-5 1-1 7, Williams 12-15 0-0 25, Taylor 0-0 0-0 0, Alley 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-37 1-1 52.
FRANKLIN COUNTY (37): Preston 0-0 0-0 0, C. Holman 3-6 0-0 9, Meeks 0-6 2-2 2, Jordan 2-6 5-6 9, Gaines 4-10 1-1 11, Stovall 1-2 0-0 3, A. Holman 0-0 0-0 0, Hood 0-0 0-0 0, Mathis 1-3 0-0 3. Totals 11-33 8-9 37.
3-point goals: MJ 7 (Baugher 3, Mitchner 2, Jackson, Williams). FC 7 (C. Holman 3, Gaines 2, Stovall, Mathis).
Score by quarters:
Mt. Juliet    21    13    11    7 -- 52
Franklin County    15    5    5    12 -- 37