(by Don Meador, Allen County Schools)
A 16-9 Greenwood third quarter
proved to be the difference last Saturday as the Greenwood Lady Gators handed
the Allen County-Scottsville Patriots their second defeat in the opening week
of the new season. The Lady Gators prevailed 45-43 in a defensive struggle at
Bowling Green High School as part of the State Farm 14th/15th District
Challenge.
The loss overshadowed the outstanding effort by junior Allison Meador. Much like she done in the season-opener against South Warren, Meador displayed her shooting touch, finishing with a career-high 21 points. Senior Kaylee Bullington added a career-best 12 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and recorded six steals.
Bullington, Jae McReynolds, and Meador scored the Lady Patriots’ lone baskets over the first eight minutes. At the 5:36 mark, Meador sank a 3-pointer as AC-S took an 11-10 lead. The teams exchanged baskets until Jayleigh Steenbergen buried a 3-pointer at the two-minute mark to put the Lady Patriots ahead 17-15. Bullington added a pair of free throws to enable AC-S to take a 19-15 lead, a lead that would be the team’s largest of the game. Greenwood tied the game at 19 before Meador and Steenbergen sank foul shots to enable AC-S to grab a 22-19 lead at halftime.
A see-saw third quarter---a period in which the Lady Patriots struggled with free throws---concluded with the Lady Gators closing on an 8-2 run. A three-point play by Leah Trinh at the three minute mark was answered as Bullington scored on a drive to the basket. Trinh followed by swishing the nets for a 3-pointer and Hailey Gordon scored in the paint to give the Lady Gators a 35-29 lead with eight minutes left.
To say that AC-S had chances to close the six-point gap and pull out a win would be an understatement. After missing six of their nine free throw attempts in the third period, AC-S continued to be plagued by the inability to make foul shots along with baskets. With the AC-S defense preventing Greenwood from building upon their lead, the game was within the reach of the Lady Patriots heading into the final two minutes. Three missed free throws inside the last two minutes hurt the team’s chances. Still, AC-S refused to surrender. Meador pulled the Lady Patriots within two, 41-39, with 54 seconds left. Following a Greenwood turnover against the Lady Patriots’ pressure defense, Meador went back to the line, sank a pair of foul shots, and tied the game at 41 with 51 ticks remaining.
On the following play, Meador anticipated a Gator pass, stole the ball, and scored, giving AC-S a 43-41 lead. Greenwood quickly scored as Megan Une drove to the basket for a game-tying layup with 29 seconds left. As AC-S was looking to hold the ball for the final shot, Bullington was called for traveling, giving Greenwood the ball with 15 seconds left. Kayla Grant’s inside basket at the nine second mark lifted Greenwood to the two point lead. On their final play, AC-S’s Chloe Cook had her three point shot tipped with Greenwood grabbing the rebound to secure the win.
Shooting from the floor and the foul line plagued the Lady Patriots. AC-S finished 13-47 from the floor (27.7%) and 15-28 at the foul line (53.6%). Greenwood was 15-38 from the field (39.5%) and nine of 18 at the line (50%). AC-S outrebounded Greenwood 48-26. AC-S committed 18 turnovers that led to 13 points for the Gators but scored 14 points off of Greenwood’s 20 turnovers.
AC-S (0-2) is scheduled to host Adair County (0-3) Tuesday night before traveling to Greenwood (1-1) for a repeat match-up on Thursday. Friday, AC-S will host Cumberland County (1-2). Tuesday, the Lady Patriots are at Warren East (3-0).