Allen County-Scottsville’s Allison Meador, Kaylee Bullington, and Jayleigh Steenbergen combined for 51 points, 31 rebounds, and nine assists Monday night at Butler County. However, their efforts were not enough to lift the Lady Patriots to a win as Butler County clawed their way to a 63-60 win.
The loss overshadowed a performance by Meador which ranks as one of the best single games ever posted by a Lady Patriot player. The junior finished with 25 points and 20 rebounds---one of only a handful of Lady Patriots that have ever scored 20 or more points and grabbed 20 or more rebounds. Sarah Sutton is believed the have the record for most rebounds in a game---grabbing 23 last year (and scoring 33 points) in a win at Metcalfe County. Meador made nine field goals and went seven of eight at the foul line. On the glass, Meador collected eight offensive and 12 defensive to finish with her career highs in both categories. For good measure, Meador also had four assists.
In addition to Meador’s night, senior Kaylee Bullington added a career-best 16 points on seven of 12 shooting from the floor. Bullington dished out four assists. Eighth-grader Jayleigh Steenbergen also had career highs in points (10) and rebounds (9). Junior Jae McReynolds led the team in assists with six.
AC-S played from behind for most of the night. A basket from Meador on the first possession of the game and a pair of free throws staked AC-S to a 4-0 lead. The Lady Bears answered with an 11-0 run as the Lady Patriots went scoreless for almost six minutes. A Meador jumper and a Bullington hoop in the final 30 seconds pulled AC-S to within five, 13-8, after the first frame.
After missing 16 of their first 19 shots from the floor, the Lady Patriots started making shots and climbed back into the game in the second quarter. A jumper from Haleigh Steenbergen, a lay-in from Jayleigh Steenburgen, and a basket by Bullington pulled the Lady Patriots to within two just over two minutes into quarter two. A quick run by the Lady Bears stretched their lead to eight again before a pair of Jayleigh Steenbergen free throws, a 3-pointer from Taylor carter and a Meador three-point play tied the game at 22 by the 1:31 mark. AC-S open a 28-25 lead late in the period before Butler County closed the half with a 3-pointer to tie the game at 28.
Three 3-point jumpers in the first six minutes of the third frame enabled Butler County to open a 45-36 lead. After a basket from Taylor Clark, Butler County led by 11, 47-36 with 1:42 left in the third. Meador, Jayleigh Steenbergen, and Grace Tuttle sank jumpers in the final minute to pull the Lady Patriots to within seven after three, 49-42.
AC-S continued to battle despite severe foul trouble the rest of the way. Down 11 (53-42) with 7:37 left in the game, the Lady Patriots would out score the Lady Bears 18-10 the rest of the way. Baskets from Meador, Jayleigh Steenbergen, and Bullington pulled AC-S to within five. The Lady Patriots eventually closed the lead to three on three occasions but each time Butler County answered---either with an inside basket or free throws.
Still, AC-S had their chances to pull out the win. Trailing 61-58 inside the final minute, Tuttle missed a game-tying three. After Lady Bear Jacie Ward sank one of two free throws, Meador took a pass from Carter and scored to pull AC-S to within two, 62-60, with 13 seconds left. On the inbounds, Carter was whistled for an intentional foul---a highly questionable call that left Butler County shooting two free throws and with possession. Jenna Phelps missed the free throws with the Lady Patriots then forced to foul again with five seconds left. Phelps sank one of two to give the hosts a 63-60 lead. Jayleigh Steenbergen’s desperation three at the horn was short.
The stats for the game were a bit extraordinary. The Lady Patriots finished the game 23-66 from the floor (34.8%) and 13-16 (81.3%) at the foul line. The Lady bears were 17-57 from the floor and 25-45 at the foul line. AC-S grabbed 47 rebounds in the game while Butler County had 51 rebounds. A total of 49 fouls were called---29 against Lady Patriots resulting in Carter, McReynolds, Bullington, and Haleigh Steenbergen fouling out.