For the first time in four years, the Allen County-Scottsville Lady Patriots find themselves looking up at someone else on top of the District 15 standing midway through the basketball regular season. Back-to-back losses to Glasgow (47-34) and Monroe County (52-38) has left the Lady Patriots searching for a much-needed District win as Glasgow comes to Patriot Gym Friday night.
AC-S’s week started on a bad note yet closed with some reasons for optimism going forward. First, the bad side of a bad night.
After taking a 2-0 lead on a basket by Sarah Sutton to start the Glasgow game last week, the Lady Patriots went downhill. The Lady Scotties followed with a 14-0 run before Mason Towery’s hoop at the 2:13 mark. The Glasgow lead remained 10, 16-6, after the first period---a period in which the Lady Patriots missed of 12 shots from the floor.
The downhill slide continued as the Lady Scotties used a 10-2 second period to carry a 26-8 lead to the locker room at the break. The lone points for AC-S in the period would be a Towery field goal at the 4:52 mark. The inability to score left AC-S with a dismal three of 22 shooting mark (13.6%) for the first period. Sutton and Towery led the team in scoring as both the sophomores tallied four points.
AC-S regrouped at the break and played step-for-step with Glasgow the rest of the way. In the third frame, AC-S out scored the hosts 9-8 as their shooting slowly began to improve. In the final eight minutes, a 17-13 effort by AC-S pulled the Lady Patriots to within a final margin of 13.
Sutton struggled to find her shot in the game. She would finish with a game high 16 points on six of 16 shooting from the field. At the line, the sophomore went three of six. Sutton also grabbed 11 rebounds, giving her an 11th career double-double.
Towery also struggled with her touch. The sophomore missed nine of her 12 shots from the floor. However, at the line, Towery went seven for 11---with all free throws coming in the second half.
The third and last scorer in the game was Baylea Cook. The junior reserve sank two of her four shot attempts including a three-pointer and finished with five points. Cook also had two rebounds and a steal in just under 13 minutes of action.
Defensively, AC-S was able to hold North Florida signee Eli bartley to 11 points. Amanda Lee also had 11 points for the Lady Scotties in their win.
AC-S followed up the trip to Tompkinsville Saturday afternoon at Monroe County---pitted against the top-rated team in Region 4, as voted upon by area media repersentatives. The outcome would be a second loss but the play of the Lady Patriots featured multiple bright points.
First, the Lady Patriots shot the ball better in the first 16 minutes. Behind strong early game play by Towery---11 points in the first half---AC-S stayed step for step with the Lady Falcons throughout the first period. Despite falling behind 6-2, AC-S rallied to tie the game at six and climbed ahead, 8-7, on a Towery bucket midway through the first. Monroe County pulled ahead 13-10 before Towery’s sixth and seventh points of the night brought AC-S to within a point in the final 40 seconds of the first. However, two quick buckets by Lady Falcon Reagan Turner staked the hosts to a 17-12 lead,
A pair of Towery baskets and a inside score from Bailee Alderson---all coming on assist from Sutton, Cook, and Sydney Day kept AC-S within three at the 5:12 mark of the second. However, a second foul on Towery hurt the AC-S cause. The Lady falcons followed with a 7-0 run to build a 28-18 lead. AC-S answered with a jump shot off the hands of Kali Mutter and a put back by Sutton---hoops that enabled AC-S to pull within six at halftime,
The Lady Falcons used a 13-8 third period to stretch their lead. Aided by AC-S’s poor shooting in the third---a frame in which the Lady Patriots missed seven of nine shots including several close-in jumpers---Monroe County carried a 41-30 lead to the final eight minutes.
The poor shooting stayed with AC-S in the final period despite Sutton’s attempts to rally her team. The sophomore forward started attacking the basket but could not find her scoring touch. By game’s end, Sutton was only five of 20 from the floor. Yet, her buckets and her six of eight shooting from the free throws line enabled her to lead AC-S with 17 points. Sutton also grabbed nine rebounds, recorded three assists, and three steals.
Towery finished with 13 points on five of eight shooting from the floor and a three-of-four night from the charity stripe. Day, Mutter, Alderson, and Jaylee Woods added baskets for AC-S. The foursome were a combined four of nine from the floor---a bit of a bright spot given the fact that, against Glasgow, players other than Sutton, Towery, or Cook went a combined zero for 16 shooting the ball.
AC-S made 10 of their first 23 shots from the floor (43.5%) before finishing the game shooting 19 percent in the second half. Overall, AC-S was 14 of 44 for a 31.8 percent mark. Monroe County was 19-46 (41.3%) for the game. At the line, AC-S was nine for 12 compared to Monroe County’s 13-19. Monroe County owned the glass, out rebounding the Lady patriots 37-26. AC-S committed 14 turnovers which led to 15 Monroe County (14-2) points.
AC-S (8-7 overall, 1-2 in District 15) will get another crack at Glasgow (12-2) Friday night as the Lady Scotties come to Patriot Gym. Saturday, AC-S welcomes Greenwood (5-6). AC-S will then have a week off to prepare for Barren County (8-8) on January 20.