The first week of the new season was a story
of bounce backs and bombs. Saturday, the Allen County-Scottsville Lady Patriots
bounced back from a poor third quarter to escape with a 58-52 win over Central
Hardin. The result was also a bounce-back victory after the long range bombs of
South Warren carried the Lady Spartans to a 73-45 season-opening win over AC-S.
Halfway through Saturday’s match up with
Central Hardin, things looked good for AC-S at the Corky Cox Classic at LaRue
County. The Lady Patriots led the Lady Bruins 29-16. Quick buckets by Bailee
Alderson and Sarah Sutton stretched the lead to 17, 33-16, early in the third leaving
AC-S looking as if they were well on their way to an easy victory. Such would
not be the case.
Motivated by an aggressive full court
defense and energized by a helping of a half dozen Lady Patriot turnovers in a
four-minute span, Central Hardin went on a 12-0 run. AC-S slowed the charge as Sarah
Sutton scored but a seventh turnover was followed by a three-point
basket---bringing the Lady Bruins to within four with 1:08 left in the third. A
put back basket by Sutton was answered as Central Hardin hit a three-pointer in
the final seconds to cap off a 20-9 frame and pull within two, 38-36.
AC-S pushed the lead to seven early in the
fourth after Mason Towery sank a pair of free throws at the 6:41 mark. Central
Hardin continued to storm back with the comeback completed at the 3:24 mark. A
three-pointer by Monica Lindsey---the Lady Bruins’ eighth of the game---tied
the score at 48. Less than a minute later, a bucket by Bruin Alyssa Carroll
gave Central Hardin a 50-48 lead---a score that capped a 34-19 second half run
for the Lady Bruins.
However, the game was not over. Sydney Day
found Towery open with her bucket at the 1:58 mark knotting the game at 50.
Central Hardin’s Emily Bryant charged into Alderson on the next series. AC-S
took advantage. Following a pair of offensive rebounds by Baylea Cook and
Sutton, Jaylee Woods dished the ball to Sutton who scored to give AC-S a 52-50
lead. The Lady Bruins answered on their next possession.
With just under a minute left, Sutton drew a
foul. The junior calmly sank the shots as AC-S retook the lead, 54-52. A
blocked shot by Towery stopped Central Hardin’s counter. However, two missed
free throws by Day left the door open for the Lady Bruins. Not to be
discouraged, Day atoned for his missed free throws by taking a charge on the
next series, giving AC-S the ball with 18 seconds left. Four free throws by
Sutton secured the win for AC-S.
Sutton and combined for 42 points and 25 rebounds to lead the Lady
Patriots. Sutton recorded her 18th career double-double with 26 points and 15
rebounds. Towery added 16 points and 10 rebounds to register the second
double-double of her career.
The Lady Patriots shot 42.9% from the field (18-42) and 55.6% at the
line (20-36). Central Hardin went 16-45 from the floor (35.6%) and 12-18 at the
line (66.7%). AC-S out rebounded Central Hardin 41-27.
"I thought we came out initially and
played great defensively, didn't rebound on the defensively side like we should
have but we negated their best player, Emily Bryant from the beginning," AC-S coach Brad Bonds said. “Offensively we
struggled to get any rhythm early but crashed the boards and offensive
rebounding and free throws enabled us to have the lead we did."
Bonds explained that a couple of factors
played into his team’s play in the third frame.
"I thought we got a little rushed in
the third quarter when they put some pressure on us and we once again failed to
slow down and be patient,” Bonds noted. “That along with Central Hardin
catching fire from the perimeter watched our lead evaporate."
However, the coach like what he saw from his
team in the final minutes.
"I'm not pleased with giving up the
lead, but how we responded was great,” Bonds pointed out. “We had to fight and
find a way to win and that was big for our kids. Once we took the
deficit, Mason (Towery) had a big basket, then a put back and foul and we hit free
throws down stretch to put it away."
Saturday’s win was a bounce-back moment for
a team shocked somewhat by the hot-shooting of a talented South Warren team on
November 28.
Despite 23 points and 13 rebounds from Sutton, the Lady Patriots dropped
a 73-45 decision to South Warren. AC-S could not overcome a 23-3 first quarter
run by South Warren---an onslaught highlighted by three pointers left and
right.
The Lady Spartans===the top-ranked team in Region 4 by the Daily News’ media poll---outscored the
Lady Patriots 50-42 the rest of the way to record the opening game win. South
Warren finished the night 26-61 (42.6%) from the field including 13 of 33 from
beyond the arc. Four Lady Spartans---Natalie Pierce, Peyton Ferry, Sarah
Dennison, and Amaya Lashley---scored in double figures for the hosts.
The Lady Patriots went 14-42 from the floor for a 33.3% shooting clip. At the line, AC-S made seven of eight free throws. The Lady Patriots were even with the Lady Spartans on the glass as both teams recorded 34 rebounds. Towery added 11 points. Seniors Baylea Cook, and Kali Mutter, junior Jaylee Woods, and eighth-grader Chloe Cook combined to score 12 points. Senior Bailee Alderson grabbed seven rebounds. Senior Sydney Day led the team with five assists.