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Lady Patriots Continue Win Steak


  Wins over Greenwood, Metcalfe County, and Franklin-Simpson may not have been works of art but, at the end of the next-to-last week of the regular season, the Allen County-Scottsville Lady Patriots are 17-11 and winners of five consecutive games. 

  The week began with a hard-fought 54-45 win against Greenwood. A 22-point effort by Sarah Sutton and a career-high 13-point performance by Baylea Cook enabled AC-S to pull away from an improving Greenwood team for the win.

  The Lady Gators used 12 of 24 first half shooting to stay within a point of the Lady Patriots last week. AC-S led 16-14 after the first eight minute but struggled to find scoring in the second quarter. By the break, Sutton’s 17 points and Cook’s seven points provided the bulk of the scoring, keeping the Lady Patriots ahead in the close-game---evident by the 14-lead changes in the half.  

  Greenwood would match AC-S point-for-point for much of the third quarter. A three-pointer by Mason Towery helped AC-S open a five-point lead early in the period. Later, with AC-S ahead by six, the Lady Gators sank one of their four three’s to trim the lead to three. In the final seconds, AC-S led 37-36 before Sutton made a fall away three to give the Lady Patriots a four-point lead, 40-36. 

  AC-S’s earned a bit of breathing room after back-to-back three pointers from Chloe Cook and Towery. However, Greenwood still battled, closing to within seven points on three occasions in the fourth. Buckets from Towery and Baylea Cook helped AC-S record the win. 

  A key stat in the game was free throws. Sutton went seven of eight from the line---part of a night in which the host Lady Patriots were nine of 10 at the strip. Greenwood was five of nine from the line. From the floor, AC-S was 20-47 compared to Greenwood’s 18-42. AC-S out rebounded Greenwood 32-22 with Sutton leading the way with eight rebounds. 

  The Lady Patriots escaped the upset thoughts of the Metcalfe County Lady Hornets Thursday night at Patriot Gym. Towery led the way in the 53-46 win. The junior erupted from a shooting shump to score a team-high 15 points. She also grabbed 13 rebounds enablinh her to register the fourth double-double of her career. 

  Towery’s play would be needed on a night in which the Lady Patriots struggled to pull away from the Lady Hornets. After opening a 12-8 lead after the first quarter, AC-S clinged to a 23-18 lead at the break. Heading into the final period, the Lady Patriots owned a slim 35-33 lead. 

  Metcalfe County (8-14) started the fourth quarter with a three-pointer by Ellie Chaffee, a basket that lifted the guests to the lead. The Lady Patriots answered with a sense of urgency. Guard Sydney Day dished to Towery for a go-ahead bucket. After a defense stop, Sutton scored on a put back. On their next possession, Day again fouled Towery for a jumper---a basket that lifted the Lady Patriots to a 41-36 lead with 6:42 remaining. 

  Lady Hornet Katie Harbison---who would score 25 in the game---brought her team to within three moments later. Towery, Baylea Cook, and Sutton would score baskets over the next several possessions to enable AC-S to remain ahead. Free throws in the final minute by Kali Mutter and Day lifted AC-S to the win. 

  AC-S was 21 of 48 from the floor and eight of 12 at the line. Metcalfe County made 17 of 51 shots and went seven of 12 at the foul stripe. 

  Towery’s Thursday night effort set the stage for a milestone moment Friday night during AC-S’s 53-35 win at Franklin-Simpson. The junior became the 14th Lady Patriot to score 1,000 points in her career. Towery---who finished with a game high 19 points---scored her 1,000th point on a lay-up at the 4:16 mark in the second period. 

  Towery’s basket lifted AC-S to a 23-2 lead over the Lady Cats. However, from that point forward, the game became a physical grind game. The Lady Cats closed the first half with a 7-3 run, leaving AC-S with a 26-9 lead at the break. The teams essentially traded baskets the rest of the way. The third frame was knotted at 14 with AC-S winning the final period, 14-13. 

  The Lady Patriots finished the night 18 of 47 from the floor for a shooting clip of 38.3%. The Lady Cats (5-22) were 13-536 from the floor and four of five at the line.

  AC-S (17-11) will open the post-season Monday night against Glasgow in the first game of the District 15 tournament. Monday’s game will have Barren County and Monroe County playing at 6 p.m. at Glasgow High School. Immediately following the game, the gym will be cleared of all students and fans. Gates will reopen at that time---expected to be around 7:30. Admission is $5.00 per session, AC-S and Glasgow will tip at 8:15.