Turnovers cost Lady Broncos

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Lady Bronco Tenera Jones tries to work the ball down inside the paint as Monterey’s Rachel Miller plays aggressive defense during Tuesday nights high school action at Boyd. (Dale Stubblefield photo)

The Lady Broncos suffered their second loss of the season Tuesday, falling at home to Monterey 65-54.

“We made too many careless mistakes tonight. We turned the ball over 22 times in the first half and backed ourselves into a corner,” said first-year head coach Jamie Powell.

The Lady Wildcats used a full-court press in the first half, which created problems for the Lady Broncos. Boyd hit two early baskets in the first period and had a 4-2 lead at the 4:03 mark. Monterey answered with seven straight points while holding Boyd scoreless over the next two minutes of play. By the end of the first period Monterey held a 17-11 advantage.

In the second period all but four of the Lady Broncos’ points would come from the foul line. Monterey’s Brooke Osborne would heat up the net as she hit two 3-pointers in the period. Boyd’s aggressive offensive play would send them to the line to help give them 15 points in the period, but the Lady Broncos still trailed at the half 34-26.

The Lady Broncos opened up the second half with full-court pressure of their own. Lydia Powell went to the charity stripe three times in the period and connected on all of her attempts to help give Boyd 13 points in the third. The Lady Wildcats answered as five players combined for 13 points to hold on to their eight point lead by the in of the third 47-39.

Boyd opened up the final period with two points and then went on a cold streak as Monterey put in seven quick points to open up the game at 54-41. With the 13 point lead Monterey spread the court and started to run some time off the clock. Monterey’s defense became a little sloppy as Boyd picked up the pace on offense. Boyd hit for 15 points in the period and nine of those came from the foul line. The Lady Broncos tried to narrow the gap with aggressive defense, but guard play by the Lady Wildcats handled the pressure and helped Monterey to the victory. Boyd was 32 of 44 from the line and Monterey hit 11 of 16.

“We don’t have any girls with starting experience. It showed with our careless play. We let their defense shake us up a little and that just comes from being young,” said coach Powell.

Lydia Powell led the way for the Lady Broncos as she hit for 19 points, 10 of which came in the second half. Kati Sutton and Amber Hodge had eight points each. Amanda Prater hit for seven, Tabitha King had six points, Tenera Jones put in four points and Alex Porter added two.

For Monterey, Brooke Osborne led all scorers with 25 points. Rachel Swafford and Rachel Miller had eight. Ashley Harris seven, Christy Walls six. Shavohn Hodge and Shalena Parker had four points each. Tiffany Harris scored two and Kathryn Kniep added one.