Lady Pioneers erupt after slow start vs. Eagles
Saturday night the Lady Pioneers rebounded from their Friday night loss to Cookeville with a 69-33 win over the visiting Lady Eagles of Van Buren County.
In the first period both teams played solid on offense. Van Buren jumped out to a 6-4 lead in the first two minutes of play with Tyler Smith, Haley Cambell and Mica Hutchins keeping the game close as they combined for the Lady Eagles’ 10 points in the period. Leanne Pelham hit for six points in the period with Whitney Pelham putting the Lady Pioneers on top from the foul line 11-10 with just under two minutes to play in the quarter. Tia Williams gave Warren County a 13-10 lead by the end of the period as she hit from the paint.
The Lady Pioneers turned up the defensive pressure in the second period shutting out the Lady Eagles in the quarter. Warren County started to pull away in the period as they hit for seven points with 2:42 left on the clock and took a 22-10 lead at the break.
In the second half Warren County spread its offense around as 10 Lady Pioneers put points on the board. Hustle and good ball movement created 21 points for the Lady Pioneers in the third quarter. Van Buren went back to Smith who hit for six of the Lady Eagles’ 13 points in the period, but the visitors still trailed the Lady Pioneers 43-23 by the end of the third.
By the fourth quarter Warren County had worn down the Lady Eagles, who managed only 10 points in the final period as the constant in-your-face defense by the Lady Pioneers had taken its toll since the opening tip.
Warren County continued to produce from the floor in the final period, hitting for 26 points. Freshman Alysa Lankford pounded the boards late in the quarter as she hit for eight points to help Warren County to the victory.
For the Lady Pioneers, Leanne Pelham led all scorers with 20 points. Jasmine Ware and Lankford had eight points each. Whitney Pelham hit for seven points, Amanda Locke had six and Leah Cunnigham scored five points. Brittany Brewer and Tia Williams had four points each. Makenna Rhea scored three, Lindsey Cornelius and Hannah Higgins had two points each.
Smith led the way for Van Buren with 12 points. Cambell had eight, Hutchins six points, Lindsay Wilson had five and Tiffianie Ferguson scored two points.