Big ‘D’ produces big ‘W’: Lady Pioneer freshmen win over Oakland
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With two Lady Pioneers finishing in double figures, Warren County (2-9) used a 17-6 second-quarter run and tenacious defense to help put the Lady Patriots down early, then held on in the second half when Oakland turned up its own defensive pressure to keep momentum on their side.
Elizabeth Lavoie led the way for the Lady Pioneers with 14 points, while Elizabeth Kennamer had 11, including nine in the fourth quarter.
Kelah Walker scored six, Savannah Rutledge had five, Ashlin Martin scored four — all in the fourth quarter — and Megan Hobbs and Jessica Ford added three each while Ashley Hobbs chipped in two.
Ahead 10-6 after the first quarter, Lavoie scored eight points in the second and Walker chipped in a 3-pointer to help the Lady Pioneers to 17 second-period points. On the other end of the court, the Lady Pioneers forced nine turnovers in the first quarter and 10 more in the second, as they took a 27-12 lead by intermission.
The Lady Patriots tried to battle back in the third quarter, going to a full-court press which gave WCHS trouble bringing the ball downcourt. When they were able to get into their halfcourt offense Warren County’s girls struggled, hitting just two of their 15 attempts from the field in the period as Oakland closed the gap to 33-26 heading into the game’s final period.
Warren County righted its ship, however, crashing the boards for 11 rebounds and posting 15 points in the fourth to hold on for the win, their first since a Dec. 11 victory over Cookeville.
Shanika Smith led the Lady Patriots with 16 points, while Keisha Kincaid and Chelsee Barbo had five each. Brittany Bryan had four, Tiffany McKnight scored three, and three Lady Pats — Jalysa Erskine, Liqa Minter and Megan Euverard — scored two each.
The Lady Pioneers will try to make it two in a row Thursday night, when they take on Blackman in the squad’s final home game of the 2003-04 season. Tipoff at the Charlie Dalton Gym is set for 6:30 p.m.