Boyd seniors take final bow: Lady Broncos close season in winning style
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Boyd closed out its season Thursday night by celebrating a 47-40 victory over the visiting Lady Mountain Lions of St. Andrews. Seniors Tenara Jones and Mary Reynolds combined for 15 points to close out their high school careers as the Lady Broncos finished with a 4-19 record.
The Lady Broncos got off to a slow start, with turnovers in the first period giving St. Andrews the advantage. Jones scored three of Boyd’s five points in the period, but the Lady Mountain Lions’ Krista Tuff and Anneke Skidmore gave St. Andrews a 12-5 lead by the end of the period.
The Lady Broncos came out in the second period in a box and one defense, which shut down St. Andrews’ outside game. Boyd’s Amanda Prater and Tabitha King took control of the boards on both ends of the court and the result was a dominating second period by the Lady Broncos. Prater hit for six points in the period and with the help of Jones, Reynolds and Jennifer Laxton pulled Boyd within two points at the break at 21-19.
The third period was all Lady Broncos, with their swarming defense and control of the boards holding the Lady Mountain Lions to just four points in the period. Boyd’s offense clicked on all cylinders as Prater and King scored at will from paint and by the end of the period the Lady Broncos had built a 34-25 lead.
In the final period St. Andrews pulled within eight points at 38-30 with five minutes left on the clock. Several crucial turnovers by Boyd gave St. Andrews the opportunity to narrow the gap at 40-36 with just under two minutes left in the game. Jones was fouled and went to the line twice in the final two minutes as she hit four of six to secure the victory for the Lady Broncos.
Prater led the Lady Broncos with a double-double, hitting for 14 points and pulling down 23 boards. Jones had 11 points, Tabitha King hit for nine, Reynolds and Laxton had four points each. Alex Porter added three and Lydia Powell hit for two points.
For St. Andrews, Sara Mathes led with 16 points followed by Skidmore with 13 and Ashley Lytle hit for eight points.
PHOTO INFO:
Five seniors were honored Thursday night with gifts of appreciation for their hard work and dedication to Boyd basketball during a brief ceremony between the girls’ and boys’ games. The seniors and their parents were honored at mid-court by Boyd’s athletic director Jeanne Hagar. From left are seniors Eric Phillips, Mary Reynolds, Clint Patterson, Tenara Jones and Casey Hertwig. (Dale Stubblefield photos)