Lady Broncos grab first ?W?: Walker?s 26 lift Boyd past David Brainerd

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Leah Walker drives to the basket on the way to two of her game-high 26 points, which helped the Lady Broncos to their first win of the season.

The Lady Broncos? high school basketball team celebrated its first win of the season at home Tuesday night against David Brainerd Christian. The Lady Wildcats rallied in the fourth quarter, but a 26-point performance on the night by Boyd?s Leah Walker put the Lady Broncos on top 43-40.

The Lady Broncos controlled the first half on both ends of the floor Tuesday night. Walker, who scored 18 points in the half, struck for seven in the first two minutes of play. Ginny Prater added a basket before the Lady Wildcats put their first points on the board at the 4:21 mark. By the end of the period Boyd held a 13-4 lead.

Boyd?s offense and defense continued to dominate the game in the second period. The Lady Broncos took a 19-4 lead before Lauren Hudgens and Lauren Caldwell scored the Lady Wildcats? only points in the period. Boyd closed out the final two minutes of the half with seven points with baskets from Walker, Prater and Lyndsey King for a 26-7 lead at the break.

The Lady Broncos had trouble scoring in the third period. Prater pitched in four points and Walker added three.

The Lady Wildcats worked the ball in the paint as Hudgens and Natalie North combined for nine points as the period ended with the Lady Broncos holding a 33-16 lead.

David Brainerd went back to work in the paint during the final period of play. Hudgens hit for 11 points for the Lady Wildcats and Natalie North hit four-of-four from the charity stripe in the final minute to pull Brainerd within four at 42-38. Boyd had trouble from the foul line in the final period, hitting just 10-of-28, with those baskets accounting for all their fourth-quarter points.

With 16 seconds left in the game Cassie Wanamaker hit the front end of two, securing the Lady Broncos? victory as they improved to 1-2 on the season.

Walker led with 26 points, followed by Prater with eight. King had five, Wanamaker three and Courtney Hard added one point for Boyd.

Hudgens led the Lady Wildcats with 18 points and North added 12.