DeKalb downs WCMS girls
The Lady Saints of DeKalb County Middle School visited Warren County Middle on Friday for a showdown at high noon.
The Lady Saints jumped out to an early lead in the opening period and never looked back, as DeKalb won 38-34.
Pressure defense by the Lady Saints resulted in nine turnovers in the first period by Warren County. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Cynthia Woodword and back-to-back baskets by Felicia Moore put the Lady Saints out in front 10-0 with 2:24 left in the period.
Kaitom Tanner broke the ice for Warren County after she hit one of two from the charity strip. Rachel Walker added a basket from the paint and with 47 seconds left in the period Cassie Wanamaker hit for two. DeKalb answered with basket from Shay Sullivan and Sarah West, but Walker nailed a jumper in the paint at the buzzer to pull the Lady Pioneers within nine at 16-7.
Turnovers continued to plague Warren County in the second quarter, but the Lady Pioneers’ defense slowed the Lady Saints down on offense. All five of DeKalb’s points in the period came from the free-throw line as Warren County cut into the lead with Jessica Mullican hitting a 3-pointer at the two-minute mark and Walker closed out the half with a basket in the paint. The Lady Saints still held the lead by the end of the half 21-18.
Warren County’s Macy Broom got the Lady Pioneers off to a good start in the third period, but Warren County went cold from the floor over the next five minutes of play. Jesse Paz scored with four ticks left on the clock as Warren County managed just four points in the period. DeKalb got baskets from West, Moore, Sullivan and Morgan Page as the Lady Saints held a 29-22 lead going in to the final period.
Warren County made things interesting in the fourth quarter with a pair of 3’s. Mullican nailed a 3-pointer at the 4:25 mark and Broom hit one with 1:30 left in the game. But Sullivan answered with a three of her own and then a give-and-go to West in the final 47 seconds of the game secured the win for DeKalb.
Broom led the Lady Pioneers with nine points. Walker added eight, Mullican and Paz had six points each. Linnsay Williamson and Wanamaker had two points each and Tanner added one.
For the Lady Saints, Moore, Sullivan and West had 10 points each. Woodword hit for six and Page hit for two points.