Homestanding Lady Cards top Clinton Co. 56-51

Shannon Hutchinson, Sports Writer

Monticello — The Wayne County Lady Cardinals hosted Clinton County, last Tuesday

night at Cardinal gym, in the opening game of a girls-boys doubleheader.

Wayne County entered with a 6-14 record, but was coming off their best

effort of the season, a 52-49 win at Southwestern a night earlier. The Lady

Bulldogs had been off a week, since having a six game winning streak snapped

at the hands of Todd County Central 42-38 and owned a 12-7 mark. Clinton

County defended their home court with a 64-61 overtime win over the Lady

Cards just three weeks earlier.

Wayne County opened the game with a 29-12 run and used the game high

points of Jessica Hardin to roll to a 56-51 win. The freshman guard shot 8

of 12 from the field with 4 3-pointers, plus made 1 of 2 free throws, while

notching a game best 7 rebounds with a season best 5 assists, to pace the

Lady Cards to their third win in four games.

"I really think Jessica is starting to understand her role in the

offense and had a very nice all-around effort. She played very quick and was

explosive to the basket all night. The big difference in this game and our

first one with Clinton County, was our ability to handle the 1-3-1 zone. Our

kids responded better and I thought our execution was much improved," said

Wayne County head coach Tim Pyles.

Freshman forward Hallie Gillespie shot 5 of 7 from the field to add 10

points with 5 boards, as Wayne County claimed a 27-18 rebound advantage.

"Our rebounding has been a big key the last two games and that goes back

to effort. Hallie ran the floor well and got some easy transitions baskets.

We just need her to be more consistent running the floor, because when she

does good things happen," said Pyles.

Kayla Bowlin connected on 4 of 4 free throws to net 8 points with a game

high 8 assists, while Kourtney Criswell shot 3 of 5 from the field with 2

3-pointers to net 8 points. Sophomore reserve Samantha Sexton continued her

solid play with 6 points and Tashea Pyles contributed 3 points, as six

different Lady Cards etched the scoring column.

"Coming off a big road district win, I wasn't sure how we would respond,

but I was proud of our effort. We have been a little more consistent and

even with our play, which has allowed us to win some games, plus our ability

to get stops on the defensive end has helped," said Pyles.

Clinton County, which dropped to 12-8, placed three scorers in double

figures, led by the tandem Keistan Dalton and Stevi Morgan. Dalton, a junior

guard, shot 5 of 10 from the field with 5 3-pointers to net 15 points and 3

rebounds, in just under 31 minutes of action. Morgan, also a junior, shot 6

of 11 from the floor and 1 of 2 from the charity-stripe to post 14 points.

"I really like Clinton County's athletic ability, which makes them tough

to defend. Dalton is a very good shooter, plus Morgan and Flowers all are

experienced basketball players. They made a nice run in the third quarter,

but we managed to keep our focus, which is a positive," said Pyles.

Senior Brittney Flowers added 12 points and a team high 5 rebounds, as

five different Lady Bulldogs scored in the loss.

Jessica Hardin pumped in 9 points in the opening quarter, as Wayne

County shot 7 of 14 from the field to race to an 18-8 lead.

The Lady Cards continued the onslaught early in the second stanza with

an 11-4 surge to push to their largest lead of the contest at 29-12. Clinton

County ended the half with a 5-0 run of their own to leave the halftime

score at 29-17.

"We were able to get some easy shots in transition and got off to a very

good start. Clinton County made some tough shots, banked two or three in, in

the third quarter and we lost some momentum," said Pyles.

The Lady Bulldogs converted on 4 of 5 3-pointers in the third period and

capped off a 23-10 run of their own, with an 18-10 third frame, which closed

the Wayne County lead to 39-35, after three horns.

Kayla Bowlin scored all 8 of her points in the final eight minutes, as

Wayne County closed with a 17-16 tilt, to claim the 56-51 win.

Wayne County finished 22 of 41 overall from the field for 54 percent,

which included a 7 of 16 effort from 3-point land for 44 percent. The

winners made 5 of 6 free throws for 83 percent and totaled 14 assists with 3

steals, against 11 turnovers.

Clinton County connected on 18 of 41 field goal attempts for 44 percent,

which included 8 of 14 from 3-point range for 57 percent. The squad tallied

on 7 of 10 free throws for 70 percent and finished with 10 turnovers.

The Lady Cards return to action on Tuesday night with a roadtrip to 13th

Region favorite Clay County. The week ends with a Friday night home showdown

with Southwestern.

"Clay County is one of the top programs in the state, so that will be as

tough a trip as we make this year. Southwestern is always a huge rivalry

game, so this week will be a big challenge," said Pyles.

Details on both games in next week's edition of The Outlook.

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