1-30-13 —    The Monticello Lady Trojans stepped out of region play last Saturday afternoon to host 11th Region foe Madison Southern, at Monticello High School's Joe Harper Gymnasium.  The Lady Trojans were coming off their most impressive performance of the season, a 65-37 home win over Cumberland County, one week earlier and owned a 4-17 mark overall.  The Lady Eagles were also playing their best basketball of the season winning two in a row and three of their last four games, including back to back home wins over Estill County 53-45 and Sayre 56-40, to enter with an 8-15 record.  The teams last met on February

6 of 2010 with Monticello rolling to a 65-33 home win.

    The Lady Trojans placed three scorers in double figures and scored the first 10 points of the fourth quarter to race to a 52-42 lead, before Madison Southern answered back with a 21-10 run of their own capped off by go-ahead 3-pointer by Samantha Parms with 6.3 seconds remaining, as Monticello's attempt at the buzzer missed and the Lady Eagles claimed 63-62 win.

    Parms, a sophomore guard, netted a game high 24 points, highlighted by 6 3-pointers and 9 total field goals, while freshman forward Briana Lanham converted on 9 of 11 free throws, with 2 3-pointers to add 17 points, as Madison Southern improved to 9-15 on the season.

    "What a disappointing way to lose and end a game that we certainly could've won.  We missed a free throw late, but the killer was we had three crucial turnovers and allowed four offensive rebounds down the stretch and give credit to Madison Southern.  Parms made some clutch  

long-range threes and as team they hit 11, so that was a big key.   

Lanham drove the ball to the basket well and give her credit she not only drew the foul, but converted on those opportunities.  We switched up some things defensively, but they made plays," said Monticello head coach Marla Kelsch.

    Kelley Freeman netted 12 points, as five different Lady Eagles etched the scoring margin in the win.

    "Madison Southern has a nice team, but we didn't play with a lot of mental focus, or toughness down the stretch.  Our fundamentals were poor and 18 turnovers in a game this close just killed us.  We had a chance, but our shot didn't fall, so credit Madison Southern for their ability to make plays," said Kelsch.

    Monticello, which dropped to 4-18, was led by the 16 points and 9 rebounds of Bethany Peyton.  The freshman forward shot 6 of 11 from the floor and 4 of 5 from the free throw line, in 29 minutes of action.  Autumn Bell and Sarah Miller chipped in with 14 points each, as Bell shot 3 of 12 from the field and 6 of 7 from the charity- stripe, plus grabbed 8 boards with 6 assists, while Miller made 6 of

11 field goal attempts, plus tallied 5 assists in 27 minutes of play.

    Tristan McLean added 7 points, aided by 2 3-pointers and Taylor Troxell scored 6 points, while Destinee Duncan scored 5 points, as six different Lady Trojans scored in the contest.

    "We did some good things and played well at times, but we have to play with more consistency and focus for 32 minutes on both ends of the floor.  We shot the ball pretty well from both the field and the  

free throw line, but we have to take care of the basketball.   

Defensively we have to limit their trips and do a better job of boxing out," said Kelsch.

    Five different hosts scored in the opening quarter, to offset the 4 3-pointers of Madison Southern, as Monticello used the 5 points of Autumn Bell to take a 16-14 early lead.

    Samantha Parms totaled 3 threes in the second stanza and the Lady Eagles connected on 5 of 7 free throws to claim a 16-12 tilt, to own a 30-28 halftime edge.

    Bethany Peyton led all players with 6 points in the third frame and the Lady Trojans responded with a 15-12 surge to battle back to claim a 43-42 lead, after 24 minutes.

    Parms totaled 10 points in the fourth period and Southern tallied on

5 of 7 free throws down the stretch, as the Lady Eagles ended the game with a 21-19 clip, to take a 63-62 win.

    "We opened the fourth quarter pretty strong with a 10-0 run, but didn't make the plays down the stretch and they did," said Kelsch.

    Madison Southern, which enjoyed a 26-23 rebound advantage, shot 20 of 49 overall from the field for 41 percent, which included 11 of 29 from 3-point range for 38 percent.  The winners connected on 12 of 16 free throws for 75 percent and finished with 13 turnovers.

    Monticello made 21 of 46 attempts overall for 46 percent and tallied on 6 of 18 3-pointers for 33 percent.  The squad converted on 14 of

19 free throw attempts for 74 percent and totaled 14 assists with 4 steals, against 18 turnovers.

    The Lady Trojans host district rival McCreary Central on Tuesday night and end the week on Friday night, at 4th Region foe Cumberland County.  For details on both games check next week's edition of The Outlook.