PAUL LUNSFORD
Staff Writer
The Evarts Lady Cats held off a scrappy Rosspoint team to capture the county fifth- and sixth-grade basketball championship Tuesday at James A. Cawood Elementary School.
Evarts led most of the way before edging Rosspoint 21-20.
“Rosspoint’s defense gave us fits tonight,” Evarts coach Jamie Smith said. “You’ve got to tip your hat to them. We’ve played them four times this year and it’s hard to beat a team in and out, in and out.
“These kids always look for each other and have never been a selfish team. I’m just tickled to death.”
Evarts (16-1) was led by Morgan Blakley’s nine points. Ashley Day scored six.
Brooklyn Collins paced Rosspoint (12-5) with eight points. Madison Blanton added four.
“Early on, we couldn’t get our shots to fall,” said Rosspoint coach Jamie Sergent. “In the second half, we came out and did what we were suppose to do.”
Two baskets by Ashley Day gave Evarts a 6-4 lead after one quarter. Hannah Jones and Blakley each scored to make it 10-4 with four minutes left in the first half. Evarts held a 14-8 advantage at halftime.
The scoring by both teams in the third quarter was slowed by turnovers. Evarts turned the ball over 10 times in the period while Rosspoint committed seven. Evarts took a 17-11 lead into the fourth quarter.
Day’s jumper with 5:15 to play made it 19-11. Two straight baskets by Collins pulled Rosspoint within four with 3:44 remaining.
Two free throws by Dixie Ewing made it 21-15 at the 3:03 mark. Rosspoint fought back with a basket by Blanton at 1:28 to play and a 3-pointer by Kaitlyn Cornett with 44 seconds remaining.
However, Evarts held on for the victory. The Evarts Lady Cats opened the season by winning nine consecutive games. A loss at Cawood on Sept. 18 turned the rest of the season into seven straight wins including the county title.
“Overall, the season has been awesome,” said Smith. “Back in February, when we were in AAU in Bristol, and won a tournament out there, something clicked in their heads and since that point on they just believed in every game. It showed here tonight.”
Sergent was pleased with the season for Rosspoint.
“We lost to Evarts by 30 in the first game and tonight we lost by one, so we’ve improved a lot.”
———
Katelyn Johnson fired in 34 points as Cawood claimed the third-place game with a 42-20 win over Wallins. The Lady Comets closed the season with a 14-3 record. “We defeated every team in the county this year, so that says a lot about our basketball team,” Cawood coach Teddy Stephens said. “I’m super proud of my girls. They never miss a practice, they’re unselfish and have worked very hard.”
Cawood held an 8-6 lead after one quarter. Johnson scored five points in the second quarter as the lead grew to 17-10 at the break.
Johnson had all of her teams 12 points in the third quarter as the Lady Comets took a 29-15 lead into the fourth period.
Johnson nailed her fourth 3-pointer of the game early in the fourth quarter as Cawood cruised to the victory. Whitney Wilson paced Wallins (8-9) with 10 points.
———
EVARTS (21) — Morgan Blakley 9, Ashley Day 6, Dixie Ewing 2, Hannah Jones 2, Kaitlin Krahenbuhl 2. ROSSPOINT (20) — Brooklyn Collins 8, Madison Blanton 4, Kaitlyn Cornett 3, Abigail Stevens 2, Cassie Farley 2, Hannah Hoskins 1.
———
CAWOOD (42) — Katelyn Johnson 34, Madison Cole 4, Amber Irvin 2, Hannah Stephens 2.
WALLINS (20) — Whitney Wilson 10, Peyton Griffin 5, Hannah Woods 5.
Post a Comment
