Lady Lakers run away in fourth quarter

Lady Marshals drop
to 1-5 in district

By Ann Beckett
Tribune-Courier Sports
sports@tribunecourier.com

DRAFFENVILLE– Calloway County Lady Lakers came into Reed Conder Gymnasium last Friday sitting first in the District with their 4-1 record, their only district loss coming from Murray High School. On the other hand the Lady Marshals sitting at 1-4 in district play were hoping to take some of that steam out of the Lady Lakers with the District Tournament only a week away.

The Lady Marshals only district win this season was over the Murray High Lady Tigers on January 8th by a score of 64-59.

Just over three minutes of play elapsed before either team scored in the first quarter. Calloway got on the board first with a field goal followed by a three from Calloway’s Karlee Wilson taking an early lead over the Lady Marshals 5-0. The Lady Marshals trailed all of the first quarter but a Margaret Thomas nearly half-court three at the buzzer brought them to within two of the Lady Lakers, 14-12.

Kelsey Lawson’s three in the second quarter tied things up at 15. Calloway’s Averee Fields added a field goal followed up by a field goal by Michaela Hunt tying it up again at 17. Fields scored the next 10 of 11 for the Lady Lakers putting them up 28-21 over the Lady Marshals. Two free throws by Maury Greer drew the Lady Marshals to within five and another attempt at the buzzer by Thomas this time didn’t go. The Lady Marshals trailed 28-23 to the Lady Lakers at the half.

Calloway kept their edge over the Lady Marshals in the third quarter going into the fourth quarter with a 37-31 lead.

The Lady Marshals were within range of the Lady Lakers trailing by just five. Two field goals by Fields and a Fields steal and assist to Taylor Futrell and the Lady Marshals found themselves quickly down 43-32. Mariah McKenty added a three to draw the Lady Marshals to within nine, 46-37. With time running out the Lady Marshals had to begin fouling, losing to the Lady Lakers by a final score of 54-39.

Calloway’s Averee Fields proved once again why she’s one of the best players in the region, scoring 29 of her teams 54 points and pulling down 19 rebounds. Thomas led the Lady Marshals in scoring with 13 points. The Lady Lakers scored 16 points off turnovers compared to seven by the Lady Marshals.

The Lady Marshals are 1-5 in district play and will be the four seed playing the one seed Calloway County, in the first round of the 4th District Tournament to be played at Calloway County High School next week.