The Switzerland County Lady Pacers picked up another ORVC win last Thursday night by defeating the South Ripley Lady Raiders by a score of 52-48.
The Lady Pacers were first on the board with Natalie Daugherty scoring a basket; and Ashley Chase then added two at charity stripe.
Lady Raider Beth Thieman would add two three-point shots to get the Lady Raiders on the board early in the opening period.
Ashley Bright added two at the foul line and Natalie Daugherty added a basket to take the lead back for Switzerland County, 8-6. Before the quarter would end Lady Raider Ashley Thomas would add a basket and chip one at the line. The Lady Pacers would end the quarter with Ashley Chase hitting a basket to end the quarter leading by a score of 10-9.
The Lady Raiders were first on the board in the second stanza with a basket; but Ashley Chase replied with a three-pointer to regain the lead, 13-11. The Lady Raiders would add three more baskets as the quarter progressed.
For Switzerland County in the second period: Ashley Chase would add two more baskets and chip in one from the foul line; while Amber Smith and April Thieman would each add a basket before going to the locker room leading 22-17.
The Lady Pacers outscored the Lady Raiders in the second eight-minute period, 12-8.
The second half started off with both teams countering back and forth with baskets. The Lady Pacers kept the lead by at least three points during much of the quarter; but with 1:20 left on the clock the Lady Raiders added a basket and then followed that with a three-pointer to get within one of the Lady Pacers, 36-35.
The third period ended with Ashley Bright connecting on a three-point shot in the closing seconds to extend the lead to 39-35.
In the final period, the Lady Raiders hit a basket and added one at the line in the first four minutes. In that same timeframe, the Lady Pacers had a three-point shot and a basket by Kodi Driver; and Ashley Chase also added a basket to give the Lady Pacers the lead, 46-38.
The Lady Raiders then went on a scoring run, hitting two at the line and two baskets to tighten the game to just a two point lead for Switzerland County, 46-44.
With less than a minute to go, the Lady Raiders had possession and a chance to tie or take the lead, but South Ripley passed the ball out of bounds, handing possession of the ball back to the Lady Pacers — who called a timeout to set the final moments.
April Thieman passed the ball into Ashley Chase, who then passed to Natalie Daugherty — who is all alone under the basket. The steady senior forward scored, expanding the lead to 48-44.
The Lady Raiders were then sent to the foul line, and when both shots were true, South Ripley had again closed to within two, 48-46.
The Lady Pacers kept their composer, though, and the Lady Raiders fouled Ashley Bright twice, sending her to the line.
She finished off the scoring for the Pacers when she connected on all four of her attempts at the line to make the score 52-46. The Lady Raiders would hit one more basket in the closing seconds, but it was not enough and the Lady Pacers took the win, 52-48.
Leading the team in scoring with double figures was Ashley Chase with 21, and she also pulled down seven rebounds. Kodi Driver finished with 10 points, and hit two three-pointers; Ashley Bright finished with nine points and was 6-for-6 at the free throw line, and had eight rebounds.
Natalie Daugherty finished with six points and also had eight rebounds. Amber Smith chipped in four points and April Thieman added two points and two steals.
*
The Lady Pacer junior varsity team lost to the Lady Raiders by a final score of 36-31.
Leading the scoring for Switzerland County were Tanya Sefton with 10 points; Karista Wengert finished with seven points; and Morgan Ross and Lauren Chase each finished with six points. Megan McCarty chipped in two.