The Switzerland County Lady Pacer varsity basketball team made the long trip to New Albany on Thursday night to battle the Class 4A Lady Bulldogs, and after playing the big school even through three quarters, a cold shooting final period doomed the guests to a 53-45 loss.
It was just the second loss on the season for Switzerland County, and snapped an eight-game winning streak.
It was a close game from the outset, as New Albany outscored the Lady Pacers 15-12 in the first quarter.
Eve Galbreath led Switzerland County with six points in the period; while Kelsi Konkle, Brooke Todd, and Makenzie Mathews each added two.
New Albany was led by Jessica Knight, who had two three-pointers and a freethrow in the first period.
Down by three, Switzerland County made a run in the second quarter, outscoring their hosts by a 16-9 count to take a 28-24 lead into the halftime break.
Eve Galbreath did much of the damage in the period, accounting for eight points; while Brooke Todd had six. Hailee Lay added the other two. Freethrows were also big in the second period, as the Lady Pacers went to the line for 11 attempts in the quarter, converting six of those.
In the third quarter, New Albany began to mount a charge of its own, but the Switzerland County defense held tough. The Lady Bulldogs won the quarter in scoring by a 16-13 count, but with a quarter to go, Switzerland County still held the overall lead, 41-40.
Hailee Lay got hot in the third stanza, drilling two three-pointers; and Makenzie Mathews also connected from long range for three in the period. Eve Galbreath and Brooke Todd each added two points; and it looked like the contest was coming down to an eight-minute shootout.
But that’s when the Lady Pacer offense went cold.
Switzerland County managed just four points in the final quarter, a basket by Eve Galbreath and two freethrows from Makenzie Mathews.
New Albany, meanwhile, scored 13 points in the period, leading to the eight-point win.
Final score: New Albany 53, Switzerland County 45.
“Tough fourth quarter for us,” Coach Ashley Kitts said following the game. “We went cold shooting and they knocked down some important free throws. This is why we picked this game up to help us get out of our comfort zone and prepare us for the end of the season. I feel as though we will walk away with some valuable teaching moments for practice tomorrow in preparation of North Decatur on Saturday.”
Eve Galbreath had a huge night for the Lady Pacers, scoring 18 points and pulling down 14 rebounds. She also had one steal.
Brooke Todd was in double figures with 10 points, and added five rebounds and seven assists; and Hailee Lay had eight points, three rebounds, and five steals.
Makenzie Mathews had seven points and four rebounds; and Kelsi Konkle had two points, two rebounds, and an assist.
New Albany was led by Brianne Hixon with 11 points; and Marissa Jones and Jessica Knight each had 10.
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In the junior varsity game, New Albany defeated Switzerland County 58-26.
Whitley Schirmer, Ashley Peelman, and Jody Breeck each had six points to lead the Lady Pacers; while Emerson Schroer had five points; Hope Tankersley had two points; and Taylar Jordan contributed one point.