In a game that was never in doubt after the Lady Pacers ripped off eight straight points to open the game, Switzerland County advanced to the championship game of the Rivertown Classic with a 57-26 victory over Lawrenceburg last Wednesday night.
The first quarter run was fueled by Hayley South, who had six of the first eight points – sandwiched around an inside basket from Trisha Smith – and Lawrenceburg didn’t manage a point until the quarter was half over.
After Lyndsey Van Cleave scored for Lawrenceburg, Switzerland County went right back to work, running off seven straight points to go up by a 15-2 score. Trisha Smith had six of those seven points, with Kristen Perry adding a freethrow.
Kennedi Willis’ three-pointer at the buzzer were the only other Lady Tiger points of the opening quarter, and Switzerland County was comfortably ahead, 15-5.
The start of the second period again saw another Lady Pacer run, with Hayley South getting things started with a runner down the baseline, followed by a jumper and a three-pointer from point guard Becca Sittloh that pushed Switzerland County in front 22-5.
Lawrenceburg got a basket to stop the run temporarily, but Hayley South converted a freethrow to spark yet another Switzerland County run.
Kristen Perry scored; followed by Hayley South; followed by another three-pointer and a short jumper from Becca Sittloh.
By the time Lawrenceburg called a timeout with 2:34 left in the half, Switzerland County held a 32-7 lead.
The Lady Tigers got a freethrow and an inside basket; but Emily White drilled a three-pointer and Becca Sittloh followed with her third trey of the half, and the halftime horn sounded with Switzerland County holding a 38-10 lead.
Halftime stats: Becca Sittloh, 13 points; Hayley South, 11 points; Lawrenceburg’s team, 10 points.
Lawrenceburg did find some offense in the third quarter, outscoring Switzerland County 14-11; but the Lady Pacers were simply too overpowering for the Lady Tigers to account for. Coach Wayne Ellegood substituted freely in the quarter, and also slowed the pace of the game to run some clock, but the outcome was never in doubt.
Becca Sittloh had her fourth three-pointer of the contest to open Switzerland County’s scoring; and other points in the period were scored on two buckets from Trisha Smith and two baskets by Kristen Perry.
At the end of the third quarter, Switzerland County held a 49-24 lead.
It would get worse.
The Lady Pacers opened the final stanza with a run of eight straight points on two buckets and a pair of freethrows from Allie Mathews a basket by Hayley South; and Lawrenceburg managed only two freethrows – one by Lauren Hill and one by Abbi Sampson – over the final eight minutes.
The final score was a yawner – Switzerland County 57, Lawrenceburg 26.
Becca Sittloh led all scorers with 16 points on the night; while Hayley South finished with 13 and Trisha Smith added 12.
Kristen Perry had seven points; Allie Mathews had six; and Emily White contributed three points to the win.
Liz Schornick led Lawrenceburg with nine points.
The win pushed Switzerland County into Saturday’s championship game of the Rivertown Classic, where they were to play South Dearborn, which defeated Rising Sun in Wednesday’s first round game on a last second three-pointer, 33-30.