The Switzerland County Lady Pacer basketball team led at every stop during last Thursday night’s conference game with rival South Ripley.
The only time a quarter ran out without Switzerland County in front was the final one – and that perplexed the team’s coach.
“We had a horrible shooting night,” Wayne Ellegood said of the game. “I think that’s what it boiled down to, we just had a horrible night shooting the basketball.”
The statistics support his claim.
Seniors Courtney Cole (5-for-15), Amber Smith (2-for-9) and Morgan Ross (0-for-6) were a combined 7-for-30 from the field in the game.
“When you’re three top three scores shoot 25-percent, it’s amazing that we only lost by two points,” Coach Ellegood said.
The Lady Pacers led 10-4 at the first quarter break; and continued to hold a 20-13 lead at the half.
South Ripley chipped away again in the third quarter, but the Lady Pacers still held 33-27 lead with one period to play.
South Ripley used its size advantage throughout the game, and it paid dividends in the final stanza.
“I think they started three kids who are 6’1″ or bigger,” Coach Ellegood said of the Lady Raiders. “They’re a big team.”
Both teams battled back and forth in the final period before a South Ripley bucket tied the game at 40-40.
The final score showed the Lady Raiders on top, 43-41.
“We led the whole game,” Wayne Ellegood said. “I think the only lead they had was the last one. We need to have it in us to put people away, and I didn’t see that in this game.”
Courtney Cole led Switzerland County with 15 points on the night; while Megan McCarty had nine and April Thieman finished with seven. Amber Smith had five points; Morgan Ross contributed three from the freethrow line; and Maggie Armstrong had two.
April Thieman had eight rebounds to lead the Lady Pacers; and she also handed out three assists. Megan McCarty had six steals.