Lady Pacers fall in close battle to rival Rising Sun, 50-43
Switzerland County’s possession of the ‘Ruler of the River’ traveling trophy lasted all of three days — as the Rising Sun Lady Shiners defeated the Lady Pacers last Tuesday night by a score of 50-43.
Rising Sun jumped out to a 15-10 lead after one quarter.
The Lady Pacers were led by Halle Archer, who rode a three-pointer and a traditional three point play for six points.
Bri Stow and Kenzie Taylor each added a basket in the first.
Rising Sun saw Baylee Morris and Nora Powell each have five points in the first; while Jenna Peelman had three and Kieran Groover had two.
The second quarter saw Switzerland County cut into the deficit just a bit, as the Lady Pacers again scored 10 points while limiting Rising Sun to just eight.
Stow led the way in the second with a field goal and a three-pointer for five points; while Archer hit another three-pointer and Lauren Smith added a field goal for the other two Lady Pacer points.
Peelman had two field goals and a freethrow for five second quarter points for Rising Sun; and Morris added a three-pointer.
At the half, Rising Sun held a 23-20 lead.
Ten was the magic number of the night for the Lady Pacers, as they again scored 10 points in the third. Again Switzerland County held the Lady Shiners to eight points, and the deficit fell to just one — 31-30 — with eight minutes to play.
Stow has been outstanding from behind the arc all season, and on Tuesday she connected on two more three-pointers in the third for six points; while Macy Collier added a bucket and Archer had two freethrows.
Powell had a basket and a three-pointer in the third for Rising Sun; while Peelman added a bucket and Morris converted one freethrow.
Switzerland County had an excellent fourth quarter — scoring 13 points — but Rising Sun countered with 19 points to seal the win.
The freethrow line proved the difference in the fourth, as Rising Sun went to the line 13 times, making 11 of those attempts; while Switzerland County was 5-for-6 from the charity stripe in the fourth.
Courtney Higgins had five points in the fourth on a basket and three freethrows; Stow also had five points on two freethrows and a her fourth three-pointer; and Archer had her third three-pointer in the period.
Peelman was key for Rising Sun in the fourth, as she nine points in two field goals while going a perfect 5-for-5 from the line.
Alyssa Simpson, quiet all night offensively, was 5-for-6 from the line in the fourth; with Groover and Powell each added two points. Morris contributed one freethrow to the final score for Rising Sun.
Final score: Rising Sun 50, Switzerland County 43.
Stow rode her four three-pointers to a team-high 18 points, and she also added four rebounds.
Archer finished in double figures with 14 points and eight rebounds; and Higgins had five points, four assists, and three steals.
Collier had two points and four rebounds; Taylor had two points; and Smith also contributed two points.
Peelman led Rising Sun with 18 points; while Powell with 12 and Morris with 10 made it three players in double figures.
Simpson finished with five; and Groover added four.
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In the junior varsity game, Switzerland County defeated Rising Sun by a score of 36-30.
Kaitlynn Stucker was the leading scorer for the Lady Pacers with nine points; while Carlee Boggs and Addie Kelso each added eight points.
Allena Weaver had five points; Lauren Smith had four points; and Ashlyn Covington contributed two points.
With the victory, Switzerland County earned the championship of the ORVC for junior varsity teams, finishing with a perfect 5-0 record.