Switzerland County continued its offensive progress in the opening round of the Rivertown Classic last Wednesday night at South Dearborn, but Coach Ashley Chase’s Lady Pacers couldn’t convert key opportunities at critical times, and fell by a final score of 46-38.
The first quarter was a barn-burner, as Lawrenceburg won the quarter by a 17-15 count, but Switzerland County fought hard and played hard defense.
The Lady Pacers got points in the quarter from Allie Mathews; a pair of baskets by Eve Galbreath; a runner from Bre Ricketts; a three-pointer from Kelly Kincaid; and four points from Emily White to post an impressive opening run.
Lawrenceburg was led in the opening quarter by Liz Schornick, who accounted for seven points.
The Lady Tigers opened up a lead to open the second quarter, getting five straight points to make the lead seven; but Kelly Kincaid converted a pair of freethrows to stop that run. Lawrenceburg then got a three-pointer from Kennedi Willis; a freethrow from Lauren Hill; and a basket by Kennedi Willis to stretch the lead to 11 at 28-17, but Switzerland County closed the half by getting two straight baskets by Emily White, and after two periods, the Lady Pacers trailed by seven, 28-21.
The lead began to quickly disappear as the third quarter opened, with the Lady Pacers getting two straight buckets inside from Eve Galbreath to narrow the gap to three. Lawrenceburg answered with six straight points to close a low-scoring third period with the Lady Tigers on top, 34-25.
After Abbi Sampson pushed the lead to 10 with a freethrow to open the final quarter, Hailee Lay scored for Switzerland County; but that was matched by Riley Brunner.
Switzerland County then made another run, getting five straight points on a basket and a freethrow from Bre Ricketts and a basket by Emily White; but the Lady Tigers scored again to stop the streak.
Eve Galbreath scored for Switzerland County to cut the lead back to five; but Lawrenceburg would spend much of the final minutes at the freethrow line, and when the Lady Tigers converted 7-of-8 in the final minute, Lawrenceburg advanced to the tourney’s championship game with a 46-38 win.
Eve Galbreath led Switzerland County in scoring with 14 points; and Emily White was in double figures with 10. Kelly Kincaid and Bre Ricketts had five each; and Allie Mathews and Hailee Lay each contributed two.
Liz Schornick led Lawrenceburg with 14 points.