Late comeback falls short as Lady Pacers fall to Madison, 45-44
The Switzerland County Lady Pacer varsity basketball team hosted Madison on Friday night, and after the Lady Cubs moved out to a small lead in a tight game, Switzerland County’s late game comeback fell just short.
Madison won by a final score of 45-44.
The game opened with Madison’s Cameron Cahall scoring inside; but that was quickly countered by a bucket from Halle Archer for Switzerland County. Madison’s Alaina Kelley converted two freethrows to again give Madison the lead; but Archer drilled a three-pointer to give the Lady Pacers their first lead of the contest.
From there the game went back and forth as both defenses slowed the offenses, but Madison got baskets from Juliana Davis and Cadence Traylor to again take the lead with 11-seconds left.
Switzerland County drew closer when Macy Collier hit a short jumper at the buzzer and the first quarter ended with the Lady Cubs in front by a score of 8-7.
Collier then opened the second period with a traditional three-point play to give the Lady Pacers a two-point lead; but Davis hit a jumper to knot the game at 10-10.
Molly Wrightsman made a freethrow; but the see-saw battle continued as Caity Dailey scored for Madison.
Kenzie Taylor gave Switzerland County the lead back with a three-pointer; but again the game was tied up at 14-14 when Breck Ralston scored inside.
Archer converted a freethrow; but Ralston countered that with a three-pointer. Archer then scored again, and the teams went to the halftime break with the game tied at 17-17.
Madison kicked off the second half with Cahall making a traditional three-point play; and after Archer scored for Switzerland County; Cahall hit a jumper to keep Madison out in front by three.
Collier hit a jumper to draw the Lady Pacers to within one; but Madison got a freethrow from Kelley, a bucket from Casey Dyer, and another freethrow from Kelley to move out to a 26-21 advantage with 1:24 to go in the period.
Switzerland County responded with a three-point play by Courtney Higgins to get within two; but the Lady Cubs closed the quarter with a basket by Dyer and a freethrow from Cahall to see the third quarter end with Madison holding a five-point lead, 29-24.
With eight minutes to play, Madison opened the fourth with a bucket from Davis to give the Lady Cubs their largest lead of the night, seven points, 31-24.
Taylor then converted two freethrows to get Switzerland County back within five; but a freethrow by Cahall and a basket by Dyer moved Madison out in front by a 34-26 margin with six minutes to play.
Archer then converted a three-point play, but that was negated on the scoreboard by a three-pointer by Kelley.
Still down by eight, Switzerland County began its climb back with a basket by Taylor and a follow up bucket by Bri Stow to cut the deficit in half.
Cahall snapped that run with a basket; but Higgins matched that with a runner in the lane. Cahall scored again; Taylor made a freethrow for Switzerland County; and Kelley made two freethrows for the Lady Cubs, and with 2:20 to go, Madison held a 43-36 advantage.
The Switzerland County comeback began with a freethrow from Higgins, and moments later, when Taylor missed the second of two freethrows, a strong defensive play resulted in a held ball, and Switzerland County regained possession down by five with 1:13 left.
Collier hit a jumper to narrow the gap to three; and with Taylor made a basket with 21-seconds left, Madison was holding onto a 43-42 lead.
Cahall then made two freethrows with 16-second left for the Lady Cubs; and when Collier made another jumper with five-seconds left in the game, there wasn’t enough time and the buzzer sounded with Madison clinging to a 45-44 final score.
Archer finished with game with 13 points to lead Switzerland County, and she also had five rebounds and three assists.
Collier had 11 points, five rebounds and an assist; Taylor also had 11 points to go along with two rebounds and two assists.
Higgins finished with six points, two rebounds and two assists; Stow had two points, three rebounds and two assists; and Wrightsman had one point.
Cahall led Madison with 15 points; while Dyer and Davis had six each.
Rebounding played a big role in the game, with Madison winning the rebound battle 41-21. The Lady Cubs were particularly dominant on the offensive rebounding end, pulling down 20 offensive rebounds while Switzerland County had just five.
The game was a homecoming of sorts, as former Switzerland County boys varsity coach Adam Dennis returned to Vevay as the varsity girls coach of Madison; taking on Lady Pacer coach Brooke Todd, who had a stellar career as a Lady Pacer player.
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Madison also won the junior varsity game by a score of 38-30.
Switzerland County was led by Isabella Breeck with nine points; while Terra Oeffinger added five points.
Molly Wrightsman and Carlee Boggs each had three points; while Lauren Smith, Claire Rogers, Addie Kelso, Maddie Levell and Allena Weaver each contributed two.