Playing without two key, senior starters, Coach Ashley Kitts’ Switzerland County Lady Pacer varsity basketball team traveled to Madison last Friday night and played their hearts out before falling by five, 51-46.
Senior starters Kelsi Konkle (illness) and Makenzie Mathews (injury) were both on the sidelines for Friday night’s game, but that didn’t keep the squad from battling all night.
The game started with Madison scoring six straight points on baskets by Emma Beasley and Katie Hartman and two freethrows from Sage Sproles; but the Lady Pacers answered quickly on the strength of five straight points by junior guard Whitley Schirmer. After Beasley hit a three to push the lead to four; Switzerland County answered with a three-pointer by Brooke Todd.
Hartman scored again for Madison and that was followed by a freethrow from Sproles; and when Todd raced through the lane for a bucket in the closing seconds, the quarter ended with Madison ahead by just two, 12-10.
The Lady Cubs opened the second quarter scoring with a basket by Olivia Beasley, and after Schirmer connected on a freethrow, two straight baskets by Sproles inside and a freethrow by Hartman widened the lead for Madison up to eight, 19-11, with just over four minutes until halftime.
Switzerland County responded.
Todd hit a pair of freethrows that were answered by a bucket by Jamie Smith; but then the Lady Pacers reeled off six straight points on baskets by Bre Braun and a pair of jumpers from Todd to cut the lead to two at the half, 21-19.
The third quarter again proved to be a tight battle, with Madison drawing first blood with a three-pointer from Emma Beasley; but Switzerland County got another basket by Braun and a runner from Schirmer to slice the lead to one. Delany Liter then scored for the Lady Cubs, but Hope Tankersley hit a short jumper to keep the game close.
Madison then went on a short run, scoring six straight points – five by Sproles – and took a 32-25 lead with three minutes to play.
The Lady Cubs then got into some foul trouble, with Sproles being whistled for her fourth foul of the contest with 1:50 to go, sending Madison’s top player to the bench.
Switzerland County responded with two more buckets by Todd, and the third quarter came to a close with Madison in front, 32-29.
The final eight minutes opened with both crowds in a frenzy from the physical nature of the game, and the Lady Cubs got a three-pointer from Emma Beasley to again take a six point lead as the quarter got underway.
Todd answered that with a runner in the lane; and after Jaleesa Elliott scored inside for the Lady Cubs, another bucket by Todd kept the Lady Pacers within four. Elliott scored inside again to push the lead back to six; and after Mallory Phagan hit a big basket for Switzerland County; Madison again went on a run, scoring five straight points on a three-point play by Liter and a bucket by Hartman.
Down nine with four minutes to go, again Switzerland County began a comeback.
Phagan scored again; and after Liter made a pair of freethrows; Phagan again scored and Todd followed that, and with just over two minutes to go, the Lady Pacers were down by just five, 46-41. Liter made a freethrow and followed that with a basket; but Todd again answered and Phagan hit a freethrow to again make the deficit five. After Liter made another freethrow Todd scored again, but a freethrow by Ashlee Allen sealed the win for the Lady Cubs, who escaped by a final score of 51-46.
Todd carried the offense on the night, accounting for 25 points to go along with 10 rebounds and four assists; while Schirmer finished with eight and Phagan added seven. Braun had four points; and Tankersley chipped in two.
Liter and Sproles led Madison with 12 points each; and Emma Beasley was in double figures with 11.
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In the junior varsity game, Madison defeated Switzerland County 33-16.
Jody Breeck was the leading scorer with six points; while Lexi Lay had four points. Emerson Schroer, Hailey Gerster, and Ariel Oeffinger each added two points.