Lady 'Cats fall in sectional final
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
McDERMOTT - The Whiteoak Lady Wildcats battled for the entire game, but their shots wouldn't fall through the hoop as their season was ended Saturday afternoon 47-35 at Northwest High School by No. 2 seeded Portsmouth Clay in the Division IV SE District Sectional final.
WHS, who entered postseason play seeded No. 10, scored in double digits in the opening eight minutes, but trailed after the first quarter 13-10. In the first Clay led 13-4, but WHS came back to net six unanswered points the quarter.
The Lady 'Cats proved to be a force on the defensive side by holding Clay to eight points in the second frame, while offensively netting nine to cut the Clay lead down to two points at the half by a score of 21-19.
WHS struggled in the third quarter falling 11-4 in the eight minute period, and in the fourth Clay outscored the Lady 'Cats 15-10.
"We just had some hard luck shooting," WHS head coach Steve Smith said. "Going into the fourth we cut their (Clay) lead to six points, but we couldn't get the shots to fall our way."
The Lady 'Cats were led by junior Haley Bingamon with a game-high 19 points. Bingamon made three two-point field goals, two 3-pointers and was 7 of 9 from the free-throw line.
Kristen Seip and Emily Hargett each had six points, as both seniors made three field goals. Hargett grabbed eight rebounds.
Also scoring for WHS was sophomore Jessie Gilliland with four points.
Clay was led by Chelsey Beegan with 13 points.
"Our girls played well, other than our shooting," Smith said.
WHS had four seniors play in their final game including Blair Maynard, Hargett, Seip and Sarah Smith.
"Blair helped us a lot this season and was fun to coach in her first year with us," Steve Smith said. "Emily was our leading scorer and a good post player. Kristen started for three years and played four at the varsity level and she has a great attitude. She had the same positive attitude win or lose. Sarah was a special kid to coach. She was always at practice and was very cooperative. She is the most improved player I've coached from her freshman year to her senior year. They all will be missed."
Smith said the game could have went the way of Whiteoak, but credited Clay for their play.
"This is a game we could have won, but give credit to Portsmouth Clay they made big shots and free throws when they needed to," Smith said.
BOX SCORE
SCORE BY QUARTERS
WHS - 10 9 4 10 - 35
CHS - 13 8 11 15 - 47
INDIVIDUAL STATS
WHS (35)
Gilliland 2 4, Seip 3 6, Bingamon 3 (2) 7-9 19, Hargett 3 6. TOTALS: 11 (2) 7-9 35.[[In-content Ad]]
WHS, who entered postseason play seeded No. 10, scored in double digits in the opening eight minutes, but trailed after the first quarter 13-10. In the first Clay led 13-4, but WHS came back to net six unanswered points the quarter.
The Lady 'Cats proved to be a force on the defensive side by holding Clay to eight points in the second frame, while offensively netting nine to cut the Clay lead down to two points at the half by a score of 21-19.
WHS struggled in the third quarter falling 11-4 in the eight minute period, and in the fourth Clay outscored the Lady 'Cats 15-10.
"We just had some hard luck shooting," WHS head coach Steve Smith said. "Going into the fourth we cut their (Clay) lead to six points, but we couldn't get the shots to fall our way."
The Lady 'Cats were led by junior Haley Bingamon with a game-high 19 points. Bingamon made three two-point field goals, two 3-pointers and was 7 of 9 from the free-throw line.
Kristen Seip and Emily Hargett each had six points, as both seniors made three field goals. Hargett grabbed eight rebounds.
Also scoring for WHS was sophomore Jessie Gilliland with four points.
Clay was led by Chelsey Beegan with 13 points.
"Our girls played well, other than our shooting," Smith said.
WHS had four seniors play in their final game including Blair Maynard, Hargett, Seip and Sarah Smith.
"Blair helped us a lot this season and was fun to coach in her first year with us," Steve Smith said. "Emily was our leading scorer and a good post player. Kristen started for three years and played four at the varsity level and she has a great attitude. She had the same positive attitude win or lose. Sarah was a special kid to coach. She was always at practice and was very cooperative. She is the most improved player I've coached from her freshman year to her senior year. They all will be missed."
Smith said the game could have went the way of Whiteoak, but credited Clay for their play.
"This is a game we could have won, but give credit to Portsmouth Clay they made big shots and free throws when they needed to," Smith said.
BOX SCORE
SCORE BY QUARTERS
WHS - 10 9 4 10 - 35
CHS - 13 8 11 15 - 47
INDIVIDUAL STATS
WHS (35)
Gilliland 2 4, Seip 3 6, Bingamon 3 (2) 7-9 19, Hargett 3 6. TOTALS: 11 (2) 7-9 35.[[In-content Ad]]