Lady Tigers gain season opening win over Whiteoak
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
HILLSBORO — After gaining a 20-point first quarter lead, the McClain Lady Tigers began their season like they have many other seasons, with a win. MHS dominated all facets of their game with the Whiteoak Lady Wildcats for a 59-22 win, in the 6th Annual Highland County Girls Basketball Shootout, Friday at Hillsboro High School.
After the first quarter, the Lady Tigers led 24-4, doing what 30-year varsity head coach Dennis Overstake wanted his team to do, play defense and use their quickness to their advantage.
"The girls came out and played the way they need to play every ball game," Overstake said. "Getting the early transition buckets was what we needed to do for our up-tempo game. We are outsized, so we wanted to keep the game up-tempo."
MHS led 3-2 early on with Kate Crabtree hitting a free throw, followed with a basket by senior Chrissy Cobb (Whiteoak's points were scored by senior Lizz Carson) as the Lady Tigers went on a 21-2 run to wrap up the first quarter.
Cobb led all scorers with a game-high 17 points, while adding five steals. Cobb made eight baskets from the field.
McClain (1-0) scored with jumpers, layups in transition and finished off the quarter with a 3-pointer for their 21-point lead after eight minutes.
Scoring in the 21-2 run for the Lady Tigers were junior Taylor Faulconer, Cobb, senior Frankie Wise, Crabtree, junior Kaitlyn Faulconer, junior Brittany Mullikin and senior Megan Hogle, who ended the frame with a nothing-but-net 3-pointer at the buzzer.
For the game, MHS had nine players score points. Wise finished with seven points, followed by Rooks (who had five steals) and Mullikin with six points each. Mullikin led MHS with eight rebounds, followed with Taylor and Kaitlyn Faulconer each grabbing four boards.
"We really have to play a lot of man-to-man defense, but we are still giving up too many shots and rebounds. We need to make out first shot, because with our size we may not get a second chance at the basket," Overstake said.
MHS out-rebounded the Lady 'Cats 33-25.
The Lady Tigers continued to add to their lead in the second with free throws by juniors Jenna Perie and Sammy Rooks. MHS won the second quarter 10-2, outscoring the Lady Wildcats 31-5 in the final 12:50 of the first half.
Cobb made her first 3-pointer of the season with 3:21 left in the second. Whiteoak junior Jessie Gilliland sank two free throws with two seconds left in the half.
MHS took a 52-15 lead after the third quarter ended.
Taylor Faulconer and Gilliland exchanged jumpers, followed with Whiteoak junior Brooke Burns scoring inside points. Rooks answered those points, and Cobb came back with two consecutive buckets for a 42-10 Lady Tiger advantage with 4:25 left in the third.
MHS finished off the third with 10 more points off baskets from Perie, Crabtree, Rooks and Mullikin. Perie scored four points in the final 3:59 of the quarter. For WHS, Gilliland and Burns rounded out the scoring in the third frame.
With the game sealed, McClain won the final eight minutes by a score of 7-6. Wise sank a 3-pointer for MHS, followed with a free throw by Taylor Faulconer. MHS sophomore Felicity Peabody was 2-of-2 from the free-throw line to end the game.
Scoring for the Lady 'Cats in the fourth were Gilliland and senior Haley Bingamon, who made a 3-pointer. Gilliland led WHS scoring 13 points.
"I'm disappointed in how we played offensively," Whiteoak head coach Mike Cooper said. "We didn't do a good job of taking care of the basketball and had too many turnovers.
"I take the blame for this loss. We weren't prepared enough. We need to learn to take care of the ball, and need to have composure."
The Lady Tigers were 8-of-18 from the free-throw line (44 percent) while WHS was 3-of-5). MHS forced WHS into 24 turnovers, while committing 10.
"It would be different if we hit 10 three's in a row, but we must work the ball inside. We have the players, but we have to get them the ball," Cooper said. "McClain is a very well-coached team and they were ready to play."
MHS will play Saturday at 6:45 p.m. in the Paint Valley Lady 'Cat Classic against Manchester. WHS will be in the same event at 11:45 today, at Paint Valley High School.[[In-content Ad]]
After the first quarter, the Lady Tigers led 24-4, doing what 30-year varsity head coach Dennis Overstake wanted his team to do, play defense and use their quickness to their advantage.
"The girls came out and played the way they need to play every ball game," Overstake said. "Getting the early transition buckets was what we needed to do for our up-tempo game. We are outsized, so we wanted to keep the game up-tempo."
MHS led 3-2 early on with Kate Crabtree hitting a free throw, followed with a basket by senior Chrissy Cobb (Whiteoak's points were scored by senior Lizz Carson) as the Lady Tigers went on a 21-2 run to wrap up the first quarter.
Cobb led all scorers with a game-high 17 points, while adding five steals. Cobb made eight baskets from the field.
McClain (1-0) scored with jumpers, layups in transition and finished off the quarter with a 3-pointer for their 21-point lead after eight minutes.
Scoring in the 21-2 run for the Lady Tigers were junior Taylor Faulconer, Cobb, senior Frankie Wise, Crabtree, junior Kaitlyn Faulconer, junior Brittany Mullikin and senior Megan Hogle, who ended the frame with a nothing-but-net 3-pointer at the buzzer.
For the game, MHS had nine players score points. Wise finished with seven points, followed by Rooks (who had five steals) and Mullikin with six points each. Mullikin led MHS with eight rebounds, followed with Taylor and Kaitlyn Faulconer each grabbing four boards.
"We really have to play a lot of man-to-man defense, but we are still giving up too many shots and rebounds. We need to make out first shot, because with our size we may not get a second chance at the basket," Overstake said.
MHS out-rebounded the Lady 'Cats 33-25.
The Lady Tigers continued to add to their lead in the second with free throws by juniors Jenna Perie and Sammy Rooks. MHS won the second quarter 10-2, outscoring the Lady Wildcats 31-5 in the final 12:50 of the first half.
Cobb made her first 3-pointer of the season with 3:21 left in the second. Whiteoak junior Jessie Gilliland sank two free throws with two seconds left in the half.
MHS took a 52-15 lead after the third quarter ended.
Taylor Faulconer and Gilliland exchanged jumpers, followed with Whiteoak junior Brooke Burns scoring inside points. Rooks answered those points, and Cobb came back with two consecutive buckets for a 42-10 Lady Tiger advantage with 4:25 left in the third.
MHS finished off the third with 10 more points off baskets from Perie, Crabtree, Rooks and Mullikin. Perie scored four points in the final 3:59 of the quarter. For WHS, Gilliland and Burns rounded out the scoring in the third frame.
With the game sealed, McClain won the final eight minutes by a score of 7-6. Wise sank a 3-pointer for MHS, followed with a free throw by Taylor Faulconer. MHS sophomore Felicity Peabody was 2-of-2 from the free-throw line to end the game.
Scoring for the Lady 'Cats in the fourth were Gilliland and senior Haley Bingamon, who made a 3-pointer. Gilliland led WHS scoring 13 points.
"I'm disappointed in how we played offensively," Whiteoak head coach Mike Cooper said. "We didn't do a good job of taking care of the basketball and had too many turnovers.
"I take the blame for this loss. We weren't prepared enough. We need to learn to take care of the ball, and need to have composure."
The Lady Tigers were 8-of-18 from the free-throw line (44 percent) while WHS was 3-of-5). MHS forced WHS into 24 turnovers, while committing 10.
"It would be different if we hit 10 three's in a row, but we must work the ball inside. We have the players, but we have to get them the ball," Cooper said. "McClain is a very well-coached team and they were ready to play."
MHS will play Saturday at 6:45 p.m. in the Paint Valley Lady 'Cat Classic against Manchester. WHS will be in the same event at 11:45 today, at Paint Valley High School.[[In-content Ad]]