Tigerettes seize home opener

Too many times, already this season, the MCHS Tigerettes have led early, and led late, only to see victory disappear from their hands in a 0-5 start to the year.

But not this time, not at Dottie Kelso Memorial Gymnasium and not in front of a big home crowd in their home opener as the Tigerettes led from midway through the first quarter, to the end in 48-34 win over the Giles County Lady Bobcats.

"I'm happy, because it was at home and it was our first district game," said Tigerette sophomore point guard Mecia Reed. "We were on a five-game losing, so it was great to get this one at home."

Reed tied Giles County's Kayleigh Beddingfield for top scoring honors in the contest with 14 points.

Midway through the first eight minutes, Christy Pettigrew knocked in a rebound and after a tie-up on the floor in favor of MCHS, Morgan Moyers drilled a three-pointer to edge the Tigerettes ahead 11-8.

A Giles County turnover led to a Megan Sanders jumper to make it 13-8, before Kamry Coffey hit a lone free throw at the end of the quarter for the Lady Bobcats, who trailed 13-9.

Kiya Morris drilled a three-pointer for MCHS to begin the second quarter, beginning an 8-2 run that put the Lewisburg girls up 21-10.

Another Morris trey late in the period gave Marshall County their biggest lead of the first half at 28-15 before Giles County scored five straight to end the second quarter, still trailing 28-20.

"At halftime, Coach Junkins told us to keep playing hard and settle down," said Reed.

They did and they exploded, as Reed and the Tigerettes reeled off 10 unanswered points to begin the second half, including two long three-bombs by Reed, plus baskets by Kemesha McFall and Morris, giving the hometown cats a huge 38-20 lead.

After Nichole Thuman and Moyers exchanged treys with three minutes remaining in the third period, MCHS went ice cold on offense.

For the rest of the third period and extending five minutes and forty-three seconds into the final quarter, the Tigerettes did not score.

But thankfully, Reed and the Marshall County defense only allowed seven points and still led 42-31 after Morris hit one of two from the free throw line with 2:17 remaining in the game.

Giles County would cut the lead to seven points on a Beddingfield late basket, but Reed (4-4), along with Morris (2-4), sealed the contest with a 6-8 performance from the free throw line down the stretch.

"I was trying to keep my team up, so they would be confident in themselves," said Reed. "Coach was happy after the game, he said we played very well and he was happy with us."

Morris finished with 11 points for MCHS, Moyers ended up with six, Pettigrew and McFall added four points apiece, Marissa Lyttle netted three, and Sanders, Allison Hargrove and Michala Hopkins all had two points each.

Coffey ended up with nine points, Adison Gowen scored six, Thuman had the one trey and Mary Beth Brumit rounded out the scoring with two markers.