Bowling Green defeats Ben’s Ford in District 6AA contest
Published 10:02 am Friday, January 16, 2015
Bowling Green used a strong passing game and solid defense Tuesday, outscoring Ben’s Ford Christian School, 21-0, in the first quarter en route to a 67-25 victory in District 6AA play at Ben’s Ford.
“I was really proud of our team’s passing,” Bowling Green’s Ashley Foret, who had nine points on 4-of-6 shooting, three rebounds and three assists, said. “We don’t usually shoot very well here, so we talked a lot about moving the ball inside, so that was our game plan.”
The Lady Buccaneers hit 50 percent of their attempts (29 of 58) and had 19 assists on the 29 made shots. Bowling Green’s defense made 20 steals.
“We’re trying to focus on sharing the basketball a little bit,” Bowling Green coach Pat King said. “We’re getting some good shots, but we’re talking a lot about passing up some of these good shots to get better shots, and they’re working real hard at it. Hopefully it’s going to pay off in the long run.”
The assists came early and often. Just 29 seconds into the contest, Hollie Waskom made a steal and passed to Foret for the first points of the game. Foret was fouled and missed out on the 3-point play but the lead was 2-0.
Kristina Jerrell, who had 12 points on 6-of-11 shooting with four steals, three assists and a rebound, was good on a layup for a 4-0 advantage.
Jerrell then found Waksom for two more.
Reagan Moody, who finished with nine points, three boards, two assists and two steals, scored the next five points on a shot from the baseline and then a left corner 3-pointer to make it 11-0 at the 4:14 mark.
Jerrell hit a fastbreak layup before Moody connected on a turnaround jumper.
McKinley Seal scored her first points on a layup. Jerrell drove in for two, and Waskom made a layup with 17 seconds to go. That capped off the first quarter scoring with Bowling Green in front, 21-0.
“We turned the ball over too many times, but a good defense will cause you to turn the ball over,” Ben’s Ford coach Mark McGehee said. “Early in the game, we had opportunities to score, but we just weren’t hitting and we were turning the ball over too much. You can’t turn the ball over that many times and expect to win.”
Ben’s Ford ended the run when Madison Crawford knocked down two free throws, trimming it to 21-2 with 7:37 left in the first half.
The Lady Buccaneers added an 8-0 spurt as Peyton Stogner hit a layup on the next possession.
Seal found Mason Edwards for a bucket and a 25-2 lead. Seal split from the line before Sydney Watson hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key.
Bowling Green was up, 29-2, with 4:16 remaining in the opening half, and the Lady Bucs took a 37-12 advantage to the second half.
The outcome of the game was never in doubt after the first quarter, as the Lady Bucs led, 59-22, after three before going on to the 69-25 win.
Waskom totaled six points, five steals, four assists and three boards, as 12 different Lady Buccaneers tallied.
Cailee Fruge had six points and a rebound.
Seal finished with five points, four steals, three assists and a board.
Watson logged six points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Edwards and Katelin Junkins both posted four points. Edwards had four steals and two rebounds while Junkins grabbed three rebounds.
Stogner, Natalie Michel and Hallie Robertson scored two-points each. Stogner dished out an assist, Michel posted a rebound, and Robertson tallied two boards and an assist.
Cheyenne Riley finished with eight points for Ben’s Ford, with Liv Miley was just a point behind.
Callie Sphere and Savanna Smith scored four each and Crawford added two.