Shooting woes to blame in Lady Cats' first loss

By MATT KING / Daily Journal Sports Writer

PARK HILLS - Turnovers and missed scoring opportunities haunted the Fredericktown girls basketball team throughout its first loss of the season of Saturday. The Lady Cats nearly overcame a miserable first half, but ultimately fell 31-30 to Greene County Tech at Mineral Area College.

The matchup was billed as a clash between interstate powers, but quickly turned sluggish with neither squad able to execute its offense with sustained consistency. Both teams eclipsed the 20-turnover mark.

Fredericktown (7-1) seized the momentum and a one-point lead with an energetic 10-0 scoring run that carried into the fourth quarter, but the visitors from Arkansas kept their composure to prevail down the stretch.

Nearly five minutes expired before Jordan Smith banked in the first points of the game for Greene County Tech. A three-pointer by Amanda Jeter bolstered the early lead for the Lady Eagles (6-1), but Amy Hendrix assisted Courtney Kemp on a nice fast-break to bring the Lady Cats to within 7-6 at the close of the first period.

The Lady Cats appeared timid at times while making just 4-19 from the field during the first half, but remained in contention with stingy interior defense, blocking several close-range attempts without committing a single foul.

The teams exchanged the lead early in the second quarter, but Greene County Tech regained the advantage with a pair of timely shots from the perimeter.

Betsy Royer countered for Fredericktown with a quick catch-and-shoot on an inbounds play, but an open triple from Sonni Hampton gave the Lady Eagles a 17-10 lead at the half.

A sudden trap forced a steal which Hampton converted for a layup, giving Greene County Tech its largest cushion of the day at 22-12. The Lady Cats would begin to chip away late in the third, however, as a big three-pointer from the left corner by Hendrix cut the margin to 24-18.

Deidre Hughes opened the fourth quarter with a putback and Hendrix connected again from long range to make it a one-point game. Royer then capped the comeback rally with 5:10 left to put Fredericktown ahead 25-24.

The Lady Eagles responded with a pair of free throws and cashed in another turnover when Chelsae Sanford hit a three to restore a four-point spread.

Kemp neatly tipped an offensive rebound to herself and buried a triple in response to draw the Lady Cats to within 29-28, but Amanda Jeter sliced into the free-throw lane and hit a clutch jumper with 1:06 left.

Fredericktown committed a critical turnover with a chance to force overtime with a three-pointer, but was given a reprieve when Tech missed a free throw that could have sealed the outcome.

Royer launched a three from the right wing with four seconds left, but the shot was partially blocked. Royer recovered the loose ball and hit a harmless mid-range jumper with :00.2 remaining. Fredericktown stopped the clock with a timeout, but time expired on the ensuing inbounds play.

Kemp led the Lady Cats with 12 points, while Royer added eight points and four blocks. Hendrix tallied six points and four steals, and Hughes added seven rebounds and three blocks.

Jeter topped the scoring column for Green County Tech with seven points.

Fredericktown, which drew the No. 1 seed for the upcoming Central Christmas Tournament, will travel to Valle on Monday.

Greene County Tech 7 10 7 7 - 31

Fredericktown 6 4 8 12 - 30

SCORING:

Greene County Tech - Jeter 7, Sanford 6, Hampton 5, Greene 4, Mallard 3, Landers 2, Smith 2, Gibson 2.

3-point FG - Sanford 2, Hampton, Jeter, Mallard.

Fredericktown - Kemp 12, Royer 8, Hendrix 6, Hughes 4.

3-point FG - Hendrix 2, Kemp.