Knightettes dominate Lady Cats, 74-29

FARMINGTON — The Farmington Knightettes play what is considered by my most people to be the toughest girls’ schedule around. The tough schedule and the Knightettes’ experience are paying big dividends as Farmington has dominated the rest of the local teams thus far. Monday night was no different as the Knightettes picked up a 74-29 win against the Fredericktown Lady Cats.

“Tonight we needed to come out and get after Fredericktown early,” said Farmington coach Steve McFarland. “I thought we did that. This group of girls is a heads-up group. We don’t have a lot of girls sitting on the bench, but the ones we have are good athletes.”

The Knightettes got off to a good start early on as Natalie Bess and Courtney Walden gave Farmington a 4-0 lead. The lead went on to grow to 10-2 with 3:58 left in the quarter on a basket by Tessa Pratt.

Fredericktown though, came storming back with a 6-0 run. Jessica Johnson had a pair of baskets and Kristen Moyers had jumper during the scoring spree. Johnson then came up with a defensive block to give Fredericktown an opportunity to tie the game.

The Lady Cats though, turned the ball over and the Knightettes were back on the offensive. Pratt hit a basket to make it a 12-8 Farmington lead heading into the second quarter.

Things got bad for the Lady Cats in the second quarter. Farmington outscored Fredericktown 18-4 in the second quarter to take a commanding 30-12 lead at the break.

Farmington went on an 8-0 run in the first couple of minutes of the second half. Pratt started the run off with a three-pointer and then followed that up with a basket. Bess capped off the run with another three-pointer.

Johnson finally scored for Fredericktown. The damage was already done though, as Farmington led 50-21 heading into the fourth quarter.

Jessica Arnold scored the opening basket of the fourth quarter to make it 52-21. Bess tacked on another basket before Johnson finally scored for Fredericktown. Pratt then scored followed by another basket by Johnson. Natalie Hoos and Katelyn Peterson followed with a basket each to extend the Knightettes’ lead to 60-27.

Bess led Farmington with 18 points. Pratt had 15 points. Abby Mell and Hoos each had nine points apiece.

Johnson led Fredericktown with 18 points.

Farmington is now 11-6 (3-0) and will host Ste. Genevieve today at the Farmington Middle School. Fredericktown falls to 9-10 (2-3) and will host De Soto on Friday.