Balanced attack leads Lady Bulldogs to win

LEADWOOD — Katie Gettinger netted 13 points and Paige Forshee tallied 12 to pace a balanced scoring effort, as the West County girls basketball team rolled past visiting Ellington 54-27 on Thursday evening.

Lauren Callahan finished with nine points while Jordan Mull and Courtney Richards chipped in seven apiece for the Lady Bulldogs (5-1), who notched their third consecutive home win.

West County forced 21 turnovers defensively and limited winless Ellington to just 18 percent shooting from the field. The outcome was quickly decided following a 16-2 run spanning the first quarter.

A determined effort to establish inside production saw Callahan score three field goals during the early minutes, including a pair of putbacks. Gettinger and Forshee also knocked down jumpers in the lane.

Ellington achieved its highest scoring output in the second quarter, thanks to a pair of 3-pointers from senior standout Laura Parkhill, but still trailed 31-12 at intermission after compiling 11 team fouls.

Parkhill was a physical force on the boards as well, resulting in a gaudy double-double with 19 points and 21 rebounds. She also recorded three blocked shots.

The Lady Bulldogs finished just 10-of-25 overall from the charity stripe, but extended the margin to 40-17 on Mull’s second putback of the third quarter. A second-chance jumper from Gettinger then capped a 9-0 run.

West County briefly enacted a running clock when Leanda Dane cleaned up a missed fast-break layup off an excellent outlet pass by Forshee.

Parkhill brought the margin under 30 points moments later with her third triple of the game. Kali Smith added seven points for the Whippets.

The Lady Bulldogs will return to action tonight at South Iron.

Ellington   2  10   8   7 – 27

West County  16  15  18  5 – 54

SCORING:

Ellington – Parkhill 19, Smith 7, Swyres 1. 3-point FG – Parkhill 3, Smith.

West County – Gettinger 13, Forshee 12, Callahan 9, Richards 7, Mull 7, L Dane 4, Davis 2. 3-point FG – None.