Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Different Speeds On Display As Cats Take Two Wins
Daniel Rodgers
The Lady Cats returned to the hardwood to begin the second half of the season facing off against the Lady Mustangs at Ralph Benson Memorial Gym.
The Lady Cats came out like a diesel engine, slow and steady. Taking an early lead at 13-7 the Cats were able to coast into halftime, up 29-13.
Lawrence County kept the defensive pressure on in the second half, even as they substituted heavily, using 11 players throughout the game.
The scoring picked up a little for Loretto after a technical foul was assessed against LCHS after a hard foul but the Lady Cats still took the game, going away with a 49-26 victory.
The defense forced 23 Loretto turnovers while shooting 43% for the game. The Lady Cats were led by Keiana Gilbert with 17 points, and Emily Williams with 11.
If the Women’s game was a diesel truck, then the Men’s game was a NASCAR race.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 18-6 lead and would nurse that until the fourth quarter.
Loretto stayed close, inching closer to the lead, outscoring Lawrence County 16-10 in the second quarter.
LCHS still led at the end of half, 28-22.
Loretto continued to creep closer ending the third quarter, down by only 3 points.
Loretto got within one point when Heath Mansfield went down with an injury. Cody Long stepped in and knocked down Mansfield’s free throws but Loretto took the lead in the fourth quarter.
With only :38 on the clock the Mustangs held a 4 point lead until Cain Lemprecht hit a clutch 3 pointer to bring it back to a one point deficit.
After Loretto hit two much needed free throws the Cats were down to their last chance. Down by three Mansfield hit a last second heave to tie the game at 60.
With all the momentum on the side of Lawrence County, they took it to Loretto in the four minute over time period, finally taking the game 72-67.
The Cats were led by Mansfield with an incredible 30 points, 9 of them coming after his leg injury. The victory give the Wildcats a 5-9 record on the season, 5-2 in their last seven games.
