A big second-half effort by Grayson County’s Lady Cougars on Homecoming Night last Friday in the Cougar Den propelled them to a lopsided, 58-36 win over the visiting Lady Raiders from Whitesville Trinity. The win assured the Lady Cougars of at least the second seed in the fast-approaching 12th District Tournament.
Though the Lady Cougars (12-10) led by as many as six points in the opening period, they led by just one, 10-9 as the second quarter got underway. Hannah Saltsman’s put-back basket with 5:59 left in the first half capped an 8-0 run that pushed the lead to nine points, 18-9.
Two Saltsman free throws with 40 seconds left made it a 10-point game, 24-14, but Trinity’s Nina Wathen beat the halftime buzzer with a lay-in to make it 24-16 at the break.
Grayson County had third-quarter runs of 6-2, and 6-0 to grab a 14-point lead, 36-22 with 3:13 left. They then closed out the period with seven unanswered points to lead by 17, 43-26 heading into the fourth quarter. The Lady Cougars increased their lead to 25 points, 58-33 following Bailey Snyder’s lay-in at 1:27 before Trinity’s Josie Aull buried a three-ball with under a minute left for the final 22-point margin of victory.
The Lady Raiders have a budding star on their hands with eighth-grade guard Cassidy Morris, who led all scorers with 22 points.
Saltsman had a fine all-around game, leading the Lady Cougars in points, with 16, and rebounds, with eight. She also added three assists and two steals. Kenzie Renfrow joined her in double figures with 11 points, and she added three rebounds, three assists and a game-high five steals.
Senior Brandi Minton saw game-action for the first time since breaking the thumb on her shooting hand during the December holiday tournaments. She hit a pair of three-pointers and finished with eight points, and the Lady Cougars are glad to have her back. Snyder ended her night with seven points and she added a pair of rebounds and three steals.
Another player they are glad to see returning to action recently is senior Mackenzie Edwards, who was thought to be lost for the season before play started in November. She finished with six against Trinity. Laura Vincent and Kaylee Masden both scored three points, while Ella Robinson and Rachel Snyder had two apiece to complete the scoring.
By Don Brown, Local Sports
Reach Don at donbrown@k105.com
Kaylee Masden buried this three-point
hot in the second quarter.
Bailey Snyder worked against a Trinity
double-team in the first half.
Kenzie Renfrow drove into the lane
and passed to the wing.
