Sword slashes way to 35 points; FHS advances in sectionals
Lead Summary
By
The Highland County Press-
McDERMOTT — The Fairfield Lady Lions are undefeated in the Division IV SE District Sectional tournament.
After a self-described sluggish first quarter, the Fairfield Lady Lions bounced back with a strong second half performance, defeating the Green Lady Bobcats, 64-33 Monday evening at Northwest High School.
Fairfield senior Megan Sword put the game in her hands, while etching her name into the Fairfield Lady Lions' record book against the Lady Bobcats.
Sword, tied a school record with 35 points in a tournament game, Monday evening as she helped lead the Lady Lions the the sectional finals. She tied the mark set by teammate Chelsey Riddle two years ago against Whiteoak.
Sword was 10-of-11 from the free-throw line, and made three 3-pointers, along with eight two-point baskets.
"It was a great night for Megan as she tied the record with Chelsey," FHS head coach Matt Hodson said. " It seems only fitting that these two players share the record as they have been together all these years at the varsity level."
But before Sword dominated the tournament game, outscoring the opponent herself, the Lady Lions has some first half struggles to overcome.
WIth the score tied at nine after the first eight minutes, the Lady Lions responded by tallying a total of 28 points in the first half, for a lead of 28-22 once the second quarter was complete.
In the second frame, Sword scored 11 points, and Lindsey Bernard scored four.
The Lady Lions led 28-16 with under a minute to go in the second, but some miscues with the basketball allowed Green to convert two 3-point baskets in the last 50 seconds, bringing the Lady Bobcats within six points of the Lady Lions' lead.
"At halftime I really challenged the girls to pick up the intensity on the defensive end," Hodson said. "We were really slow on that end of the court in the first half. We went to a half-court trap, and that caused Green to turn the ball over a lot in the third quarter."
Those turnovers allowed the Lady Lions to get some easy baskets in transition. Sword led the way in the third frame with 12 points. FHS outscored the Lady Bobcats 20-8 in the eight minute span to lead 48-30, with just one quarter remaining.
The fourth quarter was more of the same, as the Lady Lions defense continued to cause problems for Green.
Many turnovers resulted in more easy baskets Fairfield, which was the home team.
Bernard finished the night with 12 points, four assists and two steals. Heather Huff finished with six points and three assists.
"Heather was instrumental in causing many of the turnovers that Green had with her pressure out front in our zone," Hodson said.
Heather Cox finished with six points.
"Heather Cox made some big shots for us in the post and played very well," Hodson said. "It was a good win for the girls as they have really been working hard in practice.
"We put in some new things for the tournament, and they executed those things well. The girls are not ready for the season to end, and they are playing like there is no tomorrow. I am very proud of the way they are playing right now."
Also scoring for FHS was Tiffany Woods and Shelby Smithson with two points each. Kortney Paris had one point.
FHS will take on Portsmouth-Clay at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Northwest High School.[[In-content Ad]]
After a self-described sluggish first quarter, the Fairfield Lady Lions bounced back with a strong second half performance, defeating the Green Lady Bobcats, 64-33 Monday evening at Northwest High School.
Fairfield senior Megan Sword put the game in her hands, while etching her name into the Fairfield Lady Lions' record book against the Lady Bobcats.
Sword, tied a school record with 35 points in a tournament game, Monday evening as she helped lead the Lady Lions the the sectional finals. She tied the mark set by teammate Chelsey Riddle two years ago against Whiteoak.
Sword was 10-of-11 from the free-throw line, and made three 3-pointers, along with eight two-point baskets.
"It was a great night for Megan as she tied the record with Chelsey," FHS head coach Matt Hodson said. " It seems only fitting that these two players share the record as they have been together all these years at the varsity level."
But before Sword dominated the tournament game, outscoring the opponent herself, the Lady Lions has some first half struggles to overcome.
WIth the score tied at nine after the first eight minutes, the Lady Lions responded by tallying a total of 28 points in the first half, for a lead of 28-22 once the second quarter was complete.
In the second frame, Sword scored 11 points, and Lindsey Bernard scored four.
The Lady Lions led 28-16 with under a minute to go in the second, but some miscues with the basketball allowed Green to convert two 3-point baskets in the last 50 seconds, bringing the Lady Bobcats within six points of the Lady Lions' lead.
"At halftime I really challenged the girls to pick up the intensity on the defensive end," Hodson said. "We were really slow on that end of the court in the first half. We went to a half-court trap, and that caused Green to turn the ball over a lot in the third quarter."
Those turnovers allowed the Lady Lions to get some easy baskets in transition. Sword led the way in the third frame with 12 points. FHS outscored the Lady Bobcats 20-8 in the eight minute span to lead 48-30, with just one quarter remaining.
The fourth quarter was more of the same, as the Lady Lions defense continued to cause problems for Green.
Many turnovers resulted in more easy baskets Fairfield, which was the home team.
Bernard finished the night with 12 points, four assists and two steals. Heather Huff finished with six points and three assists.
"Heather was instrumental in causing many of the turnovers that Green had with her pressure out front in our zone," Hodson said.
Heather Cox finished with six points.
"Heather Cox made some big shots for us in the post and played very well," Hodson said. "It was a good win for the girls as they have really been working hard in practice.
"We put in some new things for the tournament, and they executed those things well. The girls are not ready for the season to end, and they are playing like there is no tomorrow. I am very proud of the way they are playing right now."
Also scoring for FHS was Tiffany Woods and Shelby Smithson with two points each. Kortney Paris had one point.
FHS will take on Portsmouth-Clay at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Northwest High School.[[In-content Ad]]