McClain fends off Lynchburg-Clay for non-conference win

DODSONVILLE — The non-conference Highland County showdown was more like a roller-coaster ride Monday evening, as the two teams had their highs and lows with momentum swings throughout the non-conference battle, where eventually it was McClain holding on for a 51-45 victory at Lynchburg-Clay High School. 

The two teams played to a three-point differential when halftime arrived, but the second half saw each team make runs where the momentum changed, starting with the Lady Tigers and the third quarter where they led by as many as 12 points on three different occasions. 

McClain had a big run to begin the third frame with their lead going from three points to 12 points with 4:25 left in the third frame. 

The Lady Tigers started with a free throw made by junior Allie Burgess, then the run of scoring continued with a basket in the paint by senior Leah Lovett and a free throw from junior Larah Henson, as she led MHS with 17 points. Lovett finished the game with 15 points for MHS. 

Next was a layup by junior Paisley Pryor, and following a timeout McClain added two free throws made by Henson, then a free throw from Lovett left the Lady Tigers ahead by 12 points at 33-21 with 4:25 left in the third. Pryor finished the game with 12 points. 

LC broke up the scoring run with a layup from junior Madison McMullen, only to have a layup by Burgess — who totaled six points — to put the Lady Tigers back in front with another 12-point advantage. 

The third frame continued with a basket by junior Savannah Bell of LCHS, but following a jumpball it was McClain’s Lovett with a two-point bucket for a 37-25 lead with 2:23 left in the quarter. LC came back with a big 3-pointer from Bell, but the quarter ended with the two teams each scoring two more points as MHS had two made free throws by Lovett, while LCHS saw senior Joslyn Rockey score two points for a score of 39-30 after three frames. 

McClain opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer by Henson for another 12-point Lady Tiger lead, but four straight points scored by LCHS with a one-handed basket underneath the hoop by junior Madison McMullen, and a steal and layup from sophomore Lily Ferguson, brought the Lady Mustangs to within eight points of the MHS lead at 42-34 with 6:25 left in regulation. Ferguson ended the game with 10 points. 

McClain built back their 12-point lead with two free throws made by Pryor, followed by a bucket from Lovett. LC answered with a 5-0 run off a free throw by junior Addy Carraher, two made free throws from Rockey and a jumper by senior Ava McLaughlin to get LCHS within seven points of McClain with 3:02 on the clock. Carraher led LCHS with 16 points, making four 3-pointers. 

Eventually LCHS made it a four-point deficit as Ferguson scored a basket with 53 seconds on the clock, but two made free throws by Henson sealed the win at 51-45 for the six-point victory. 

In the first two frames, McClain led 13-12 after the first quarter, though it was Carraher of LCHS who was the standout of the first frame, scoring 10 points off three 3-pointers and a free throw, eventually putting Lynchburg-Clay ahead at 10-6 with 3:20 on the first-quarter clock. 

McClain finished the first frame with six straight points, while LCHS scored the final basket of the frame off a shot by McLaughlin, leaving McClain in front by one point. 

The Lady Tigers started the second quarter scoring with a 3-pointer from Henson, but the second frame consisted of the two teams exchanging baskets and no team leading by more than five points, as LCHS made it a three-point halftime deficit with the final basket of the first half being a shot made by Ferguson. 

Other final scoring totals for MHS included Brie Cummins with one point off a free throw, while LCHS had final scoring totals of Bell (five), Rockey (four), McLaughlin (six) and McMullen (four). 

McClain’s win improves their overall record to 2-1 overall, while LCHS moves to 1-2 on the season. 

Next for McClain is a Frontier Athletic Conference game on Wednesday, Dec. 3 at home vs. Chillicothe. 

Lynchburg-Clay will next play on Thursday, Dec. 4 on the road in a Southern Hills Athletic Conference game against North Adams. 

BOX SCORE
MHS     13 11 15 12 — 51
LCHS   12 09 09 15 — 45

MCCLAIN (51) — L.Henson 2 (2) 7-8 17, P.Pryor 5 (0) 2-5 12, A.Burgess 1 (1) 1-2 6, B.Cummins 0 (0) 1-2 1, L.Lovett 6 (0) 3-8 15. TOTALS: 14 (3) 14-25 51. 

LYNCHBURG-CLAY (45) — L.Ferguson 5 (0) 0-0 10, S.Bell 1 (1) 0-1 5, J.Rockey 1 (0) 2-2 4, A.McLaughlin 3 (0) 0-0 6, M.McMullen 2 (0) 0-0 4, A.Carraher 0 (4) 4-6 16. TOTALS: 12 (5) 6-9 45.

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On Saturday, Nov. 22 the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs lost on the road to the host Minford Lady Falcons by a 51-45 score at Minford High School. 

LCHS led 20-15 after the first quarter, but were outscored 12-7 in the second frame for a tied score of 27-27 at halftime. 

In the second half, the Lady Falcons outscored Lynchburg-Clay 14-12, and in the fourth quarter it was Minford with 10 points and LCHS with six. 

Addy Carraher led the Lady Mustangs with 18 points, as she made five 3-pointers. Carraher also collected five rebounds, and one steal. 

Lily Ferguson finished with 10 points, one rebound, two assists, and five steals. Finishing with eight points was Madison McMullen, who also collected four rebounds, one assist and two steals. 

LCHS also had six points from Ava McLaughlin, along with one rebound and three assists. Joslyn Rockey totaled three points (a 3-pointer) and one rebound. Lizzie Hall totaled one rebound for the Lady Mustangs. 

Team totals for LCHS were 19 rebounds, 15 assists and 12 steals, along with 15 turnovers.