Lady Tigers rout Peebles; Eikenberry, Pryor combine for 30 points

The McClain Lady Tigers varsity basketball team improved their overall record to 3-1 on the season after easily defeating non-conference foe Peebles, 48-19 Monday night.

It was a game that McClain totally dominated the Lady Indians both offensively and defensively, along with having a decisive edge of rebounding the basketball.

“I’m very pleased with our girls’ effort tonight,” said McClain head coach Shania Massie. “I think everyone played well and had a role in what we were doing, which really helped us get this win.

“It was also a great opportunity to get some of our JV players into the game, giving them some important varsity minutes.”

The Lady Tigers were led by senior Anna Eikenberry and sophomore Paisley Pryor, who both shared game-high scoring honors with 15 points each.

“Paisley and Anna really got us started tonight, and those two can sometimes be almost unstoppable together,” Massie said. “Lucky for us, tonight they were both on.”

McClain led 14-6 after one period of play, and Pryor and Eikenberry accounted for all 14 of the Lady Tiger points, scoring seven apiece.  The Lady Tigers extended their advantage to 26-11 at the half when they outscored the Lady Indians 12-5 in the second period.  

Senior Lindsey Hutchinson started off the quarter with a long three, and Pryor and Larah Henson also connected from behind the arc in the frame. Pryor and Eikenberry were the first-half leading scorers with 10 and nine points, respectably.  

Senior Brenna Wright opened the third quarter scoring for McClain with back-to-back baskets inside, and the Lady Tigers’ lead grew to 30-11.  Hutchinson hit her second shot of the night, followed by another Pryor 3-pointer, and after Eikenberry, Wright and Henson all scored down the stretch, the third period ended with the Lady Tigers leading 41-17.

“Brenna (Wright) came out in that third quarter with a lot of energy and defensive intensity and really got us going by scoring our first four points,” said Massie. “Then Katie Cook who is probably one of my quickest and best defensive players, along with Brenna (Wright) put a lot of pressure on their ball handlers and turned them over, and that was another positive for us tonight.”

Coach Massie was able to play a lot of her younger players in the fourth period when the Lady Tigers still outscored Peebles 7-2, with the Lady Indians’ only points coming with just 20 seconds remaining in the game.

“I tried to keep everyone fresh, and that’s why I substituted so frequently because that’s going to be another big part of our game, especially when we’re pressing,” Massie said.

McClain now opens up conference play when they travel to Washington Wednesday, Dec. 4 before traveling to Jackson Saturday night, Dec. 7.

Individual scoring for McClain: Paisley Pryor 15, Anna Eikenberry 15, Larah Henson 6,  Brenna Wright 6, Lindsey Hutchinson 5 and Katie Cook 1.

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