Lynchburg-Clay begins season with win over Peebles

DODSONVILLE — The start of the 2024-25 season for the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs resulted in a Southern Hills Athletic Conference win, as they defended their home court with a 36-28 win over the visiting Peebles Lady Indians Monday evening.

The win by the Lady Mustangs on their home court saw them and Peebles tied at 8-8 after one quarter of play, followed by LCHS outscoring their opponent 7-2 in the second quarter for a 15-10 halftime lead.

LCHS led 28-21 after three quarters, as they outscored Peebles 13-11 in the eight-minute frame, followed by LCHS keeping the lead for the win as they scored eight points in the fourth quarter, while the Lady Indians tacked on seven points in the same frame.

In the third quarter, LCHS led by as many as 11 points with 1:30 left on the clock, which was their largest lead of the season-opening game.

“We had some first-game jitters coming out, but it's just exciting to start the season,” LCHS head coach Whitney Lewis said. “I think after that first quarter got going, we kind of settled in and were able just to play basketball like we know how to play basketball.

“I thought all the kids that got in tonight just gave everything they had on the floor. We keep a stat called hustle works, and we probably had over 40 of those, just for people diving or making a play or getting a tip and then getting after it. Our energy was just phenomenal from the bench, from the floor, when we did something great, you knew it. It was kind of just a momentum swing when our kids would kind of get in the groove. It was a fun game to be a part of, and it was hard fought.”

The Lady Mustangs were led in the scoring column by Adilyn Carraher with 10 points, as she also collected two rebounds and three steals. She totaled two 3-pointers and was 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.

Joslyn Rockey finished with eight points as she also made a 3-pointer, along with two two-point baskets and she was 1-of-2 from the free-throw line. Rockey also finished with four rebounds, two assists, four steals and one block.

Allie Waits ended the SHAC win with seven points (one 3-pointer), one two-point basket and she also was 2-of-2 from the free-throw line.

Other final scoring totals for the Lady Mustangs included Savannah Bell with five points (one rebound, three assists, three steals), Ava McLaughlin with two points (one rebound, one assist), Madison McMullen with two points (five rebounds, one steal) and Lily Ferguson with two points (two steals).

“We have a lot of kids that are playing a lot of different roles than they have in the past.We have some kids that have some varsity minutes and varsity experience, but not necessarily that varsity role where they've got to be the person,” Lewis said. “I think everybody that played minutes today really contributed.

“Allie is our senior. She came in, and we had to put her on the shooter for the other team, and she really did a heck of a job on defense, and then she hit some key shots for us down the stretch. Allie hit a free couple free throws that really kind of helped secure that lead for us.

“Our junior class, we’ve got Ava and Joslyn coming in, and just, again, giving everything that they have and hitting some key buckets. I knew Ava had a key bucket there in that fourth quarter, and then Joslyn with some free throws too.”

As a team, the Lady Mustangs were 12-of-32 from the field (37.5 percent), as they totaled four 3-pointers, 15 rebounds, seven assists, 16 steals and one block. They were 8-of-12 from the free-throw line.

Next for the Lady Mustangs (1-0) is another SHAC game Monday, Dec. 2 on the road at West Union (2-0).

“Unfortunately, now we have to wait a week before we come back, and next week is going to be tough,” Lewis said. “We have three games, two of them are non-league, but you know, three games in a week is tough.

“We have West Union, a league opponent on Monday, and then Blanchester Wednesday, and then we go down to Green and play on Saturday. So once it gets rolling, it keeps going, and we're looking forward to it.”

BOX SCORE
LCHS    08 07 13 08 — 36
PHS    08 02 11 07 — 28

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