Lady 'Cats defeated by first-place North Adams

MOWRYSTOWN — The Whiteoak Lady Wildcats had a tough task in front of them on Thursday night, as they faced the Southern Hills Athletic Conference first-place North Adams Lady Green Devils. Once the final buzzer sounded, the Lady ’Cats had lost by a 72-36 score.
The win by the visiting Lady Green Devils moves them to 6-1 overall and 5-1 in the conference, as they hold the Division II SHAC lead. The loss sends the Lady ’Cats to 1-8 overall and 1-4 in the SHAC.
Before the start of the game, WHS gave a standing ovation to senior Emma Wardlow, who was presented with a basketball for scoring her 1,000th career point last week at Paint Valley.
Once the game started, it was all North Adams, beginning with a 18-point first frame for the visitors, as they opened the SHAC contest with an 8-0 run within the first five minutes of the game. Wardlow broke up the scoring run with a steal and layup at the 4:04 mark.
From there, the Lady Green Devils scored four straight points to take a 10-point advantage, but again, it was Wardlow who sank a jumper for the Lady ’Cats, bringing WHS back to within 10 points of tying the game.
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Wardlow led WHS with 12 points in the loss.
WHS had just two more points in the first frame with those from Maggie Carr, as she made two free throws with 1:17 left in the quarter, but once the frame was completed, WHS trailed by 12 points. Carr finished the game with 10 points.
WHS scored 13 points in the second frame, but NAHS answered with a 20-point quarter for a halftime lead of 38-19. For WHS, Lexi Jones, Carr, Jaycie Parr and Wardlow contributed to the scoring.
For NAHS in the first two quarters, Staci Dinsmore, Charlee Louden, Grace McDowell, Madison Jenkins, Lakyn Happ and Avery Harper all scored points, leading to their 38-19 lead at the conclusion of the first half.
Harper led NA with 18 points, followed by Happ with 13 and McDowell with 12.
In the second half, North Adams outscored the Lady ’Cats, 34-17 with a 15-point third frame and 19-point fourth quarter. WHS scored seven points in the third and 10 more points in the fourth.
WHS will play again on Monday, Dec. 21 at home against Northwest in a non-conference game.