LADY COLONELS FALL

 After opening the season with a pair of wins over Monticello and McCreary Central, the Whitley County Lady Colonels got a big test at Clay County Monday night, falling to the defending regional champions, 58-39.

Whitley County (2-1) had trouble finding the net in the first half and looked a bit intimidated by the 15^th ranked Lady Tigers in the first quarter. The Lady Colonels were 3-of-12 in the first period and had six turnovers as Clay County mounted a 13-6 lead after the first eight minutes and stretched that to 26-12 by halftime. The Lady Colonels were just 2-of-14 in the second period from the field.

Freshmen Brandi Smith, Kandace Craig and Maria Johnson combined for all 12 points in the first half.

“I felt like we were ready to play and the kids thought they could win, but they came out and psyched themselves out and our upperclassmen never did get in the game tonight,” said Whitley County Coach Larry Anderson.

“They tried and they worked and they wanted to, but it was a mental thing with them, they just never got into it,” said Anderson. “If they play well we have a nice ballgame.”

“The only ones to score in the first half were our freshmen,” Anderson said. “These are great kids and before it is over with they will be very competitive with everybody.”

“It’s a new level for them, but they have to step up and be the leaders when coming into these games,” Anderson said. “They wanted to and I had no problem with that, but they psyched themselves out to the point that everything went wrong for them.”

“I think we can take this game and we will learn from it,” said Anderson. “I don’t think it will happen again. I would be very surprised if we have that kind of game from those for kids again.”

Whitley County more than held its own against the Lady Tigers in the second half as Clay County went to seniors Whitley Belle Jackson and Kayla Smith in the second half to hold on to its lead. The two combined for all 12 points by the Lady Tigers in the third quarter.

The Lady Colonels trailed 38-22 to start the fourth quarter, but baskets by Sierra Anderson, Craig and LeeAnna Moses cut the lead to 40-28 forcing Clay County Coach James Burchell to call a timeout with 5:52 left in the game.

His team responded with a 10-0 run and grabbed their biggest lead of the night, 50-28 before Smith broke a three-minute dry spell by the Lady Colonels. Smith hit a pair of free throws with 2:53 left in the game.

The Lady Colonels outscored Clay County 11-8 in the final three minutes. Smith led Whitley County with 13 points while Craig added 12 points. Jackson topped the Clay County scoring with 15 points.

•Whitley County defeated Monticello 63-52 in the Lady Colonels Shootout Saturday as four players scored in double figures. Smith led the Lady Colonels with 16 points while Moses added 11 points. Jade Jones and Anderson finished with 10 points.

Monticello led 13-10 late in the first quarter when Whitley County went on an 8-1 run to take an 18-14 lead at the end of the first period. Jones scored six of the eight points.

Whitley County started the second quarter with a 10-5 and never trailed again. Smith had six points in the run while Moses hit a pair of free throws and Craig went inside for a basket.

•The Lady Colonels opened the season Friday night with a rout of McCreary Central, 66-28. Smith topped the Whitley County scorebook with 20 points while Craig added 11 points inside.

The Lady Colonels ran out to a 16-7 lead at the first stop and led 36-12 at the half.

•Whitley County will take on South Laurel in their first district game of the season Friday night in London before hosting Williamsburg Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Clay Co. 58, Whitley Co. 39

Whitley Co.              6    6  10  17- 39

Clay Co.            13  13  12  20- 58

   Whitley Co. (39) – Smith 13, Craig 12, Sabrina Sizemore 4, Anderson 2, Moses 2, Powers 2, Johnson 2, Simbree Sizemore 2.

   Clay Co. (58) – Gilbert 5, Mitchell 5, Jackson  15, Smith 6, K. Smith 10, Chesnut 14, Mathis 3.

Whitley Co. 63, Monticello 52

Monticello            14  10  20    8- 52

Whitley Co.             18  17  10  18- 63

   Monticello (52) – Morrow 20, Duncan 3, Hughes 12, Watkins 3, Bell 10, Hughes 4.

   Whitley Co. (63) – Smith 16, Jones 10, Craig 4, Anderson 10, Moses 11, Simbree Sizemore 6, Powers 2, Johnson 2, Sabrina Sizemore 2.

Whitley Co. 66, McCreary Central 28

McCreary Central              7    5    9    7- 28

Whitley Co.                        16  20  17  13- 66

   McCreary Central (28) – Cotton 11, Terry 9, Richardson 4, Sparks 2, King 2.

   Whitley Co. (66) – Smith 20, Craig 11, Jones 8, Anderson 8, Moses 8, Sizemore 6, Daniels 3, Powers 2.