COME FROM BEHIND

On a night when the three-ball was not dropping and the Lady Redhounds shot 45 percent from the free throw line, Corbin still managed to find a way to beat the visiting Monticello Lady Trojans, 58-57.

The game appeared to be over when Monticello went ahead 52-42 with 3:32 left in the game. “I was preparing my post-game talk to the girls,” said Corbin Coach Jennifer Parsons.

But, her speech about losing to Monticello quickly turned into a victory speech after Corbin went on a 16-5 run to capture their initial win of the season.

With Corbin down 52-42, junior guard Shai Roaden scored from the paint and went to the line for the potential three-point play with 3:04 left. She missed the free throw, but a Monticello player knocked the ball out of bounds. Corbin got the ball and went to senior center Kelci Jones for a basket, cutting the lead to six.

A turnover by the Lady Trojans gave the ball back to Corbin and Roaden went to the hoop for two and the lead was down to four (52-48).

Ashley Bell had an opportunity to put her team back on top by six, but missed the front end of a bonus with 1:58 left in the game. She missed and Corbin grabbed the rebound and headed down court. Jones scored on a rebound basket, slicing the lead to two.

Allison Woolums then stripped Cortney Marrow of the ball and Corbin got a time-out with 1:39.

Junior forward Hayley Smith tied the game seconds later. Roaden put Corbin ahead 54-52, setting the stages for the final seconds.

After Monticello had pulled even at 54-54, Roaden connected on three of four from the line and blocked a three-point shot by Haleigh Alley. The Lady Trojans fouled Jones with 8.7 left. Jones missed the first but connected on the second for a four-point cushion, which proved to be the game winner.

Marrow hit a three-pointer with three seconds left, but the Lady Trojans didn’t have a time-out and the game ended with Corbin stealing the win, 58-57.

Parsons felt the third quarter was her team’s weakest. “They switched around their defenses and we had a hard time adjusting.”

“They are a good shooting team and we weren’t reacting with passes, we were watching then going after them when they were already in the air,” said Parsons. The Lady Trojans had built their lead with the aid of six three-pointers in the game. “Once they get set they are very good scorers.”

“We were still in that lull at the start of the fourth quarter,” said Parsons. “We had a couple of big shots and that steal by Allison (Woolums) and we were right back in it.”

“We made some defensive adjustments as well and tried to keep the ball out of the hands of their point guard (Marrow) who is an excellent penetrater. She just broke down our defense.”

The first quarter was nip and tuck with Marrow scoring most of the points for Monticello. The senior guard scored nine of the first 15 points. However, Jones had eight points for the Lady Redhounds as the teams went to the second quarter tied.

Corbin took its first lead of the game on a drive to the basket by Calli Hendrickson. Hendrickson scored the basket for a 21-20 lead but missed the free throw with 4:26 in the quarter.

Sophomore Jalyn Hill pushed the lead out to three points with a pair of free throws before Marrow went to the line for four straight points give the visitors the back, 24-23.

Jones scored from the paint before Monticello ended the half with a basket and a 26-25 lead.

The lead changed hands eight times in the third quarter before Monticello got a three-point by Alley that put the Lady Trojans ahead, 38-35. Smith scored from the paint and Road hit one of two from the line as Corbin tied the game once again.

Monticello scored the final six points of the third quarter and took a 44-38 lead into the fourth period.

“The one thing I wasn’t pleased with was our free throw shooting,” said Parsons. “We were 45 percent and in both of our scrimmages we were over 70 percent and shot a lot. Corbin was 10 of 22 against Monticello.

“We had people to step up at the end and really take charge,” said Parsons. “Shai did a good job running the point and Jones always plays well inside. We had some good defense from several people and I thought Hayley hit some big shots to make that run as well.”

“We had some good fight in us at the end and that is something that I didn’t see much of all last year,” added Parsons.

Jones topped all scorers with 21 points while Smith tossed in 15 points. Roaden added 14 points with 11 of those coming in the fourth quarter. She scored nine of the final 16 points.

Corbin 58, Monticello 57

Monticello            15  11  18  13- 57

Corbin                15  10  13  20- 58

   Monticello (57) – Bell 7, Marrow 18, Anderson 6, Hughes 6, Alley 13, Perkins 5.

   Corbin (58) – Jones 21, Roaden 14, Smith 15, Boggs 2, Hendrickson 2, Woolums 2, Hill 2.