Lady Bears too physical for Muhlenberg

 

 

By Greg Moore

Banner Sports Editor

 

The BCHS Lady Bears played their first game of the season in the Bearcave on Monday night, December 15th. The BCHS Pep Band opened the night with the “Star Spangled Banner” in front of a decent crowd; then, Coach Belcher’s young ladies went to work. They regained control of the game just before halftime and never relinquished their stranglehold on the Lady Mustangs, who limped back across the Green River with the loss, 64-51.

Butler County, who improved to 4-1 on the season with the win, jumped out early on their prey; however, the Lady Mustangs (2-4 on the season coming in) clawed back ahead midway through the second quarter. Of course, that was short-lived. Ava Wilson kept absorbing blow after blow down low before the three-point-play, the old-fashioned way, started getting called.

 

 

 

After taking a 26-21 advantage into the popcorn break, Butler County kept the momentum throughout the remainder of the game. Four Lady Bears reached double-digits in the scoring column, Wilson leading the way. The junior, who the visitors had no answer for, finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds to notch her season averages.

Coach Belcher keeps getting a strong presence in the paint from her team. In addition, Senior Tinslea Belcher came alive from beyond the arc, hitting all three of her attempts, matching the Lady Mustangs total from that distance. Overall, Butler made 38% of all their field goals (2pt and 3pt) while the visitors shot 33%. Although they shot seven fewer three-pointers, the home team took 17 more attempts from the floor overall, a huge difference maker.

Senior Karrington Hunt joined Belcher, pouring in 12 points in front of the home crowd. Hunt and Belcher both helped the Lady Bears (+6) in the rebounding category, registering six and five, respectively. Sophomore Carly Cardwell, who had to sit most of the first half with two early fouls, still managed to reach the ten-point mark, putting four Lady Bears in double figures.

 

 

 

Ann Marie Skaggs, another senior, who does all the necessities on the court, finished with seven points for the Lady Bears, who were near spot on their scoring average while playing stingy defense on the guests. Skaggs also cleaned up eight rebounds, putting her over 500 for her stellar career at BCHS.

 

 

Eight of the 15 Lady Bears who played against Muhlenberg County scored in the affair. Rounding out the scoring for BC was Bella Easley and Destin Wester, who both scored two points, while Raleigh Skaggs finished with a free-throw in the win.