Morgan Pridmore puts up a shot for the Viqueens. Pridmore had four points in the Community win. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
By RICKEY CLARDY
Sports Writer
CHAPEL HILL — The Community Viqueens never trailed in their District 9-2A basketball contest against the Forrest Lady Rockets Tuesday night and the Viqueens extended their lead with a big fourth quarter as Community defeated the Lady Rockets 50-32.
Community (10-11, 1-3) could only muster eight points in the opening quarter with Anna Haskins scoring half the points on four free throws, but the Viqueen defense was true to the test as Forrest (13-7, 0-3) could only manage one basket by Baeliy Stalnecker as the Viqueens took an 8-2 lead to the second quarter.
With Savannah Pearson drilling three treys, Community extended its advantage to 21-12 with 1:38 remaining.
Stalnecker kept the Lady Rockets in the game with eight points, including the last four points of the quarter as the Viqueens took a 21-16 lead to the intermission.
Haskins scored eight points as the Viqueens took a 33-21 lead with 1:49 left.
The Lady Rockets stayed within striking distance with Stalnecker scoring four points as Community led 33-26 heading to the final quarter.
It was a parade to the foul line as the Viqueens extended their lead.
With a 35-28 lead and 5:55 remaining, the Viqueens scored 11 consecutive points to take control.
Mattie Maxey was a perfect 6-of-6 at the line as Community was 13-of-14 at the charity stripe in the quarter as the Viqueens finished with the 18-point victory.
Haskins led the Viqueens with 15 points while Pearson added 11.
Stalnecker led the Lady Rockets with 15 points.
The Viqueens were an impressive 23-of-26 at the foul line while the Lady Rockets were 7-of-11.
“We’ve struggled the last few games. We’ve worked hard on a lot of stuff,” Coach Cody Pierce of the Viqueens said.
“We didn’t shoot well early, and typically we would continue to shoot ourself in the foot a lot by just continuing to shoot, but we worked the possessions a little bit harder tonight, we got the hard buckets, and we made every possession count,” Pierce added.
Community is scheduled to host Richland Friday night in a non-district matchup while Forrest hosts Loretto in a district contest Thursday night.
Community 8 13 12 17 — 50
Forrest 2 14 10 6 — 32
Community: Anna Haskins 15, Savannah Pearson 11, Mattie Maxey 8, Alyssa White 8, Brooklyn Yoes 2, Morgan Pridmore 4, Hayden Moore 2, Sara Flannagan, Madisyn Hill, Arleigh Smith.
Forrest: Baeliy Stalnecker 15, Sienna Borba 6, Sadie Smith 3, Camreigh Warner, Kaylin Pope, Allie Dillon 6, Cloie Smith 2, Alyssa Duvall.
3-Point goals: Community (3): Pearson 3; Forrest (3): Borba 2, S. Smith.
Halftime score: Community 21, Forrest 16.