Post Photo by Chris Siers Jaz Western caps a fast break and goes up for two.
By CHRIS SIERS
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
SHELBYVILLE — A slew of turnovers and a third-quarter scoring drought was more than Shelbyville Central could overcome in a 51-36 District 9-4A loss on Friday night.
Shelbyville battled the Lady Falcons fairly evenly throughout the first quarter and on a 3-pointer by Paige Blackburn, took the lead with 1:35 left on the clock.
The lead was short-lived, as Lincoln County connected on a pair of 3’s to close the quarter and finish up 14-11.
Down two possessions early in the second, a basket by Jaz Western and a 3-pointer from Sammie Brown knotted the game with 5:15 left in the half.
But after Brown’s trey, the Eaglettes only got one more field goal in the half and Lincoln County was able to extend its lead to 10 points by halftime.
Making matters worse, Sammie Brown was forced to the bench after picking up her third foul with 1:25 left in the quarter.
Although down 10 entering the third quarter, it was a series of turnovers that allowed the Lady Falcons to extend their lead to as much as 15 points, following a 3-pointer by Lincoln County’s Molly Brown.
Lilly Brown ended a three-minute scoring drought in the quarter with backdoor cut ending in an easy layup off the block, but by the end of the third, Lincoln County once again extended its lead to 15 on a 3-pointer by Lady Falcon post Abby Bryan.
Bryan led the way with 24 points, including two 3-pointers.
Blackburn led the Eaglettes with 10 points, while Lilly Brown, Sammie Brown and Lanaya Young each added eight.
The Eaglettes are back on their home court for their final two home games of the regular season on Monday against Columbia and against Spring Hill on Tuesday, before closing out the regular season at Columbia on Friday.
With all three remaining games being District 9-4A games, the Eaglettes could climb as high as a No. 3 seed for the upcoming district tournament, if the Eaglettes win out.
Lincoln Co. 14 16 11 10 — 51
Shelbyville 11 9 6 10 — 36
Lincoln Co.: Abby Bryan 24, Alyssa Petty 9, Molly Brown 8, Grasen Tipps 6, Allie Bonner 2, Maggie Franklin 2.
Shelbyville: Paige Blackburn 10, Lilly Brown 8, Sammie Brown 8, Lanaya Young 8, Jaz Western 2.
3-Point goals: Lincoln Co. (6): Brown 2, Bryan 2, Tipps 2; Shelbyville (3): S. Brown 2, Blackburn.
Halftime score: Lincoln Co. 30, Shelbyville 20.
