Senior Viqueen basketball player Taylar Wessner was honored on Senior Night. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
By RICKEY CLARDY
Sports Writer
UNIONVILLE — The Community Viqueens had a 14-point lead and led for most of the game, but the Viqueens could not regain the advantage late as a Cannon County Lionette basket in the final seconds broke the tie and gave the district-leading Lionettes a 42-40 victory over the Viqueens in a District 9-2A game Tuesday night.
After falling by 16 points to the Lionettes in the first meeting of the season, the Viqueens came out strong and were not deterred in the return matchup.
Anna Haskins was a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line in the opening quarter while Alyssa White netted four points as Community scored the first seven points of the contest.
The Lionettes could only muster a free throw with 3:35 left as the Viqueens added five points and took a 12-1 lead to the second quarter.
Mattie Maxey scored the first five points for the Viqueens in the quarter as Community took its biggest lead at 17-3 with 7:11 remaining before the Lionettes started to find the range.
Anna Haskins puts up a shot for the Viqueens. Haskins led Community with 16 points. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
The Viqueens still led 25-17 with 1:41 left before the Lionettes scored the final four points to cut the Community lead to 25-21 at the break.
It was a one-girl show offensively for the Viqueens in the third quarter as Haskins came out strong and repeatedly challenged the Lionette defense. Haskins finished with nine of the 11 Community points as the Viqueens took a 36-32 lead to the final quarter.
The well went dry as the Viqueens could only manage four points in the quarter.
With Community still holding on to a 4-point lead, a Viqueen missed layup set the stage for a Lionette 3-point play on the other end as the 5-point swing gave Cannon County its first lead at 39-38 with 4:06 left.
After a Lionette free throw, a Maxey field goal tied the game at 40-40 with 1:57 left.
The Viqueens regained possession with a minute left and milked the clock to 12.9 seconds before calling a timeout to set up a winning shot.
But the Viqueens could not get a shot off as a turnover gave the Lionettes one final chance with 7.9 seconds left.
Cannon County capitalized on its opportunity as Abi Alexander drove to the lane before finding an open Liv Prater for the game-winning shot with 2.6 seconds left as the Lionettes escaped with the win.
Alexander had 13 points and Addie King had 12 to lead the Lionettes.
Haskins had 16 points while Maxey had 12 to pace the Viqueens.
The Viqueens were 14-of-22 from the foul line while the Lionettes were 15-of-21.
Community travels to Grundy County for a district tilt Friday night.
Cannon Co. 1 20 11 10 — 42
Community 12 13 11 4 — 40
Cannon Co.: Abi Alexander 13, Addie King 12, Elly Bain 7, Liv Prater 6, Mylee Schwartz, Jaylynn Taylor 4, Addison Estes.
Community: Anna Haskins 16, Mattie Maxey 12, Alyssa White 6, Sara Flannagan 4, Taylar Wessner, Brooklyn Yoes 2, Savannah Pearson, Brailey Whitehead.
3-Point goals: Cannon Co.: (1): Alexander.
Halftime score: Community 25, Cannon Co. 21.