Local Sports
Second-stanza surge pushes Lady Panthers past Maidens
By Jay Neal
sports@jacksonvilleprogress.com
TYLER — Friday’s game between Jacksonville and Bullard started out just as many anticipated it would, with the Maidens’ sophomore-sensation, Amber Hawkins, scoring the game’s first bucket on a short-range bank shot and Bullard’s second-year wonder, Minta Spears, answering with one of her signature three balls.
But in the end, the outcome was determined more by the Lady Panthers (3-1) having a cornucopia of weapons as opposed to just one that Jacksonville (2-4) grew frustrated at having to defend, with the final decision going in Bullard’s favor, 50-36.
Yes, Spears was the game’s leading scorer with 17 , including three shots from beyond the arc, but the straw(s) that broke the Maidens’ back were Ashley Ricci and Christina Hatten — two Lady Panthers who made their presence known and made sure Bullard, which is ranked No. 12 in the current Class 3A poll, was more than a one-woman show on this day.
The opening quarter was fought on relatively even terms prior to Spears hitting a deuce with 2:28 to play in the first that put Bullard in front 6-4. The Maidens were not able to regain the lead from this point.
Jacksonville tied the game at 10 with 11 seconds left in the opening frame when Jessica Hunter hit a jumper from the paint.
Hunter was one of the bright spots for Jacksonville, recording her best offensive game of the year by notching 12 points.
Ally Covalt’s three-footer off the window with 2 seconds left put the Lady Panthers in front 12-10 as the horn sounded to end the first period.
With Bullard leading 14-12, Ashley Ricci scored five consecutive points to engineer a 9-0 Bullard run that was the beginning of the end for Jacksonville.
Ricci scored on a three-point play at the 5:33 mark and 57 ticks later, she added another basket (coming off a Maiden turnover) as the Lady Panthers extended their advantage to 19-12 at the 4:36 point.
The spurt was capped off on a trey from the corner off the hand of Rachel Horton as the Lady Panthers increased their margin to 11 points (23-12) with 2:36 to go in the opening half.
As the teams headed to the dressing room, Bullard enjoyed a 27-15 lead over the Maidens as the Lady Panthers outscored Jacksonville 15-5 in the pivotal second stanza.
Christina Hatten made sure the Lady Panthers kept the pressure on the Maidens by sinking a triple just 36 seconds into the third quarter.
The Maidens came right back, however, and scored a quick three as Hawkins hit a shot from down low and the follow-up free throw that came with it after being fouled by a Bullard player while in the act of shooting.
Bullard outscored Jacksonville 13-10 in the third despite Lady Panther head coach Greg Gay going to the bench early.
The Lady Panthers used aggressive play on the boards, plus a strong perimeter game to go along with Ricci and Kayla Welling’s play in the paint to frustrate the Maidens.
“We came out strong and then got behind in the second quarter and we lost our intensity from that point,” Jacksonville head coach Jason Crow said after the game. “We have to be able to play all four quarters with intensity to have a chance to win.”
Hawkins led the Maidens in scoring with 14 while Ricci added nine and Hatten eight, respectively for the Lady Panthers.
Jacksonville will look to end its two-game losing streak at 6 p.m. Tuesday by hosting Corsicana.
Meanwhile, the Lady Panthers will play inside Panther gymnasium for the first time this season on the same day when they welcome Diboll to town for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.
Lady Panthers 50 Maidens 36
1 2 3 4 Tot.
JHS 10 5 10 11 36
BHS 12 15 13 10 50
JHS — Amber Hawkins, 14; Chancii Scott, 2; Ashley Baker, 2; Lydia Boyd, 5; Jessica Hunter, 12; Brittany King, 1.
BHS — Rachel Horton, 4; Ashley Ricci, 9; Ally Covalt, 6; Minta Spears, 17; Christina Hatten, 8; Kayla Welling, 6.
Three-point goals — JHS - none; BHS - Spears (3), Horton; Hatten (2).
Records — Jacksonville (2-4); Bullard (3-1).
Next game — Jacksonville vs. Corsicana, 6 p.m. Tuesday; Bullard vs. Diboll, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
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Sports Schedules, Feb. 9, 2010
Feb. 9
Basketball
JHS boys at Kilgore, 7:30 p.m.
Rusk girls and boys vs. Carthage, 5:30 p.m.
New Summerfield girls and boys vs. Mt. Enterprise, 5 p.m.
Bullard girls and boys vs. Spring Hill, 6:30 p.m.
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JHS girls vs. Lufkin Hudson, 7 p.m.
Tennis
JHS JV at Lindale Tournament, 8 a.m. -
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