Lady Eagles Close Schuyler Co. Shootout By Dominating Defending District Champs

Lady Eagles Close Schuyler Co. Shootout By Dominating Defending District Champs

By David Sharp

Knox County finished the girls’ portion of the 2009 Schuyler County with a flourish, pounding defending district champion Marceline by a 57-18 final score. The June 19 con-test was one of the final games played in the week long summer league affair.
The Lady Eagles held Marceline without a point from the field until Lady Tiger freshman guard Abby Jo Gaither scored at the 2:16 mark of period one for a 22-4 Knox County lead.
The Lady Eagles held a decided rebounding advantage over the youthful Marceline team. The Lady Tigers graduated their top seven players and will field a team with little or no returning varsity experience in 2009-10.
Marceline won 23 games and a district championship in 2008-09. Knox County worked the basketball crisply. Good ball movement led to Katie Ausmus feeding Becca Mallett for a 12-1 Knox County lead.
Myra Parrish drove the lane for a 17-2 margin at the 5:54 mark of the first half. Kelsey Cahalan stole the ball and found Hannah Dale for a 19-2 lead with 5:30 showing on the first half clock.
Knox County held a 22-2 lead with 3:32 remaining in the first half. The Lady Eagles led 27-4 at the half. Knox County allowed eight of the 18 Marceline points on fouls unofficially.
The Lady Eagles finished the shootout with a 4-3 overall record. Knox County has played at the Cairo shootout and the Monroe City summer jamboree. The Lady Eagles went 2-2 at Cairo.
Knox County has six varsity and three JV games scheduled at the June 25-26 Paris Jamboree. The Lady Eagles have three varsity games slated for the June 27 John Wood Shootout at Quincy. Knox County will conclude their girls’ summer slate at the July 10-11 Licking Summer Team Camp at Rolla.
 “The difference was that all five people on the floor attacked the rim,” said Knox County coach John Weaver. “We got steals that made our transition game easier. We got shots from the low block. This is a good way to finish the week. Our three losses were by a total of 11 points.”
 “Wins and losses are not as important in the summer. If we come back as the same players we were last year, we might win 14 games again. We want to improve and get better. I thought we played well in our last game here.”
Lorrie Peters led the Lady Eagles with an unofficial total of 12 points. Becca Mallett was next with eight Knox County points. Myra Parrish and Hannah Dale finished with seven points each.
Brittany Miller scored six points. Katie Ausmus scored five points. Kelsey Cahalan and Stacey Leckbee added two points each.