After dropping an early December road meeting with Russellville 59-27, it may have looked to the Todd County Central girls’ basketball team like the Lady Panthers would have its number this season. However, after claiming a narrow, overtime win in the 4th Region All-A semifinals last month, the Lady Rebels took the edge in the season series with a 43-34 victory Friday night in Elkton.
The Senior Night victory gives the Lady Rebels their first 13th-District win of the year, while improving their record to 4-18 overall. Russellville slips to 17-8, 4-3 in district play.
Both teams started slowly, but Chloe Whitescarver scored 6 points to help the Lady Panthers double up the Lady Rebels at 8-4 after the first quarter.
Eliza Simons scored the first 4 points of the second quarter for the Lady Rebels, and Jasmine Mimms went 4-4 from the free throw line, but they were outscored 12-10 and trailed 20-14 at the halftime break.
Points were hard to come by in the third quarter, as the Lady Rebels held Russellville to only 3, all on free throws. However, Todd County only managed 6 and still trailed heading to the fourth quarter.
Led by their four seniors, the Lady Rebels erupted for 23 points over the final 8 minutes. Paige Rager got things started with a 3-pointer to tie the game and jumpstart an 11-3 run for a 31-26 advantage. But the Lady Panthers responded, and after a 3-pointer by Whitescarver the game was tied at 33-33 with 3:00 to play. However, Kinley Reding scored on a layup off an assist from Amy Brumfield to give the Lady Rebels back the lead for good. Todd County closed on a 10-1 run to seal the 9-point victory.
The Lady Rebel seniors, Rager, Brumfield, Reding and Mimms, combined for 33 of the team’s 43 points, with Mimms’ 11 leading the way.
Whitescarver finished with 11 for Russellville, followed by Jayce Buchner with 9.
