For a quarter Friday night, it looked as if the Todd County Central Lady Rebels had a good chance to pick up their 3rd straight win to open the 2021 season. Then the Owensboro Lady Devil decided to fire up the heat with their full court pressure, and that heat was a bit much for the Lady Rebels to overcome.
Owensboro held Todd Central scoreless for the first six minutes of the second quarter, turning a 15-14 deficit into a 26-15 lead. The Lady Devils would then roll on to a 58-39 inter-region win in Elkton.
The first quarter was a tight battle with two ties and three lead changes. A Lucy Chester three pointer late in the quarter gave the Lady Rebels a 15-14 lead after the opening 8 minutes. Chester finished the quarter with seven points.
To start the second quarter, Owensboro coach Jansen Locher brought his team out in a full court press, and the decision completely changed the game. The Lady Rebels more than had their hands full with the Lady Devils pressure, struggling to get the ball upcourt, with several turnovers in the backcourt leading to quick Owensboro baskets.
It took Todd Central six minutes to score its first and only basket of the second quarter. By that time, Owensboro had seized a 26-17 lead and all of the momentum in the game. The two teams would head into the locker rooms at the break with the Lady Devils holding a 32-17 lead.
Owensboro opened the 2nd half keeping the pressure turned up, and the Lady Rebels continued to struggle to get the ball into front court, and when they did navigate the pressure, they had hard time getting shots to fall in the half court. Owensboro’s Lindsey Gibson hit a three midway through the quarter to give the Lady Devils their largest lead of the night at 44-19. Late baskets from Lucy Chester and Abby Williams would trim the lead to 48-28 heading into the final quarter.
Todd Central would make a run to try and pull off a miracle rally in the opening minutes of the final quarter. Six straight points from Lucy Chester would cut the lead to 13 points at 50-37 with just under four minutes to go. However, the Lady Devils delivered the final knockout blow with six straight points to snuff out the rally attempt.
Lucy Chester finished the night with 18 points for Todd Central. Abby Williams was the other Lady Rebel to reach double figures with 10 points.
For Owensboro, Tamia Smith was the only player to reach double figures with 16 points. Alyrica Hughes and Brooklyn Williams added nine points each.
With the loss, the Lady Rebels drop to 2-1 on the season. They return to action Monday night in the 4th Region All A Classic against Monroe County.
Owensboro, now at 1-1 is back on the road at Ohio County Monday night.
Owensboro — 14 18 16 10 – 58
Todd Central — 15 2 11 11 – 39
Owensboro (1-1) – Smith 16, Williams 9, Alyrica Hughes 9, Pappas 8, Gibson 7, Phillips 5, Lawrence 2, Wimberly 2
Todd Central (2-1) – Chester 18, Williams 10, Taylor 5, Leavell 4, Coleman 2
