By CHARLIE HUST
Daviess County girls’ basketball squad used its speed and great ball handling skills to easily handle Webster County’s defensive pressure in cruising to a 73-48 win Thursday night in Trojan gym.
It was the Lady Trojans third straight loss after opening the season with three consecutive victories. Webster not stands 3-3 and looks to get back on the winning track heading into this week’s play at the Hopkins County Central Holiday Classic.
The visiting Lady Panthers blitzed Webster early, racing out to a 9-0 lead. The Owensboro squad had little trouble with WC’s full-court press as lightning-quick guards Sydni Saalwaechter, Skylar Walden and Katie Buskill slashed through the defense and finshed at the other end for easy hoops. The trio of guards combined for 13 points in the opening quarter and 42 for the game.
Webster finally got on the scoreboard when reserve guard Karlie Keeney came off the bench and nailed a 3-pointer with 5:49 left in the period. After a short jumper from Kristen Keeney and a runner in the paint from Kaylee Duncan 1:30 later, the Lady Trojans had trimmed the lead to 18-7.
But the Lady Panthers closed out the quarter with a 24-9 lead and never looked back as WC could only foul and hope to slow down the fast-breaking Owensboro squad.
Webster got the offense going a bit in the second quarter, thanks to a couple of steals plus two 3-pointers from Karlie Keeney. The WC eighth grader scored eight points in the period and finished with 11 points. Both teams scored 16 points in the frame as DCHS went into the locker room with a 40-25 halftime lead. The Lady Panthers used accurate free throw shooting in the first half, nailing 12-of-14 free throws to help build the 15 point lead.
Webster’s troubles continued in the third quarter as the Lady Panthers reeled off 25 points and stretched their lead to 65-42 at the end of the period. Jala Woolfolk scored all eight of her points in the period, draining a pair of 3-pointers. Hallie Gibson also had a ‘trey’ in the frame.
WCHS played without the services of senior guards Hannah Pritchett and Maddy Duncan, both rehabing injuries.
Gibson led Webster in the final eight minutes, scoring seven of her 10 points. Kristen Keeney also finished with 10 points, six of those coming in the final quarter. Kaylee Duncan led WCHS in scoring with 12 points while Christian Papineau added four points and Jamie Winstead two points along with one free throw from Kelsey Payne.
Daviess County enjoyed a huge free throw shooting advantage, hitting 20-of-30 for the game while the Lady Trojans were just 9-for-14 from the stripe.