The Shadow
BUENA VISTA – The opportunities were there, but the Lady Chargers could not capitalize on them as they were knocked out of the Pioneer District girl’s basketball tournament with a 52-39 semifinal loss to James River Wednesday evening.
“Turnovers have plagued us all season long and they got the best of us again tonight,” said Bath County coach Keith Lindsay following Wednesday’s loss. “We cut their lead to four late in the game and followed it up with turnovers that turned into easy points for them.”
Mikayla Colaw’s dish to Taylor Grubbs pulled the Lady Chargers within four (41-37) with 2:10 to play, but James River’s Morgan Hufford recorded a steal and layup, Taylor England stole the ensuing inbounds pass and was fouled.
England hit both free throws to increase the Knights’ lead to eight.
Kaye Woods recorded a steal on BC’s next possession and hit 1-of-2 at the line to extend James River’s lead to 46-37.
The Chargers cut their deficit to six following a Jailyn Ford layup, but Hufford and England combined to go 6-for-6 at the line down the stretch to preserve the 52-39 win for the Knights.
James River jumped out to a 16-7 lead after forcing the Lady Chargers into seven first quarter turnovers. Ford opened the scoring with a runner to give the Chargers a 2-0 lead, but the Knights countered with 12 straight to take a 12-2 lead.
Ford recorded a stickback to open the second quarter scoring and then dished to Jessie O’Conner for an easy two.
The BC senior capped a 6-0 run with a jumper in the lane to pull the Lady Chargers within three, 16-13, with 5:52 remaining in the first half.
James River led 18-15 following a jumper from Grubbs, but the Knights closed the quarter with a 9-0 run take a 27-15 lead into the locker room at the break.
Alexa Faraone’s three-pointer with 1:32 to play in the third quarter capped a 7-0 Bath County run that pulled the Chargers within seven, 31-24, as they trailed 35-28 heading into the fourth quarter.
Hufford led a trio of Knights with 15 points, while Ashley King added 14 and Reanna Hamm finished with 10.
Ford led Bath County (13-10) with a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double, while Faraone just missed double figures with nine points.
The Chargers will try and regroup over the next couple of days as they will begin preparation for next week’s Region C, Division 1 basketball tournament.
“We’ve just got to do a better job of taking care of the basketball,” said Lindsay, referring to his team’s 21 turnovers. “Our defense is good enough to win basketball games. We just need to take care of the basketball.”
James River (20-4) advances to Friday night’s title game to take on Covington for the fourth time this season.
