(Abarw.com/Allison Weirich Photo) 7th-grade Gold team's Katie Kindle
By Linda Lattanzio, Leader writer
The Salado Junior High School Lady Eagles soared into Liberty Hill to open the basketball season, but the Liberty Hill Junior High Lady Panthers had them clipped, plucked and stuffed before the night was through with four wins Nov. 21.
(Abarw.com/Allison Weirich Photo) 7th-Grade Purple: Andrea House
The 7th Gold Lady Eagles had a demur start, looking like their first game of basketball for the season. The Lady Panthers had them stunned and overwhelmed from the tip off, winning 48-4. It took almost the entire first period for the Lady Eagles to gain their end of the court while the Lady Panthers took a 16-0 early lead. In fact, it was the third period before the Lady Eagles managed to complete a layup, followed by a single basket in the fourth period.
Top scoring Lady Panther was Taylor Robert with 12, followed closely by Katie Kindle with 10. Amy Miller and Lexi Freeman both had 8. Amy Hubbard contributed 4; Hubbard, Tara Evers and Larissa Finley each hit a basket. Miller led in the ball control department with 5 steals.
After watching the first game, expectations for the 7th Purple team were high, and they did not disappoint. Their Lady Eagles were better prepared and ready, but the Lady Panthers kept them running to a 62-8 win.
One Lady Eagle scored early on, but the Lady Panthers squashed any chance of more scoring with deft theft from Greenstreet and Jayla Reeves while Andrea House completed multiple layups. Two more Lady Eagles were able to complete layups despite tremendous defensive coverage in the second period, but one lone basket in the third period was all they could manage. The Lady Panthers won 62-8.
Top Scorer was Floyd with 22 points. Andrea House and Brittany Bramhall each had 8 points. Jayla Reeves had 7 points. DeLaHoussaye had 5 points; Joely Williamson and Darby Huggins had 4 points each. AJ Trahan and Megan Price had two points each. Reeves and Huggins were both valuable on the free throw line. Greenstreet and Reeves had multiple steals. Price was in it to win it with great team play.
You could tell the 8th Gold Lady Panthers were used to controlling the ball as they took a 6-0 lead in the first period that they only added to throughout the game. The Lady Eagles seemed to have some first game jitters that hurt their accuracy at the net. The Lady Panthers won 38-6.
Top Scorer was Kristin Cox with 9 points, followed closely by Hannah Landry with 8 points. Kendall Rybarski and Kaitlyn Peterson each had four points. Savannah Ross, Nicole Thiem and Paige Harrison each contributed a basket. Kristin Kinnebrough hit her free throw.
(Abarw.com/Allison Weirich Photo) 8th-grade Purple: Kaylie Potts
The fastest game of the night was filled with excitement. Even though the Lady Panthers won 58-16, these Lady Eagles weren’t waiting for the season to get started. They were in the game and made the Lady Panthers fight for every inch.
The first period was close, with the Lady Panthers taking a slight early lead 13-8. But defense held the Lady Eagles down while offense swarmed the net to gain a commanding lead 33-8 by half time. The Lady Eagles managed to complete a few plays the second half, but the Lady Panthers weren’t waiting around. They won the game 58-16.
Top Scorers were Autumn Lange with 10 points, Abbi Shelton with 9 points, and Meghan Huppee and Kalie Potts with 8 points each. Grace West, Allison Metzger, Alee Nix and Mikayla Stiles each made 4 points. Amanda Boliek had 3 points. Megan Whitehead hit one basket.
The LHJH Lady Panthers travel to Taylor Thursday, Dec. 1, to take on the Lady Ducks. Games begin at 4:30 p.m. with 7th Gold game.
