By STEPHEN FORSHA

The Times-Gazette

DODSONVILLE - Trailing by one-point with under 20 seconds to play, it was a rebound and put back basket by Lynchburg-Clay sophomore Lillian Blankenship that propelled the Lady Mustangs to a 33-32 victory over Southern Hills League counterpart Peebles on Thursday night.

Leading for the entire game, the Lady Mustangs gave up their advantage with 1:03 remaining in the game after Peebles’ Shaylin McDaniels converted a three-point play.

But it was Blankenship’s basket that sealed the win after Lynchburg-Clay forced Peebles to turnover the ball to end the game.

“I will be thinking about this game all night,” Lynchburg-Clay head coach Linda Hatten said. “The difference in the game was that both teams weren’t making shots.”

Hatten was correct with her assessment of teams not making baskets, as the Lady Mustangs finished 9-of-53 (17 percent) shooting from the field against the Lady Indians.

“At halftime I told them they were playing like girls. I told them they weren’t attacking the basket and it was like we were playing not to lose,” Hatten said. “That’s how I felt when I was watching the kids play.”

But to get to the dramatic finish, the game was sparked with L-C junior Lindsey Hawk nailing a 3-pointer to start the game. After Peebles answered with a two-point shot, Hawk fired back with another trifecta at the 6:26 mark of the opening quarter.

Peebles answered with a 3-point shot from Ashley Turner, but fast break points by Blankenship gave the Lady Mustangs a three-point advantage.

After Peebles inched closer with points from Emily Hoop, L-C ended the first with points from senior Stephanie Sandlin and Blankenship.

Leading by five at the start of the second, L-C allowed Peebles to cut the lead down to three with points from Hoop.

After the points by Hoop, L-C sophomore Hannah Blankenship sank a 3-pointer at the 4:47 mark of the quarter. Senior Kelsey Lewis tagged on two more points for the Lady Mustangs, making the score 17-9 with 3:19 left in the first half.

Hoop brought Peebles (3-1) within six points of the L-C lead, but Hannah Blankenship crushed any hopes of a Peebles first half comeback, when she drained a 3-pointer at the 2:18 mark of the quarter, ending all first half scoring.

In the third, Peebles outscored L-C 11-8. The third has been a strong point for the Lady Mustangs so far this season, but not on Thursday night according to Hatten.

“The third quarter has been one of our better quarters this year, but tonight, it wasn’t,” Hatten said.

In the third, Lewis scored the quarter’s first five points, hitting a 3-point shot in the process.

With Peebles scoring the next four points, Lewis came back with a put back shot at the 3:47 mark of the quarter, but her points were equaled with a basket from Turner. Lewis scored all eight L-C points in the third.

Lewis finished with a double-double, scoring a team-high 13 points and gaining 10 rebounds.

Junior Cali Hatten tied Lewis with a team-high 10 boards.

Peebles was led in scoring by Hoop, with a game-high 15 points. Turner ended the game with 11.

One thing Hatten was happy with was the effort the Lady Mustangs showed with their boxing out against the Lady Indians.

“The girls worked hard on their boxing out in practice (Wednesday),” Hatten said. “It was an emphasis in practice.”

The win keeps the Lady Mustangs undefeated at 6-0 overall. They will not play again until 2009, when they face non-league opponent Bethel-Tate on Monday, Jan. 5 at 6 p.m at BTHS.

In reserve action, Peebles defeated L-C 29-21.

Leading L-C was Meredith Fittro with nine points. Magan Stegbauer finished with eight points and Lindsey Rosselott finished with four.

Mariah Page led Peebles with nine. She was followed by Breanna Unger with eight.

GAME SUMMARY

SCORE BY QUARTER

PHS - 7 4 11 10 - 32

LCHS - 12 8 8 5 - 33

INDIVIDUAL STATS

LYNCHBURG-CLAY (33)

H.Blankenship 0 (2) 6, L.Blankenship 3 6, S.Sandlin 1 2, K.Lewis 3 (1) 4-6 13, L.Hawk 0 (2) 0-2 6. TOTALS: 7 (5) 4-8 33.

PEEBLES (32)

A.Turner 4 (1) 11, H.Stratton 2-2 2, S.McDaniels 1 2-3 4, E.Hoop 6 (1) 0-2 15. TOTALS: 11 (2) 4-7 32.

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