MEDORA
In the final minutes of the game, Medora’s girls basketball team couldn’t get the momentum it needed to win its home-opener.
The Hornets were outscored 12-5 in the fourth quarter, falling to Lighthouse Christian Academy of Bloomington 37-27 on Thursday at the Hornets’ Nest.
Down 3-0 after three minutes of play, the Hornets (1-1) scored six unanswered points — behind baskets from Gwyneth Morris, Lillie Hatfield and Kenley King — to take the lead at the 5-minute mark.
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Kelsey Turner got a layup to go with 3:14 left, but the Hornets wouldn’t score again in the quarter as they trailed 9-8 after eight minutes.
Turner hit a pair of free throws and King got a long-range jumper to fall as the Hornets took a 12-11 lead with 4:34 left before halftime.
The Lions (2-2) outscored the Hornets 6-2 before intermission, leading 17-4 at the break.
Hatfield scored six of the Hornets’ eight points in the third quarter, but the team never led in the period.
Back-to-back baskets by Megan Ewer and Tessa Tichenor put the Lions up by five before a Hatfield field goal cut the Hornets’ deficit to 25-22 at the end of the quarter.
The Lions used a 5-0 scoring run to distance themselves at 32-24 with 4:40 left.
The Hornets were unable to mount a late comeback, scoring just three points the rest of the way.
“I thought that we got a little impatient and tried to force some things offensively,” Medora coach Brad McCammon said. “I think that sometimes when your legs go, when you don’t go deep on the bench, it takes a toll. I think frustration set in.”
Hatfield topped the Hornets with 12 points and Morris added eight. Jessica Fix led the Lions with 16 points.
The Lions went 16-for-30 from the free-throw line as a team.
On the boards, the Lions outrebounded the Hornets 44-31.
McCammon said that he likes the direction the team is going despite the loss.
“I can’t fault or effort,” he said. “Our kids played hard. As long as they play like that — busting their butts — I can’t ask a lot more. They have pride and are working trying to get better. That shows me that we’re going to be fine.”
The Hornets will host Shawe Memorial on Tuesday.