CROTHERSVILLE
After dropping their last two games, the Crothersville girls basketball team returned home on Tuesday night to open up their Southern Athletic Conference season.
Hosting the Borden Braves, the Tigers raced out to a 6-0 lead in the first quarter, were out-paced the rest of the first half, but surged back in the second to gut out the win 47-41.
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Looking to keep the ball out of Crothersville’s Addy Cole, the Braves stood firm in their 3-2 zone and double teamed her anytime she was able to snag the ball in the post. Still, the Tigers kept trying to run their offense through their junior center.
Borden, for the most part, was able to deny any entry passes to Cole and keep the Tiger guards — specifically Makayla Helt and Grace Wilson — from driving to the basket. Still, Cole was able to get her points and had nine of the Tigers’ 12 first-half points.
She finished the night with 15.
Crothersville’s dependency on Cole to score points in the first half was the reason they went behind in the opening two stanzas. Playing passively also put them on the back foot against the Braves, who were able to muscle their way in front and stay in front in the first half.
Once the second half started, the Tigers were more assertive with the basketball and, more importantly, spread the ball around.
They still tried to get the ball to Cole in the post, but flashes to the basket by Wilson and Helt made the Braves’ job on defense much tougher. Timely shots from Makinzee Isley also helped thin out the Brave defense and open up drives in the paint for the Tiger guards.
Crothersville’s tenacity on the defensive end, as well as their pressure, helped put them over the top on Tuesday night. Their full-court pressure forced Borden into careless passes and rushed shots at the bucket. The Tigers were also fairly efficient from the line in the fourth quarter, drilling 13 of 18.
The Tigers get back into action tonight against Edinburgh with varsity action scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m. They’ll battle Jackson County rival Trinity Lutheran at home on Saturday. That game is also scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.