Trinity Lutheran’s girls placed four players in double figures to defeat Lanesville 71-64 on Thursday night.
Mike Lang, coach of the Class A No. 1-ranked Cougars, said his team was confident going into the game at the home of the No. 2-ranked team in the division.
“I’m so proud of this team,” he said. “They were so loose in practice all week.”
Guard Bailey Tabeling topped the Cougars with 24 points, center Sydney Jaynes and guard Kailene Cockerham both netted 13 and forward Liza Froedge added 10.
Both teams came into the contest with three-game win streaks, and Lanesville figured to provide a major challenge to Trinity.
The Cougars got off to a 6-0 lead as Jaynes made two free throws and Tabeling followed with a pair of baskets. A basket by Genesis Munoz put the Cougars on top 10-4.
Jaynes picked up her second foul later in the period, and the Eagles went on a 12-6 run to take a 16-14 lead at the end of the quarter.
Tabeling opened the scoring in the second quarter with a 3-pointer before the Eagles scored back-to-back field goals and led the rest of the half, including 33-29 at the break.
Tabeling had a big second quarter with 12 points, including three 3-pointers.
Linzie Wernert got hot for the Eagles in the second period with four baskets, and she had 10 points for the half.
Both teams had rallies in the third period as the Eagles scored three straight baskets and a basket by Gracie Adams put her team on top 41-32.
The Cougars came back with nine straight points, and a 3-point play by forward Emma Schepman tied the score at 41. Schepman scored five points in the third period and had nine for the game.
“At halftime, we challenged Emma, and she answered that in the second half,” Lang said. “Emma played some big-girl basketball in the second half.”
After the Eagles made a free throw, Froedge and Jaynes scored back-to-back baskets for a 45-42 lead, and the visitors took a 48-45 lead into the fourth quarter.
Trinity remained on top throughout the fourth quarter, although Lanesville pulled to within one point of a tie twice, the last time at 54-53.
Froedge and Tabeling scored on Trinity’s next two possessions for a 58-53 score.
Jaynes scored nine points in the fourth quarter on two baskets and five free throws.
Cockerham and Tabeling each scored a basket and two free throws and Froedge scored two baskets in the fourth quarter.
Adams topped the Eagles (14-3) with 21 points, and Wernert added 20 points.
Next, Trinity will play three Hoosier Hills Conference teams with Floyd Central visiting next Thursday, followed by a trip to Jennings County Jan. 23 and Madison at home Jan. 28.
That’s when the regular season concludes before sectional play.
At Lanesville
Trinity Lutheran;14;15;19;23;—;71
Lanesville;16;17;12;19;—;64
Trinity Lutheran (16-3): Sydney Jaynes 3 7-9 13, Kailene Cockerham 4 3-4 13, Bailey Tabeling 9 3-3 24, Liza Froedge 5 0-0 10, Genesis Munoz 1 0-0 2, Emma Schepman 3 3-3 9. Totals: 25 16-21 71.
Lanesville (14-3): Gracie Adams 7 2-2 21, Linzie Wernert 9 2-4 20, Emma Campbell 4 0-0 11, Elizabeth Turner 1 2-2 4, Morgan Sonner 2 2-4 6, Kennedy Gordo1 0-0 2. Totals: 26 8-12 64.
3-point goals: TL (Tabeling 3, Cockerham), L (Campbell 3, Adams)
Fouls: TL 12, L 17