Sports

Slow Start Dooms Lady Bucks


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For the Nelsonville-York Lady Buckeyes, it was too little too late when they picked up their play against the Vinton County Lady Vikings. With their opponent struggling to score in the first quarter, the Lady Vikings had no problems taking advantage and grabbed a 58-47 win on the Buckeyes home floor.

Coach Amanda Dalton’s Lady Buckeyes dug themselves into a hole into the first quarter that they just could not climb out of. Nelsonville-York scored just eight points in the first period, and Vinton County jumped ahead to a 26-8 lead.

The second period, and the rest of the game for that matter, was a much different story. The Buckeyes outscored Vinton County 11-9 in the second quarter, and they went on to outscore the Lady Vikings 39-38 the rest of the way.

“We came out really flat…I think if we played our first quarter the way we played our last three, we definitely could have hung with them,” senior Buckeye forward Shelby True said.

The Lady Bucks went on an 11-3 run to start the second quarter, and had a chance to cut Vinton County’s lead to single digits. With 10 seconds left on the game clock, the Vikings forced a turnover at the baseline, and entered the half up 29-19.

The Buckeyes came out hot at the start of the third period, scoring the first five points. Point guard Angela Meade had two big buckets that cut Vinton County’s lead to six points at 29-23. The Vikings, led by senior guard Emily Zinn with 22 points, would not allow the Buckeyes to get any closer. The Vikings responded with an 8-2 run.

The Lady Vikings carried their momentum into the fourth period, as they got up on the Lady Vikings, 50-31. Nelsonville-York would just not lie down, and they brought the score back to 50-39. It was at that point however, that the Vikings shut the door on the Buckeyes. At under two minutes left in the game, True fouled out with eight points on what was Senior Night for her and her teammate Megan Bishop.

Speaking on her time playing at Nelsonville-York, Bishop said “it’s pretty sentimental. It’s been a pretty good four years. It’s been a short four years actually…I’m definitely going to miss it.”

Top performers for the Lady Buckeye’s were sophomore Madison Davis and Meade. Davis had 13 points, and five steals, and Meade scored 10 points.

Other than Zinn, junior forward Xan Hale had 10 points for the Lady Vikings.

The Lady Buckeye’s loss tonight marks their fourth straight. With the playoffs right around the corner Coach Dalton knows her team has to turn things around, noting that her team needs to play with more fire to start their games.

“Our defensive intensity in the beginning was lacking…and that can’t happen. We have to know our matchups, and once that happens, and we play all four quarters, I think we’re going to be alright.”

Nelsonville-York will take on the Alexander Lady Spartans in their first playoff matchup. The game will be played on Feb. 11 at 8:30 p.m. at Jackson High School gym.