Sports
Federal Hocking Lady Lancers Show Fight in Tough Matches
By: Earl Hopkins
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Following a series of tough games, in which the Federal Hocking Lady Lancers endured back-to-back matches against competitive teams, they came out with a close win against the Athens Bulldogs on Wednesday.
The Lady Lancers put on a show at the McAfee Gymnasium, as the Bulldogs fell short for a second time this season with a score of 50-45, which was attributed to their relentless defensive energy. Coach Jeremy Tolson spoke about their defensive effort, which managed to stiffen the Bulldog’s offense down the stretch.
“I though they did a pretty good job of taking care of business. I think there was a stretch of five minutes that they didn’t score in the fourth quarter,” said Coach Tolson.
In addition to their defensive efforts, terrific play from Hannah Dunfee and Destiny Tabler solidified the team’s win, as they capitalized on scoring opportunities in the fourth quarter. Tied at 39, Dunfee hit a momentum swinging shot to put Federal Hocking up by three points, and Tabler’s eight straight points helped secure the team’s victory.
Following the team’s victory, Coach Tolson said the key contribution to their win was their effort, which he feels has been inconsistent throughout the season.
“We’ve had very long walls in games where it seemed we were going through the motions,” said Coach Tolson.
Despite the Lady Lancers hot start in games, they’ve struggled to execute in decisive moments due to their lapses in effort. However, this game was a testament to the potential Coach Tolson feels they possess.
“I saw what we’re capable of when we are hitting on all cylinders,” said Coach Tolson. “The execution was there, we handled the press fine, and I thought we did a really good job at that. And I believe the effort’s the reason.”
As they look forward, the Lady Lancers intend on continuing to build on their momentum, as they prepare to replicate their same defensive intensity when they face River Valley on Jan. 7.