All through the second half Friday, the St. Aloysius Lady Flashes chipped away at their double-digit defict like it was a huge block of ice.

Eventually, though, they went cold and their hopes of victory froze up all over again.
Georgia Martin scored 14 points, McKenzie Campbell added eight, and Adams County Christian School overcame a cold spell of its own to fend off the Lady Flashes 37-24.

ACCS (3-12, 1-3 MAIS District 3-5A) only made three field goals in the second half, but finished the game by scoring six of its last eight points at the free throw line.

“Our defense was really good in the second half. They worked well as a team. It was that first half,” St. Al coach Savannah Buck said.

That first half, and specifically the second quarter, was when St. Al fell behind and wound up having to play catch-up. Martin scored eight of her points in the second quarter as ACCS outscored the Lady Flashes 16-6 to take a 23-9 lead into halftime.

St. Al responded well in the second half, however, and chipped away at the deficit. It got as close as five points before going scoreless over the last four minutes of the game.

Foul trouble also caught up to them, as starters Falyn Lusby and Maddy McSherry fouled out 10 seconds apart. Lusby led St. Al with eight points. McKenzie Cole finished with six.

“Free throws. That was the big kicker. But five girls fouling out, what can you do?” Buck said.

ACCS also regained its composure down the stretch to close out the game. The Rebels went 7-for-12 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter — they had missed all seven of their foul shots in the third — and Tailor Magee had a big rebound basket late.

Magee’s basket was part of a game-ending 8-0 run over the last 3:42.

“We went in the locker room and we talked, and said we’ve got to fight. We should not be down this much. It’s going to be a completely different game in the second half,” Buck said. “And they came out and did it. So I’m proud of them. I’m not mad at all.”

Warren Central 46, Pearl 33
Jae’la Smith finished with 22 points and eight rebounds, and the Warren Central Lady Vikes topped Pearl in their MHSAA Region 6-6A opener on Friday.

Zy Segrest also had eight rebounds for the Lady Vikes (13-7, 1-0 Region 6-6A), who have won eight of their last 10 games. Seven of those wins have been by 13 points or more.

Boys
Warren Central 64, Pearl 47
Warren Central’s boys’ basketball team built a double-digit lead in the first quarter, withstood a late charge by Pearl in the fourth, and comfortably won their MHSAA Region 6-6A opener on Friday.

Gaylon Turner scored a team-high 25 points, while Taylor Mitchell had 15 points, eight assists and three steals.
Warren Central (6-11, 1-0 Region 6-6A) led 14-4 at the end of the first quarter, but Pearl chipped away and got as close as five late in the game before the Vikings pulled away again.

The Vikings will have a week off before hosting Terry on Jan. 14.

“It’s always big,” Warren Central coach Keith Williams said of winning the region opener. “That’s what I’ve been harping on. Now the real season is starting. These are the ones that put us where we want to go.”