Slocum Claims Area Title

Lady Mustangs Trample Lady Cougars, 62-27

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

FAIRFIELD – After receiving a first round bye, the Slocum Lady Mustangs opened their postseason in Fairfield against the Aquilla Lady Cougars. Following last year’s run to the state semifinals, the Lady Mustangs were hungry for another shot at the title and proved they just may have the squad to get back to the Alamo City after they crushed the Lady Cougars by a final score of 62-27.

As the game got underway, Slocum opened up a 13 point lead by the end of the first eight minutes of play, led 20-7 and never looked back. Taylor Clark and Jessi Ives led the Lady Mustangs with six apiece, Jalyn Fletcher dropped in four and both Briley Evers, along with Gina Lively, had two.

Lesley Gerik led Aquilla with four points in the first quarter. She was joined in the scoring column by Kenzie Huffines with two and Hannah Huffines with one.

Slocum continued to hammer away at Aquilla in the second quarter and took a 23 point lead into the locker room at halftime. The Lady Mustangs’ second period points came from Fletcher and Ives with five apiece, a three-pointer from Shelby Bowman along with twos from both Evers and Lively.

Aquilla’s second quarter points came from a trio of Lady Cougars – Jordyn Barsh, Ashley Laramore and Gerik – who all had two. K. Huffines closed out the half with a single free throw to make the score 37-14, in favor of Slocum.

The Lady Mustangs put the game away in the third quarter as they outscored the Lady Cougars 16-4. Bowman dropped in five for Slocum and Ives had four. Laney Lasiter knocked down a shot from behind the arc while Clark and Fletcher both had two apiece.

The Aquilla points came from K. Huffines and Lacey Brunett with two apiece.

With a 35-point lead to open the final period of play, Head Coach Dustin Bates gave some of his less experienced players some quality playing time.   Libby Kessel paced the Lady Mustangs with four, fourth quarter points while Jolie Bowman drained a three and Harlee Randall dropped in a bucket to make the final score 62-27.

For the game, the Lady Cougars were led in scoring by Ashley Laramore with eight points. Lesley Gerik and Kenzie Huffines both had six, Hannah Huffines had three and both Lacey Brunett along with Jordyn Barsh had two.

The Lady Mustangs were paced by Jessi Ives with 15 points and Jalyn Fletcher with 11. Both Shelby Bowman and Taylor Clark had eight apiece, while a trio of Slocum players – Briley Evers, Libby Kessel and Gina Lively – all had four. Jolie Bowman and Laney Lasiter added three apiece while Harlee Randall closed out the Lady Mustangs point production with two.

With the win, Slocum moves on to the Regional Quarterfinals where they will face the Jonesboro Lady Eagles. The game will be played at Hubbard High School on Monday, Feb. 19. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

PHOTO COURTESY OF STEPHANIE LIMERICK

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].