Sandiettes Fall to Lady Panthers, 69-55
By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter
GRAPELAND – The Grapeland Sandiettes’ 2020-2021 season has been less than stellar, so far. After back-to-back appearances in the State Tournament the last two years, coaching changes and graduation have finally caught up to the lady hoopsters in Grapeland.
Still, the Sandiettes have shown flashes of what could be so far in the early season and in their last game of 2020, Grapeland came close to putting it all together. A tough fourth quarter, however, cost them a win as the Aggieland Home School Lady Panthers took down the Sandiettes last Thursday by a final score of 69-55.
As the game got underway, the Sandiettes fell behind early but managed to right the ship by the end of the first period of play as they only trailed by five.
Teira Jones led the way for Grapeland with five points in the game’s opening minutes. Christi Shepherd dropped in four while Kyelan Beazley had three and Mary Jane Watson chipped in a basket as the Sandiettes’ found themselves in a 19-14 hole after one.
The Lady Panthers were paced by Hattie Novak with six points while Chasity South had five and Pearson McVay dropped in four. Parker McVay and Alexa Torres also had two apiece to close out the first period scoring for Aggieland.
Teira Jones
Jones took over for Grapeland in the second quarter as she dropped in seven points for the home team while Shepherd and Te’Lia Arthur both had two apiece to round out the Sandiettes’ first half scoring.
While it was Jones for Grapeland in the second, it was Novak for the Lady Panthers in the second quarter of play as she dropped in six for Aggieland while Torres added five to give the visitors from College Station a 30-25 lead at the break.
Grapeland managed to cut the Aggieland lead to one after halftime but couldn’t quite get over the hump in the third quarter as they trailed 43-38 with one quarter of play remaining.
The Sandiettes’ offense was led by Jones with four more points while Beazley had three. Arthur, Watson and Lila Munoz all had two apiece to close out the third quarter.
Novak continued to have a hot hand for the Lady Panthers as she added five more to her total in the third quarter. Reagan Gardner broke into the scoring column with four while both Parker McVay and Leah Klatt chipped in two apiece to bring the third period scoring to a close.
Try as they might, the Sandiettes were unable to overcome the deficit in the final period of play. Jones poured in eight while Beazley added four. Both Shepherd and Cyshia Black had two while Watson made one of two from the line as Grapeland fell by a final margin of 69-55.
The Lady Panthers’ fourth quarter scoring attack came mostly from Novak who went off for 14 points in the final frame. Brandi Baker had four, Ashlynn McCravey canned a three-pointer while Klatt and Pearson McVay scored two apiece. Parker McVay chipped in one to close out the Aggieland scoring in the fourth quarter.
On the game, Hattie Novak led the Lady Panthers with a game-high 31 points. Alexa Torres dropped in seven, Pearson McVay added six and both Parker McVay, as well as Chasity South had five. Brandi Baker, Reagan Gardner and Leah Klatt all had four while Ashlynn McCravey had three to close out the Aggieland point production.
The Sandiettes were led by Teira Jones with a team-high 24 points. Kyelan Beazley netted 10 and Christi Shepherd dropped in eight. Mary Jane Watson went for five, Te’Lia Arthur had four and both Cyshia Black as well as Lila Munoz had two apiece to account for the Grapeland scoring.
Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].
