In Dec. 11 Issue
By Derek Aaron
Times Journal Sports Editor

Coach Craig Pippen’s Lady Lakers downed McCreary Central Monday night, 51-46, to go 2-0 on the young season.

Three Lady Lakers scored in double digits with LeeAnn Grider scoring 12 points, Rachael Miller scoring 11 points and Kim Pierce with 10 points.

Blair Hoover, Lindsay Ramage and Tyla Bailey also scored for Russell County. Hoover hit two 3-point baskets in the game. Kyla Thomas, Sara McClure, Julie Wethington and Heather Burton also saw action in the game. Ramage had 10 rebounds to lead the team in that category while Rachael Miller led the team in assists with six on the night.

“Our defensive intensity (Monday) night was a little better,” Pippen said. “However, we have a long way to go to become a sound defensive unit.”

Pippen said his team needs to play with more energy on defense and improve their transition offense and defense.

“We are slow getting up and down the court,” he said. “We need to do a better job running the floor and getting more transition buckets.”

Pippen said his guards Grider, Miller and Pierce will continue to work on sprinting the floor and filling the lanes.

“Blocking-out remains a big concern,” he said. “We do not have a lot of size, therefore, we need to become a better rebounding team by playing more physical and blocking out on a consistent basis.”

Pippen said his team 17 turnovers were down and that was a good sign to him.

“We didn’t shoot the ball very well, though,” he said.

“When you shoot 33 percent from the field, that in itself magnifies all the negatives.”

But Pippen sounded positive as his team heads deeper into December.

“We are 2-0 and that is huge going into district play,” he said. “We will conduct three high intensity practices before our game with Washington County this coming Saturday in the Banker’s Hardwood Classic here at home. Hopefully, we can improve and step it up defensively this weekend.”

That game will be at 7 p.m. Saturday at Laker Gym.

In the JV game, the Lady Lakers won 36-29 in two overtimes.

Heather Burton scored 12 points to lead Russell County while Julie Wethington had eight.