CORA SHETLEY led her teammates down the court. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
KARLEE HEAD led the Lady Eagles with 13 points. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
MOLLY LOHDEN (2). Photo by Wyatt Hardy
‘FIVE BIG BOOMS!’ Sullivan’s Pep Club served as the 12th man on Friday night. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
Lady Eagles Nearly Get Final Bite Over St. Clair
During the first three quarters, Sullivan (6-12) remained neck-and-neck with St. Clair (10-6) on the scoreboard.
The Lady Eagles hoped to upset their rivals, whom they had eliminated from the district quarterfinals a year before.
Despite Sullivan being at St. Clair’s doorstep, they fell behind in the final eight minutes. The Lady Bulldogs started the fourth quarter with ten unanswered points. They continued hitting the gas pedal until the buzzer went off.
Sullivan attempted a late rally but could not catch up to St. Clair, falling 54-40 on Feb. 7.
Karlee Head led the Lady Eagles at the net with 13 points.
Katie Miller swished in eight points, while Molly Lohden and Kynlee Peterson drained four.
Olivia Barton sank two three-pointers, and Ella Kirk pulled up a jumper.
Cora Shetley splashed two free throws, while Lily Schmuke hit one from the charity stripe.
After facing St. Clair, the Lady Eagles had lost seven of their past eight. They hope to bounce back in week nine, continuing conference play against Union (Feb. 10) and St. James (Feb. 13).
Weather permitting, Sullivan plans to host Salem at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14.
Game Recap
Sullivan set the tone early with the first four points. Head drilled in two free throws, and Miller followed with a jumper.
The Lady Bulldogs then bit back for a 5-4 lead.
Miller, Schmuke and Lohden rallied Sullivan back to the top from the charity stripe. Barton also sank a three to push her team ahead.
The Lady Eagles and St. Clair remained neck-and-neck in the second quarter.
Kirk tied up the score 14-14 with a jumper. Miller kept Sullivan on top by fast-breaking for buckets.
After St. Clair retook the lead, Barton pulled down a board, then lobbed an assist to Peterson for the go-ahead score.
The Lady Bulldogs entered halftime ahead 22-21 and continued their momentum afterward. Sullivan would struggle to shut down St. Clair at the net, falling to a seven-point deficit.
Head and Barton came to the rescue with threes, then Shetley knocked in a free throw. The Lady Eagles finished the third quarter trailing just 33-30.
Despite Sullivan’s efforts, the Lady Bulldogs continued firing on all cylinders. Lila Hinson was unstoppable from St. Clair’s arc, sinking threes for a 40-30 lead.
Peterson broke Sullivan’s drought with a jumper while sparking a late comeback. Head picked off passes that led to scores, Miller racked up points in the paint and Lohden drilled in a putback basket. But in the end, the Lady Eagles could not overcome their deficit, falling 54-40.