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Kittens slip past Fleming County, 58-56
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By CHUCK HAMILTON Sports Writer
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FLEMINGSBURG -- The Fleming County Lady Panthers opened the home portion of their schedule Monday evening and fell in a defensive struggle to the Ashland Kittens, 58-56.
The game was played close to the vest the entire evening, with neither team able to pull away. Ashland's largest lead of the game came early, at 7-2, just 2:16 into the first quarter.
Fleming County led 29-23 with 1:13 left to play before intermission but the Kittens scored the last six points of the half to tie the score at the break.
Lady Panther head coach Kristy Orem felt that was a crucial point of the game.
"That last minute of the first half was key, when we had a six-point lead and they came back and tied it," said Orem. "I needed to rest a couple of our players who were in foul trouble at that point but I'm still proud of how we battled against a very good team tonight."
The teams traded baskets much of the game but the last lead held by the home team was with 3:57 to play when freshman Toya Burns scored in the lane for the Lady Panthers.
"I thought Toya really did a lot of good things for us tonight and she always works hard," noted Orem about Burns, who scored all nine of the Lady Panthers' bench points.
Ashland answered quickly to regain the lead when sophomore Ali Wilcox connected on a three-pointer just 22 seconds later.
Fleming County tied the game at 53 when Brittani Price scored but the Kittens again had an answer.
Freshman point guard Chelsea Dietrich was fouled by Danyale Allex, sending the Lady Panther junior to the bench with her fifth foul. Dietrich made one of two free throws to give Ashland a one point cushion.
With 1:33 to play, Fleming County's lone senior, Stephanie Kenley, swished a pair of free throws to tie the score at 55-55 after she was fouled by the Kittens' only senior, Kaitlyn Stringer, who fouled out on the play.
Dietrich was fouled with 52 seconds to play, and converted a pair of free throws to give the Kittens a two point advantage.
Burns then corraled a big offensive rebound for Fleming County and was fouled on her putback attempt but made just one of two at the line.
With the Lady Panthers forced to foul, Kenley committed her fifth foul, much to the chagrin of Orem.
But after Nikisha Farrow made just one of her two free throw attempts, Fleming County still had a chance but didn't capitalize on the opportunity, instead fouling Laisha Ward with 14.3 seconds to play.
Ward missed both of her free throws, setting the Lady Panthers up for one final chance to cut into the 58-56 lead.
Price got off a 10-footer in the lane with three seconds to play, but the shot bounced off the rim and Ashland escaped with its third win of the season.
Orem saw some encouraging signs but also noticed a troubling aspect of the Lady Panther game.
"I thought we were mentally tough and ready to play but I get so frustrated with the unforced turnovers," said Orem of the 21 miscues committed by Fleming County. "We did a good job defensively, especially on Ward, who is a real athlete. We did get into early foul trouble, which really hurt us. We need Steph and Danyale to be in there because of their work on the boards."
Kenley led the Lady Panthers with 18 points and was joined in double figures by Allex, who tallied 14.
Stringer led Ashland with 21 points and Wilcox added 11 for the Kittens.
Fleming County hosts Mason County Thursday and Orem knows it will be another fierce rivalry battle against the Lady Royals.
"The kids are excited and we've got to move forward," Orem said. "We're going to bounce back."
Ashland 16 13 14 15 -58
Fleming Co. 12 17 15 12 -56
Ashland: Stringer 9 4-9 21, Ward 4 1-4 9, Strait 3 0-0 8, Wilcox 4 2-2 12, Dietrich 0 3-4 3, Farrow 1 1-2 3, Smith 1 0-2 2; Totals 22 10-20 58.
FC: Emmons 2 0-0 4, Allex 5 4-4 14, Kenley 7 3-5 18, Dozier 1 2-4 5, Price 3 0-0 6, Burns 3 3-5 9; Totals 21 12-18 56.
Three-pointers: Ashland 3 (Wilcox 2, Strait), Fleming County 2 (Kenley, Dozier).
Records: Ashland 3-1, Fleming County 1-2. |
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