Photos by Steph Redden
HINTON – Tuesday night’s home opener for the ladies from Summers County left some things for head coach Chad Meador to work on in practice the next couple of days.
However, in the end, the Lady Bobcats played well enough, especially defensively for another convincing 54-21 win over the visitors from Greenbrier West.
“When the game slows down, we get a little lethargic,” Meador said. “I was pleased at times. I thought we got after it defensively in the first half. I thought the press was rolling pretty good at times. We were playing 94 feet for about 20 minutes and the game gets a little out of control when you do that. I thought for the most part we were in control even though the game was a little chaotic.”
Scoring did not come easy in the early going. With just over two minutes to play in the first quarter, Summers led the visitors 6-2.
It was especially frustrating for the Cavaliers who couldn’t convert on some good looks close to the basket.
“Being able to put the ball in the hole has been one of our big things,” Greenbrier West head coach Mark Agee said. “The tough part tonight was that we weren’t even capitalizing on our easy shots tonight. That really hurt us.”
The last two minutes of the opening quarter vintage Summers County was on display.
A steal at mid-court by Liv Meador turned into an easy score at the 2:13 mark and it jump started an 8-0 run to close the quarter.
“We want to try and press more this year. I think we have the speed and depth to keep bodies fresh this year,” Meador said. “If we can keep fresh bodies and get up and down the floor, even though we get out of position, good things typically happen.”
Two buckets by Jesse Ward and another score by Sullivan Pivont, off an assist from Meador, gave Summers a 14-2 lead after one quarter.
A basket from Meagan Poticher early in the second quarter broke a nearly seven minute scoring drought, but another Summers spurt made it an 18-point game.
The 7-0 run included two strong scoring drives from freshman Avery Lilly and a bucket from fellow freshman, Abby Persinger.
“I am pleased with our youth. At times I looked out there and we had two sophomores and two freshman on the floor,” Meador said. “They are eager and that is exciting. They cling to every word and want to learn. We have been preaching to Abby to rip and go. I saw her rip and go tonight and shoot that mid-range jumper.”
A basket from Natalie Agee stopped the run briefly, but two scores from junior Sullivan Pivont pushed the lead to 28-6 at the break.
Pivont and the team’s lone senior, Maggie Stover led the Bobcats with 12 points apiece.
“Sullivan bounced back from getting hit in the mouth early and Maggie is battling injuries in both feet,” Meador said. “She is in a lot of pain, but she is playing through it. That is what senior leaders do. Every now and then, though, she has to come out and rest her feet. I commend her for fighting through that.”
The Cavaliers found a little more scoring in the third quarter, but they could not slow down the Bobcats who outscored them 21-10 in the third period.
The one bright spot for the Cavaliers was the play of Poticher who led the team with eight points and 13 rebounds.
“Meagan worked hard on the boards, but it can’t be just her. There were several that didn’t work that hard tonight,” Agee said. “They all give effort, it’s just the knowledge and what they have learned that they have to apply. We were sloppy with our passing and our pressure just wasn’t what it should be. It wasn’t what it was just last week, but we will keep working on it.”
Eight players scored for Summers County and all 11 dressed saw action.
“I like this team a lot. We have players this year in roles they have never been in. Liv is at the point, but she was the sixth man last year. Sullivan started last year, but she is settling in as that scorer we need,” Meador said. “Gracie (Harvey) was the seventh man last year and Maggie is our anchor. Then you bring in those young freshman. We are more well balanced. We don’t have those 20-point stars, but we have players and we have balance.”
Summers County (2-0) is back in action Friday against Montcalm when it hosts the annual Rogers Oil Classic. Greenbrier West (1-2) hosts Pocahontas County also on Friday.
GW: 2 4 10 5 – 21
SC: 14 14 21 5 – 54
Individual scoring
GW: Natalie Agee 2, Raelyn Palmer 2, Ava Barclay 6, Meagan Poticher 8, Brooke Nutter 3. Totals: 7 7-12 21
SC: Ashley Cooper 4, Maggie Stover 12, Gracie Harvey 5, Avery Lilly 6, Abby Persinger 5, Liv Meador 4, Sullivan Pivont 12, Jesse Ward 6. Totals: 23 8-16 54.
3-pointers: None
