Saturday, December 13, 2008
Before the Dawson Springs defense could blink, Madisonville-North Hopkins basketball player Tayla Foster scored six points on three straight possessions to open Friday evening’s match-up. By game’s end the junior forward tallied a game-high 38 points in the Lady Maroons’ 94-27 victory.
The Lady Panthers had no answer for Foster, who quickly established her role beneath the basket by converting on each of her eight first-quarter field goals
“I think Tayla has really improved, she’s one of the top players in the state of Kentucky,” North coach John Paul Cummings said. “I think her teammates get her the ball in a lot of right spots and places. The best thing for us is she’s working so hard in practice and it’s paying off in games.”
Foster’s 18 first-quarter points propelled North to a 28-6 advantage after eight minutes of action. Stopping Foster and accumulating points did not come any easier for Dawson as the game progressed.
On the defensive end, the Lady Maroons never allowed the Lady Panthers to get comfortable. North led 49-13 entering the intermission and did not allow more than nine points in any quarter of play.
Cummings said defense has been one of the team’s focal points since defeating Christian County 62-58 on Tuesday.
“We have to be a team and our kids are really buying into team defense, team pressure, team blocking out, team offense and it’s contagious and we’re just real proud of them for buying in and working so hard,” he said.
To start the fourth quarter, Cummings inserted his starting lineup to work on a series of new plays.
On the first North possession of the fourth quarter, guard Heidi Clayton passed inside to Foster, who immediately passed out to Barrett McCracken on the win for a three-point shot.
Then, Clayton pressured a Dawson ball-handler into a five-second call. Lyndi Tedder dribbled down-court and found McCracken for another three-pointer.
During the Lady Maroons’ next possession, Foster forced another turnover and dribbled the length of the court for a breakaway lay-up.
Helping Foster down low throughout the game was Mikuel Harris, who was North’s other double-digit scorer with 11 points.
For Dawson, Brook Randolph scored 11 points as well. Randolph’s three-point play just over two minutes into the game cut North’s lead to 6-3. Randolph drained a three-point basket later in the first quarter for her team’s lone six points in the first eight minutes.
In the second quarter, Randolph recovered an offensive rebound and converted for two points. Shortly thereafter, Randolph knocked down another three-point shot as the half winded down.
Overall, Cummings said he was pleased to see his girls excel in so many aspects of the game.
“It’s 32 minutes, one possession at a time, one play at a time and we’re just trying to work hard,” he said. “We really push them hard at practice and this is supposed to be the fun time. It’s just good to see them get out tonight and get after somebody.”
DSHS (0-5) 6 7 9 5 – 27
MNHHS (2-1) 28 21 15 30 – 94
DSHS: Brook Randolph 11 Tessa Lanham 7 Emilee Workman 5 Sarah Bassett 2 Shelby Merrell 2
MNHHS: Tayla Foster 38 Mikuel Harris 11 Barrett McCracken 8 Lyndi Tedder 7 Desherick McReynolds 6 Kailyn Collins 5 Stacia Hughes 5 Heidi Clayton 4 LaKoyea Hardy 4 Brittany Elliot 3 Troyanna Hardy 3
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