By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com
MORTONS GAP -- For three quarters on Thursday night, three seniors from the Hopkins County Central girls basketball team appeared poised to leave Storm Gym for the last time with a win, but Muhlenberg North ruined those plans in the fourth quarter.
Down four points at half, seniors Amber Coakley, Whitney Orange and Brittney Orten and the rest of the Lady Storm (4-23) fell victim to a spectacular 25-7 second-half run by the Lady Stars (9-18) and eventually lost 71-51.
Central entered the final quarter down 48-42, but the Lady Storm lost its scoring touch in the last eight minutes of the game as Muhlenberg North pulled away.
"Their shots were falling, ours weren't," coach Jennifer Flener said. "We weren't playing defense as well as I know we that we could and our poor decisions once again trickled into them scoring buckets on the other end."
The Lady Stars opened the fourth quarter on a 10-0 run and the Lady Storm unfortunately could not recover.
After throwing her teammates on her back in the first half, Coakley, who scored 17 of her game-high 23 points in the first 16 minutes, did not have her same effectiveness late in the game.
"In the second half, (Coakley) didn't look to score as much," Flener said. "I think she was trying to do too much, trying to dribble up the floor, trying to create things that weren't open, and we went away from just running an offense and once again we turned the ball over."
Down four points at half, seniors Amber Coakley, Whitney Orange and Brittney Orten and the rest of the Lady Storm (4-23) fell victim to a spectacular 25-7 second-half run by the Lady Stars (9-18) and eventually lost 71-51.
Central entered the final quarter down 48-42, but the Lady Storm lost its scoring touch in the last eight minutes of the game as Muhlenberg North pulled away.
"Their shots were falling, ours weren't," coach Jennifer Flener said. "We weren't playing defense as well as I know we that we could and our poor decisions once again trickled into them scoring buckets on the other end."
The Lady Stars opened the fourth quarter on a 10-0 run and the Lady Storm unfortunately could not recover.
After throwing her teammates on her back in the first half, Coakley, who scored 17 of her game-high 23 points in the first 16 minutes, did not have her same effectiveness late in the game.
"In the second half, (Coakley) didn't look to score as much," Flener said. "I think she was trying to do too much, trying to dribble up the floor, trying to create things that weren't open, and we went away from just running an offense and once again we turned the ball over."
Coakley ended the Muhlenberg North scoring streak with 6:09 left in the game, but the damage had been done. The Lady Stars continued to knock down shots and finished off the Lady Storm.
Although Central's seniors could not end their regular season with a victory, Flener said they still have an opportunity with next week's district tournament to leave a lasting mark.
"I'm proud of our three seniors and this is our Senior Night, our last game of our regular season and now we just have to put this game behind us and look to Madisonville-North Hopkins on Tuesday," she said.
"These are three of the best kids that I've ever coached and they will always be remembered here at Central...I'm just honored to have been their coach for all five years."
In the first quarter, Central fell behind early 8-0 and did not score until Coakley drove the length of the floor after snagging a rebound with 4:40 left in the first.
That bucket proved to be the first of many for Coakley as she dominated the first-half offense for the Lady Storm.
As the first quarter winded down, Orten created a steal and found Coakley on the offensive end for a backdoor cut and two easy points. The basket cut Muhlenberg North's lead to 13-9.
Coakley continued her scoring prowess in the next quarter with nine more points to give her 17 heading into halftime. The 5-9 Coakley scored 17 of her team's first 18 points.
Midway through the second quarter, Central forced another turnover, which allowed the Lady Storm to tie game at 18 all. Coakley collected the loose ball and raced down the floor to beat two Lady Stars defenders and draw contact for a three-point play opportunity.
Muhlenberg North again pushed ahead briefly before Orten tied the game at 22-22 when she drove the baseline for two, but the Lady Stars held a 29-25 advantage at the break.
MNHS (9-18) 13 16 19 23
HCCHS (4-23) 9 16 17 9
MNHS: Brittany Everly 14, Meagan Sallee 12, Sara Gabbard 11, Amiea Sommers 11, Whitney Gunn 10, Hannah Reynolds 8, Taylor Hill 3, Kaitlyn Walley 2
HCCHS: Amber Coakley 23, Hannah Murphy 6, Whitney Orange 6, Shalara Wells 4, Brittney Orten 3, Courtney Snodgrass 3, Ashley Flener 2, Kaitlin Moore, Krhea Orten 2
Although Central's seniors could not end their regular season with a victory, Flener said they still have an opportunity with next week's district tournament to leave a lasting mark.
"I'm proud of our three seniors and this is our Senior Night, our last game of our regular season and now we just have to put this game behind us and look to Madisonville-North Hopkins on Tuesday," she said.
"These are three of the best kids that I've ever coached and they will always be remembered here at Central...I'm just honored to have been their coach for all five years."
In the first quarter, Central fell behind early 8-0 and did not score until Coakley drove the length of the floor after snagging a rebound with 4:40 left in the first.
That bucket proved to be the first of many for Coakley as she dominated the first-half offense for the Lady Storm.
As the first quarter winded down, Orten created a steal and found Coakley on the offensive end for a backdoor cut and two easy points. The basket cut Muhlenberg North's lead to 13-9.
Coakley continued her scoring prowess in the next quarter with nine more points to give her 17 heading into halftime. The 5-9 Coakley scored 17 of her team's first 18 points.
Midway through the second quarter, Central forced another turnover, which allowed the Lady Storm to tie game at 18 all. Coakley collected the loose ball and raced down the floor to beat two Lady Stars defenders and draw contact for a three-point play opportunity.
Muhlenberg North again pushed ahead briefly before Orten tied the game at 22-22 when she drove the baseline for two, but the Lady Stars held a 29-25 advantage at the break.
MNHS (9-18) 13 16 19 23
HCCHS (4-23) 9 16 17 9
MNHS: Brittany Everly 14, Meagan Sallee 12, Sara Gabbard 11, Amiea Sommers 11, Whitney Gunn 10, Hannah Reynolds 8, Taylor Hill 3, Kaitlyn Walley 2
HCCHS: Amber Coakley 23, Hannah Murphy 6, Whitney Orange 6, Shalara Wells 4, Brittney Orten 3, Courtney Snodgrass 3, Ashley Flener 2, Kaitlin Moore, Krhea Orten 2
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