Undefeated in SCA Two Years In A Row
The Ava Lady Bears defeated Houston at home last Thursday night, 66-44, to complete back-to-back undefeated SCA seasons, and subsequently win the conference title once again.
On Monday night the girls traveled to Morrisville for the final game of the regular season before starting district tournament action at Cabool on Saturday (see accompanying story).
On Thursday night, Jorie Garrett scored 18 points to lead all scorers. Ava had three players scoring in double figures with Payton Lakey adding 12 and Bethany Horn’s 10 points.
Lakey had five blocked shots and five rebounds on the night. Garrett had six rebounds and six steals.
Erica Keeney had 13 points for Houston.
Others scoring for Ava were Emily Sterling 8, Abbie Lansdown 7, Melissa Coonts 5, Kristen Hastings 4, and Morgan Emerich and Hannah Johnson, 1 point each.
Ava held a 35-22 lead at halftime and went on a 17-6 run in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.
Thursday night was also Senior Night at the high school gym, as senior basketball players Kristen Hastings and Kayley Watson, and senior team statistician Richelle Pettit, were honored before the game.
On Monday night the Lady Bears defeated Morrisville 58-38 in non-conference play.
Lakey was the team’s leading scorer on Monday with 13 points and pulled down five rebounds. Garrett had nine points, eight rebounds and five assists in the game.
Lansdown and Bethany Horn had 10 points apiece for the Lady Bears. Others scoring for Ava were Hastings 8, Sterling 4, Coonts 2 and Kayley Watson 2.
Ava led Morrisville 35-16 at halftime and outscored the Lady Panthers 12-2 in the fourth quarter.
Heading into district play this Saturday against Licking, the Lady Bears are 21-5 on the year.
Lakey and Garrett are averaging 13.9 and 13.8 points per game, respectively, and Garrett is averaging 8.1 rebounds per game.
Lakey also has 100 blocked shots on the season, for an average of 3.8 per game.
Garrett, the tallest player on the team at 6-foot, is also the leading 3-point shooter with 30-of-88, for a 34.1 percent ratio.
The Ava JV Lady Bears won their last four games and finished with a .500 season, Coach Clint Gazette said.
Last Thursday night the JV defeated Houston, 49-45, with Erica Croney and Hannah Johnson scoring 12 points each.
On Monday night the JV Lady Bears defeated Morrisville, 33-12. Johnson, Croney and McKenzy Mitchell had seven points each to lead Ava on Monday.
