Published: Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012 / Updated: Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012 05:20 PM
Lady Falcons bounce back in ‘Shootout’
LITTLE RIVER --
After falling in the opening round of the 2012 Shootout by the Sea, the Nation Ford Lady Falcons bounced back to win and place themselves in the game for fifth-place against North Brunswick (N.C.).
Nation Ford beat Marlboro County 38-34 Friday to move onward to the fifth-place game.
Junior Taylor Yarborough scored 20 points to lead the Lady Falcons in the win.
After the teams were tied at 17 at the half, Nation Ford scored 21 second-half points to edge Marlboro County. Senior Chelsea Gant added seven points for the Lady Falcons.
In the opening round game, the Lady Falcons had their hands full with an aggressive Scott County (Ky.) team and fell 52-43.
Nation Ford went down early 11-0 and had to battle back in a lopsided game that saw Scott County go to the foul line 42 times compared to the Lady Falcons’ 19 trips to the charity stripe.
“I am so proud of our effort and how we battled back,” said Nation Ford girl’s head coach Mike Smith. “To be down early and battle back so where we were never out of it. It was a tremendous effort.”
Yarborough scored 26 points before fouling out.
Nation Ford struggled with turnovers in the first half, as the games were played in two 16-minute halves instead of four eight-minute quarters, giving back to Scott County 13 times.
The Lady Falcons slowly chipped away at Scott County and cut the deficit to just three at the half, 23-20, as Yarborough scored 12 of her 26 points.
Offense was slow in the second half as Scott County didn’t score until the first four minutes, but then went on a 7-1 run. Nation Ford continued to struggle, but cut down greatly on its turnovers. However, the Lady Falcons didn’t hit a field goal until seven minutes into the second half.
Scott County’s defense was just too much for the Lady Falcons at times, as Nation Ford’s shots struggled to fall.
Nation Ford was able to cut the lead to six at 48-42 with just 90 seconds left with the help of a Briley Prince three-pointer, but in the end Scott County hit more free throws than the Lady Falcons even attempted.
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