After taking on a tough pair of opponents, Walker Valley and Polk County, and losing to each, Sequatchie County's Lady Indians returned to the court against Meigs County Wednesday afternoon. Meigs upset the Lady Indians in the region tournament last February and bring back lots of experience but Sequatchie was able to take a 54-50 win.
Inexperience has hurt the Lady Indians at times this year after graduating seniors Katherine Barker (Tennessee Tech), Rachel Lockhart (Lee University) and Brittany Cooley (softball at Chattanooga State). Returning starters Melanie Barker and LeighAnn McAfee, both sophomores, are averaging double figures in points and the team received a strong team effort in defeating Meigs. The game was part of the Mayfield Thanksgiving Classic at Walker Valley with the hosts and Red Bank's girls also participating.
Sequatchie had their strongest start to a game so far, jumping out 7-0 and leading 18-6 after a quarter. Barker scored nine in the period for SCHS.
Some bad habits which plagued Sequatchie against Walker Valley and Polk started popping up in the second, specifically "silly fouls" that resulted in numerous free throws. The Lady Indians led by as much as 14 early in the quarter but by the half Meigs had cut the advantage to 24-22.
The teams battled back and forth throughout quarter number three, with Meigs leading by as much as four. Sequatchie regained the four-point lead at 43-39 entering the fourth and after losing the advantage, tied the game 49-49 with two minutes left.
Sophomore post Haley Greene found Barker under the basket for two, putting Sequatchie on top 51-49 with thirty seconds to go. Meigs made 1-2 free throws, matched by Sequatchie junior Chasity Carlton. With less than 5 seconds remaining, the Lady Indians' Jessica McDonough got a steal and hit two foul shots to put the game out of reach.
Barker finished with 16 points and led her team with six rebounds and four assists. She had one turnover while playing 32 minutes and handling the ball the majority of the time. McDonough had a season-high 15 points, making three three-pointers. Greene scored eight points off the bench and McAfee added six while fighting foul trouble. Carlton had five points, three assists, three rebounds and three steals.
Meigs was led by Amanda Tilley, who scored 12 points and made a trio of three-pointers. Ashley Shaver scored 10. The Lady Tigers were held to 12 field goals but were 22-34 from the foul line. Sequatchie was 10-16 with nearly half of those attempts coming in the final two minutes of the game.
The schedule gets no easier for Sequatchie Friday in the tournament as they face Red Bank. The Lionettes were some late free throw misses away from possibly upsetting host Walker Valley Wednesday. Sequatchie returns to Cleveland Saturday to face the Lady Mustangs.
Mayfield Thanksgiving Classic at Walker Valley
Sequatchie County girls 54, Meigs County 50
SC: 18-6-19-11=54
MC: 6-17-17-11=50
Sequatchie: Melanie Barker 16, Jessica McDonough 15, Greene 8, McAfee 6, Carlton 5, Mosier 2, Lawson 2, K. Barker
Meigs: Amanda Tilley 12, Ashley Shaver 10, Arndts 8, Jennings 8, Anderson 4, Million 3, Combs 3, Davis 2
Three-point goals: Sequatchie: McDonough 3, M Barker; Meigs: Tilley 3, Jennings
Record: Sequatchie 2-2