SUMMER HILL DROPS PAIR AT TRUETT-McCONNELL
Cleveland, GA - The Bears' Den at Truett-McConnell College was not kind to the Summer Hill basketball teams on Saturday night, as both the women's and men's teams were over-powered. The Lady Devils fought valiantly, despite losing 86-71, while the Blue Devils broke down after a strong start, losing 92-70.
In the opener, the Lady Devils got down big early, and trailed by as many as 34-13 at the mid-way point of the half, before mounting a strong run. Leah Kessenich's lay-in with 3:30 left got the Lady Devils to with in 37-30. After a timeout, Truett re-gained control and closed the half with a 51-38 lead.
In the second half, the Lady Devils flirted with several comeback attempts, cutting their deficit to nine on several occasions. However, each time Truett countered with runs to keep Summer Hill at arm's length.
Former Rome High School star Ashley Aker netted 14 for Truett-McConnell. Aker was an all-league selection in the Cartersville-based WSEBL women's summer league last summer. Also, former Woodland High standout, Chelsea Katt, also contributed two points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals in the win.
Kessenich and Shagera Irwin paced the Summer Hill effort with 20 points each, while Tiesha Jackson and Jasmine Wilson each had seven. Kessenich also pulled down 12 rebounds, for the Lady Devils, who fell to 0-3 on the season.
In the men's game, the Blue Devils came out very strong, working out to a 12-2 lead. Defensively, the Devils were forcing Truett into tough shots, then capitalizing on the other end. Marcus Henderson and DeMarlow Simmons both drilled treys to help Summer Hill. Still down, 22-15, Truett began settle and getting shots to drop. Mikaiel Carter nailed a trey, then later got fouled shooting a three pointer. He subsequently sank all three freethrows, starting a 10-0 run that saw the Devils begin to fall apart. Scott Windom drained a three to bring the Devils to within one at 26-25. But, Truett would force the Devils into a series of turnovers, reeling off 17 unanswered points. When the dust settled Summer Hill was down 43-25. Jay Nelson finally got Summer Hill back on the board with three consecutive baskets. Though, Summer Hill stabilized and stopped the bleeding, the damage was done, as they went into the break down 53-37. Carter buried 16 first half points for Truett, while Nelson had 13 and Windom 12 for the Devils.
The Devils appeared to make an effort to start the second half, as Windom dropped two driving buckets in the lane, followed by a Simmons mid-range jumper. After a Truett score, Henderson got two freethrows and Terry Albert got free for a bucket, to cut the Truett lead to 55-47. But, that was as close as the Devils would get. Truett again went on another huge 15-2 stretch, to break Summer Hill's back. The Bear's defense repeatedly forced the Devils into rushed shots and bad decisions in the open court. The Bears would badger the Devils into 16 second half turnovers. The Bears aggressiveness created a lot of fouls, but the Devils could not take advantage, shooting a dismal 19-32. In the latter stages of the game, Chris Brown, Albert, Windom and Brandon Harris put forth a respectable effort despite the Devils being down big.
Carter, the former Cass and Summer Hill standout, paced Truett with 21 points, four assists and two steals, while going four-of-six from beyond the arc. Robert Murry chalked up 16 points and six steals for the now 9-2 Bears.
For Summer Hill, who fell to 2-4, Windom took game-high honors with 24 points, to go along with 10 rebounds. Jay Nelson finished with 13, all in the first half, while Simmons got 10 and Albert eight. Chris Brown tallied three points, four assists and two steals.
The Blue Devils back on the court Friday night when the Mercer University Bears JV team will travel to Cartersville for an 8pm tipoff.
Sunday, December 2nd Results...
Cartersville, GA - The Lady Devils were feeling the affects of playing back to back. After losing to Truett on Saturday night, the Lady Devils took on an opponent they have never beaten in their three-year existence, the Ft. McPherson Lady Knights. And, they were unable to break that string, dropping an 86-67 decision on Sunday afternoon at JH Morgan Gym. In the second game, the Baseline Warriors built a 25-point lead, before having to stave of a furious Macon Ballers rally, to hold on for an 89-86 win.
The Lady Devils again fought hard in the first have, matching the athletic Lady Knights club point for point for 13 minutes. The Lady Knights would begin to pull away, taking a 41-28 spread into the break. The Lady Devils (0-4) would manage to get with in 10 on two occasions, behind the inside work of Melissa Bunce-Winters and Shagera Irwin, but Ft. McPherson was too strong down the stretch.
Fort Mac was led by Amanda Williams with 14 points and 10 rebounds. For the Lady Devils, Irwin dropped 18, while Bunce finished with 14 and 11 boards, Latrista Johnson 10, Jasmine Wilson eight and Brandy Smith seven. Hart Harrison got four, while Tiesha Jackson and Jocquelyn Callahan each had two.
In the men's game, Baseline and the Macon Ballers traded baskets for the first six minutes. Baseline, despite starting slow from the perimeter, worked out to a slim spread at 19-17. Then the flood gates opened when the Warriors' defense caused the Ballers to cough up the ball. The Warriors would break free behind transition buckets by Chris Jones, Ronny LeMelle and Mike Reynolds. Jones and LeMelle would also combine for five treys in the run. With 3:10 left in the opening half, Baseline had built a 45-19 lead. Macon managed to trim Baseline's lead to 54-33 going into the intermission.
Baseline pushed its lead back out to 25 at the beginning of the half and seemed to be in control. But, Macon began a steady climb back into the game, as the Warriors well went dry. The Ballers defense stiffened and Baseline couldn't get clean looks at the basket. The momentum turned in the more active Ballers' favor and they raced back behind the penetration buckets of Quintin Matthews and outside shooting of Steve Grayer. Chris Jones would keep Baseline ahead with two threes down the stretch, but Macon had raced back to get with in 87-86 on a Shon English bucket with 11 seconds remaining. Baseline turned the ball over on the ensuing inbounds. Macon took the ball out with nine ticks left and Matthews was called for travelling as he drove the left side of the lane, squandering to retake the lead for the first time since the opening minute of the game and giving the ball back to the Warriors. This time, Ronny LeMelle secured the inbounds pass and raced to avoid the foul. Macon fouled with 2.1 seconds left on the clock. LeMelle sank both shots to put Baseline up by three. After a Baseline timeout, to set up a defensive strategy against a game-tying shot. Macon threw the ball in and Matthews 48-foot desparation attempt was wide right, allowing Baseline to escape with the win.
Grayer led Macon with 33 points, including five three pointers and 10-13 from the charity stripe. Matthews followed with 22 and English 15.
For Baseline, who moved to 6-1 on the season, Jones finished with 24, while LeMelle downed 22 and Reynolds 13.
The Lady Devils are scheduled to get back to action on next Sunday against the Orangeburg Krazy Kats at 3:00pm, while Baseline will battle the Atlanta Speedboys at 6pm at JH Morgan Gym in Cartersville.
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