It was a clean sweep for the Washington Court House Blue Lions Saturday in the battle of back & blue against cross-town rival Miami Trace.
It was a packed house by 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon at Washington Court House High School. Both boys & girls JV pulled out close victories over Miami Trace, the girls 38-33 and the boys 33-37. Both were close games with the girls going to double overtime, so the crowd was pumped up by the time the girls varsity game began by 6:30 p.m.
Neither team shot well to start the game but Washington took the early first quarter lead behind 8 points from Hannah Haithcock, Rayana Burns added 4 as Washington led 12-8, all of Miami Trace's points came from Shay McDonald in the quarter. Both teams shooting woes continued in the second quarter but Burns kept the Blue Lions on pace by scoring 6 points and Washington led by 10 going into the half 24-14.
For the half Washington shot 11-27 for 41% but were just 1-5 from three point range for 20%, they were 1-2 from the free throw line and committed just 6 turnovers. Trace shot 5-17 for the half for 29% but were 4-8 from beyond the arc and committed 7 first half turnovers.
The Panthers outscored Washington 13-12 in the third quarter as Becca Ratliff and McDonald each knocked down three pointers to start the quarter but Washington still led 36-27 with one quarter to play. The final quarter saw the Lady Lions outscore the Panthers 19-14 and the Blue Lions won 55-41.
Hannah Haithcock led the way with 23 points, Rayana Burns added 14 and Shawna Conger finished with 11. On the night the Lady Lions shot 24-54 for 44% but only managed one three point shot shooting 1-7. They made 6-12 free throws and only committed 12 turnovers.
Shay McDonald led the Panthers in scoring with 20 of her teams 41 points, Becca Ratliff knocked two three point shots and finished with 8. On the night Miami Trace shot 12-40 for 30% but made 8-17 from beyond the arc for 47%, they were 9-10 from the free throw line for 90% and committed 14 turnovers.
In the night cap, the Blue Lion boys jumped out to an early 14-9 first quarter lead and never looked back. They led by 10 at the half 29-19 behind 10 first half points from Omar Porter and 15 turnovers by Miami Trace. The Panthers extended their lead in the third quarter outscoring the Panthers 20-10 to take a 20 point lead 49-29 after three. Then outscored the Panthers again in the final quarter 16-11 to end the game with a 65-40 victory.
Dillon Steward led the way for the Blue Lions 5-2 (4-1) scoring a game high 18 points, with 10 of those in the third quarter. Omar Porter finished with 12, 10 coming in the first half and Richie Burns added 9 points. The Blue Lions shot 26-62 for 42% and were 7-22 from beyond the arc, they were 6-9 from the free throw line and committed only 8 turnovers.
Miami Trace 0-7 (0-5) was led in scoring by Trevor Barker's 13 points and Austen Brown had 11. On the night they shot 16-47 for 34% but were just 1-12 from beyond the arc, they 7-12 from the charity stripe and committed 21 turnovers.