By By Jamey Lanier
JAN. 13, 2001
Sometimes the scoreboard doesn't tell the whole story as Jeff Davis can attest after watching his Clarkdale Lady Bulldogs fall to the Richton Lady Rebels 51-43 Friday night in a Division 7-2A contest.
Clarkdale, with its leading scorer and rebounder sitting out due to disciplinary reasons, fell behind early but fought back and kept the game in doubt until the final minute of the contest.
Davis, whose young team doesn't sport a senior player, saw improvement. "We didn't make the mistakes tonight, we did a better job," Davis said.
The difference in the contest was the Lady Rebels' ability to hit the 3-point shot. "Richton shoots the ball real well, and we didn't take some of the open looks we got," added Davis.
Richton started out on a 6-0 run before freshman guard Felicia Kirksey hit a short jumper to put the Lady Bulldogs on the board. Tamara Brown followed with a basket from the paint and teammate Arlisha Wright drove for a layup. Richton hit three free throws to end the first quarter with the Lady Rebels leading 11-6.
Brown took control in the second period and paced her team to a 10-0 run to end the half, scoring nine of the quarters final 10 points to knot the score at 20-all.
The third quarter was long ball for Richton and hustle and determination for Clarkdale. The Lady Rebels started the period with a trey from Jasmine Verscher, followed by 10 points from teammate Danielle Smith, who drained two from downtown and sank a jumper and two free throws. Misti Alexander hit a jumper for Clarkdale to keep it within five, at 34-29 after three quarters of play.
Richton started the final period with another Verscher three pointer but Brown, Kirksey and JorD'an Orr, who scored seven of her eight points in the fourth quarter, hit big shots to keep Clarkdale close at 45-40 with one minute to go.
Richton answered on their next trip down the floor with a Verscher three and put the game away on two free throws by Smith with 27 seconds to play.
Brown led Clarkdale with 18 points followed by Orr and Wright with eight apiece.
Richton was paced by Smith who had a game high 24, followed by Verscher with 18 with 12 of those coming from three point land.
Richton 68 Clarkdale 45: With five players missing due to injury and illness, Clarkdale coach Ronnie Roberts knew that his team had their work cut out for them against the quick and talented Rebels, "We missed some layups and free throws early and couldn't get back in it," said Roberts, who had only eight players dressed for the contest.
Richton jumped out to a 12-8 lead after one quarter of play and extented that lead to 28-17 at the halftime break.
The Rebels used their depth in the third quarter to blow the game open and take a commanding 57-26 lead heading into the final period.
Clarkdale never gave up and outscored Richton 19-11 in the fourth quarter but that wasn't enough for the victory, as the Rebels took the District 5-2A contest 68-45.
Richard Matthews paced Clarkdale with a game high 16 points followed by teammate Anthony Holliday, who added nine.
Richton was led by Taurean Carter with 12 points, followed by Jonathan Carroll with 11.
Clarkdale will be back in action Tuesday night when they host Morton.