Dover, TN – Montgomery Central High School never got its offense into any type of rhythm, December 28th at the Bill Craig Memorial Gymnasium in the semifinal of the Stewart County High School Christmas Tournament, as the Lady Indians fell to the tournament host Stewart County, 65-40.
The loss will drop the Lady Indians (5-5) into a matchup against White House High School on December 30th at 4:30pm, while Stewart County advances to the tournament finals at 7:30p.m. to face Clarksville High School, who defeated Camden High School, 44-32 in the other semifinal game.
Montgomery Central would tie the game early-on 2-2 on a bucket by Elizabeth Houck, just over two minutes into the contest, but the Lady Indians wouldn’t hit another bucket for the next 5:10 before Mallory Flake knocked down a jumper.Flake would be the only Lady Indian to finish in double figures with 13 points.
While Montgomery Central was struggling to find the bottom of the basket, Stewart County (9-5) ran off 10 of the next 12 points to go up 12-4, before Flake’s bucket.
The Rebelettes would lead 14-8 at the end of the first quarter, with the Lady Indians not getting any closer than three points the rest of the first half – that coming after a three-point field goal by Monica Flake to open the second quarter.
Stewart County would extend its lead out to double figures for the first time, 21-11 with 6:25 left in the first half following back-to-back buckets by Jese Vinson.
Vinson would lead all scorers with 14 points.
The Lady Indians answered back with five straight points – including a three from Tori Moore – to make it 21-16, but Stewart County closed out the half on an 11-2 run; including a three at the buzzer by Casey Dial to give the Rebelettes a 32-18 advantage at intermission.
If there was any chance for a Montgomery Central comeback, it died in the third quarter, as the Lady Indians were outscored 21-8 by Stewart County – with the Rebelettes holding its largest lead of the game at 27 points at the end of the period, 53-27.
Montgomery Central would put together its best quarter of scoring on the final period, finishing with 14 points, but could never get any closer than 19 points of Stewart County; that coming at the 4:13 mark following a basket by Houck.
Box Score
Stewart County 65, Montgomery Central 40
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
Montgomery Central Lady Indians | 8 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 40 |
Stewart County Lady Rebels | 14 | 16 | 21 | 12 | 65 |
Montgomery Central: MaKayla Flake 5, Tori Moore 8, Monica Flake 8, Mallory Flake 13, Elizabeth Houck 6. Team totals 15 5-7 40.
Stewart County: Caroline Daniel 2, Casey Dial 3, Codie Gibbs 6, Sarah Grasty 8, Karrah Gray 6, May Mathis 2, Sarah Ann Page 6, Briana Schwall 6, Savannah Slade 12, Jese Vinson 14. Team totals 26 10-13 65.
3-point field goals: Montgomery Central 5 (Mak. Flake 1, Moore 2, Mo. Flake 2), Stewart County 3 (Dial 1, Gray 2).
Records: Montgomery Central 5-5, Stewart County 9-5.