The Mustangs and Cardinals squared off on the basketball court in a double header between both boys and girls teams on Tuesday night. McCracken got the upper hand in both matchups, with the girls winning 61-40, and the boys finishing ahead 49-36.
It took a while for each team to truly get going in the girls game, with the first quarter ending with a 6-5 advantage to McCracken.
The second quarter was where both teams started exchanging blows from the three point line. Lex Feagin knocked down back to back threes for Mayfield to put them ahead 14-10. The Lady Mustangs quickly responded after a timeout with a barrage of their own, with Ashley Word and Ella Shelbourne hitting two threes a piece in four consecutive possessions, and ended the half up 24-20
McCracken County in the second half was a completely different team. They came out more physical, which was where they were lacking in the first half. This led them to multiple opportunities at the free throw line, and McCracken took advantage. The Lady Mustangs went 11-19 in this quarter alone, and 18-28 throughout the game.
“At halftime I challenged them.” Lady Mustangs head coach Scott Sivills said. “They were a little tougher on the boards than we were. I commend our kids coming out in the second half playing relentless defense.”
The ten point lead the Lady Mustangs was only extended during the fourth. They held Mayfield to just seven points to their 18, and won the game 61-40.
Lay Mayes led the Lady Cardinals with 17 points, while Ava Hughes led McCracken with 18.
MCCRACKEN COUNTY 49, MAYFIELD 36Mayfield turned out to be the aggressors early on this the boys matchup. After getting down 7-0 quickly, the Cardinals went on a 16-1 run that stretched into the second quarter. They continued to build momentum up until halftime, when they went into the locker room up 24-16.
Mustangs head coach Dustin Roberts dialed up the pressure for his team during the break, and that ended up being the difference. McCracken quickly tied up the game after the break, and jumped out to a 38-32 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Mayfield was only able to muster one field goal and four points in the fourth thanks to the overwhelming defense by McCracken. This gave them the 49-36 win, and they now improve to 2-3 on the season. This was not the start Roberts and his squad wanted, but this win was necessary for his young squad at this stage in the season.
“It’s really big. We’re really young right now.” Roberts said about this squad. “We played a heck of a schedule so far. Just being able to win and figure out how to win games down the stretch is big for this group, and hopefully that will propel us moving forward.”
McCracken goes on to play Evangel Christian this Friday at the Macs Childcare Boys Basketball Classic. The Cardinals suffer their first loss of the season and will look to rebound against Montgomery Central this Friday as a part of the United Southern Bank’s Battle at the Border.