The WCHS teams resumed basketball action on Monday, January 4, 2021, traveling to Clarksburg to face the Rockets. Both teams took decisive wins. On Thursday night, their games were postponed due to inclement weather. Friday night saw them go back on the road, this time to Clifton, to face the Frank Hughes Lady Lions and Lions. The Ladycats won a “mercy rule” contest, 68 – 26, while the ‘Cats picked up their second win of the year, 41 – 25, over the Lions. On Tuesday, the 12th, Summertown comes to Waynesboro for a big district match-up, followed by Collinwood on Friday night. They will then travel to Hampshire for afternoon match-ups with the Hawks and Lady Hawks.
The Ladycats got off to a good start against the Rockets of Clarksburg, putting up 25 points in the opening quarter. Michaela Gallian had 10 in the frame as the pressing defensive pressure of the Ladycats caused 14 first half Rocket turnovers. With reserves seeing action in the second period, the Ladycats took a 42 – 17 lead to the locker room at the half. The third quarter saw the Rockets come out and go on a 13 – 3 run to cut into lead. The Ladycats went on a 6 – 0 run to finish the quarter, and won the fourth, 19 – 12, in route to a 70 – 42 win.
Michaela Gallian finished with 18 points to lead the Ladycats. She had 8 rebounds and 2 steals. Savanna McClain scored 17 points with 7 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 assists, while Lauren Bryant hit for double figures with 12 points, a rebound, 3 steals, and 3 assists. Bailey Kilburn came off the bench in the fourth quarter to nail two three-pointers for 6 points, and Cambree Camfield and Kelsey Carroll each had 5 points. Camfield had 3 rebounds and an assist, while Carroll had 4 boards and 3 steals. Charli Woodside had 3 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists. Jac Keaton and Kylee Brewer each scored 2 points. Keaton had 4 rebounds, 3 steals, and an assist, while Brewer had a rebound and a steal. Annie Lee had 2 rebounds and an assist, and Lauren Prater had 5 rebounds and an assist. Isabel Luedeke had a rebound, and Allie Hill had an assist. The Ladycats shot only 34.9% from the field, but forced 22 Rocket turnovers. They won the rebounding battle 38 – 28.
The Wildcats came out and took a 15 – 9 lead after the first quarter of action against the Rockets. They upped the lead to 33 – 17 by the half, and they added to it, to go on to win by a 62 – 36 margin. Tyler Moser led the way for the ‘Cats with a double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds. He had 3 steals and 2 assists, and was 9 of 13 from the field. Clay Baugus also hit for double figures with 14 points and had 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 assists. Austin Whitson added 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 steals. Ethan Camfield had 5 points with 3 rebounds and a steal. Ryder Butler and Eli McClain came off the bench to put in 4 points apiece. Butler had a rebound, and McClain had 4 boards. Preston Stegall hit a jumper for 2 points. Jesse Dixon had 3 rebounds, and Jace Foster had a steal. Gaynes Keaton had a rebound and 2 assists, while Landyn Prater had 3 steals and 2 assists. The ‘Cats forced 22 Rocket turnovers.
The Ladycat defensive pressure forced 9 Lady Lion first quarter turnovers in route to a 27 – 7 lead. They upped the lead to 41 – 9 by the half and went on to take the easy win, 68 – 26. Savanna McClain led four Ladycat double figure scorers with 12 points. She had 8 rebounds, 5 steals, and an assist. Lauren Bryant, Kelsey Carroll, and Jac Keaton also hit in double figures with 10 points each. Bryant had 3 boards and 3 assists, while Carroll had 4 rebounds. Keaton also had 8 boards with 3 steals and 3 assists. Michaela Gallian scored 8 points and had a pair of rebounds and a pair of steals. Kylee Brewer, Kenzie Griggs, and Lauren Prater each came off the bench to score 5 points. Brewer had a rebound and 2 steals while Griggs had 2 boards. Prater had a rebound, 2 steals, and an assist. Cimmie Willis had 2 points with a steal. Bailey Kilburn added one point with 2 boards with an assist. Annie Lee had 2 assists, and Charli Woodside had a rebound, a steal, and an assist. The Ladycats shot 40.7% from the field, but hit 77.3% from the foul line. The Ladycats won the rebounding battle 34 – 17.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 27 – 9 halftime lead and went on to win by the final score of 41 – 25, forcing 19 Lion turnovers. Landyn Prater led the Wildcats in scoring with 13 points, including 4 three-pointers. He had 5 rebounds, a block, and 3 steals. Clay Baugus added 9 points, and Austin Whitson put in 7. Baugus had 2 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 assists. Whitson had 3 boards and a block. Tyler Moser scored 4 points and had 7 rebounds, a steal, and 2 assists. Eli McClain and Ethan Camfield each scored 3 points. McClain had 5 boards, and Camfield had a rebound and 3 assists. Gaynes Keaton rounded out the scoring with 2 points and had 2 rebounds and 2 steals. Ryder Butler and Jesse Dixon each had 2 rebounds. The Wildcats shot only 28.3% from the field and 45% from the foul line, but the turnovers sealed the game for them.
District action is revving up with lots of cancelled games to be rescheduled. The Ladycats now stand at 6 – 0 on the year, while the ‘Cats are now 2 – 5. “KEEP WORKING HARD ‘CATS AND LADYCATS!”—Submitted
