Lady Admirals show more depth
In that game, the Lady Admirals mustered a mere 37 points in a loss to Maryville. Friday night against district foe Hardin Valley Academy, FHS put up 35 in the first half alone en route to a comfortable 57-40 win.
“We used our depth a lot better,” Jason Mayfield said, Farragut coach. “We haven’t played well the last two games. Practice was really good since Tuesday and we came in and made some good shots.”
“The second quarter is what really got away from us,” said Lady Hawks’ coach Jennifer Galloway. “They got a lot of second-chance opportunities and were able to capitalize. We had a few untimely turnovers.”
Galloway’s observation about the second quarter was correct. After leading 13-9 at the end of one, FHS (3-4, 1-0 District) led 17-13 with 5:33 left in the second. Over the rest of the half, the Lady Admirals outscored HVA (3-5, 0-1) 18-2 to lead 35-15 at intermission.
In the run, Farragut got six from senior guard KJ McNealy, a three-point play by senior wing Reagan Sheridan and three consecutive treys, the first two by junior guard Zoe Porter and the other by freshman wing Alorah Branam.
The Lady Hawks didn’t go away in the second half – they outscored FHS by three – but the outcome was never in doubt.
A three-point play by post Audree Reihn cut the deficit to 14, 39-25, with 3:56 left in the third. But, Farragut promptly answered with a pair of threes – by Lily Mullins and Porter – to regain a 20-point lead. The third ended with FHS leading 47-31.
Down 19 in the fourth, the Lady Hawks ran off seven straight to trail by 12, 52-40, with 2:50 left; but they didn’t score again, and McNealy scored the game’s final five points, all on free throws.
For the game McNealy scored 17; Sheridan added 11. Reihn scored 17 for HVA and was effective in the paint.
“She (Reihn) did a great job down low; did great offensively and defensively as well as on the glass,” said Galloway.
Mayfield was a bit displeased with his squad’s second half. “We still have to finish all 32 minutes,” he said. “There were some lulls in there that we gotta fix.”
The Lady Admirals might have found a new three-ball threat in Porter.
“Everybody contributed that went in and we all put it together for this game,” Porter said. “Great start and we’ll use that momentum.”
