Lady Bulldogs avenge loss to Marion

By DAVE COX/Staff

TAZEWELL- The Lady Bulldogs were looking for some pay back when the Marion Lady Scarlet Hurricanes came calling for a Southwest District varsity basketball game last Friday at the Tazewell Middle School gym.

Marion had defeated the Bulldogs by a scant three points earlier this season at the Hurricane House, but the Bulldogs turned the table Friday. Behind the steady performance of Taylor Catron and clutch fourth quarter free throws by Catron and Autumn Hash, THS survived a late-game charge by the visitors for a big 39-36 district victory. Both players hit clutch foul shots in the final minute of the contest to seal the deal for the Bulldogs.

Tazewell (9-9, 2-4 SWD) had obtained a fairly comfortable lead through the first half, but a slow third quarter allowed the Hurricanes to get back in the game and actually take a short-lived lead in the third frame. The Bulldogs found themselves on top 8-7 by the end of the first quarter and posted a 14-6 edge in the second frame for a 22-13 advantage at the half.

Marion (9-9, 2-3 SWD) enjoyed an 11-5 third period to whittle the THS lead to three points at 27-24 and set the stage for a hard fought home stretch for both squads. The ‘Canes took another brief lead in the fourth chapter but the Bulldogs wrestled it back and was clinging to a one-point cushion after Rachel Martin connected on a jumper with just 10 seconds remaining. The visitors were forced to foul and the THS free throws found their mark for the win.

“Winning this was big,” said Tazewell head coach Jason Southworth. “It keeps us in the hunt for a good playoff spot. We have two big games to go and we had to have this one tonight.”

Catron led all scorers with 18 points. Hash finished with six points, two blocks and 13 rebounds for Tazewell. Whitney Saunders added four points and five rebounds. Katie Snapp and Haley Christian had three points each. Christian’s points came on the only trey for the Bulldogs and Snapp hauled in nine boards. Haley Bradshaw and Bre Sparks contributed two points apiece for THS.

Marion didn’t have any double figure scorers. Ali Moore and Elizabeth Rakes tossed in eight points each for the ‘Canes.