Knox ladies play with ‘Hart’

By SETH LAMAR
Gold Standard Sports Editor
seth.c.lamar.ctr@mail.mil
Dana Beaven’s young Lady Eagles team faced a trio of tough matchups against Hart County, North Bullitt and North Oldham. All three games resulted in losses for the Lady Eagles, but their performances weren’t without merit. The Knox girls now find themselves challenging much more experienced teams early and often.
The Lady Eagles lost 73-50 to Hart County, but used the first quarter to prove they weren’t going to make things easier for their opponent. Eighth-grade point guard Tyra Jackson used her quickness and shooting touch to keep Knox competitive in the early goings of the game that saw four ties and three lead-changes. Along with sophomore Breannah Bretches, Jackson’s scoring touch enabled the Lady Eagles to take an 11-8 lead on a three-pointer from the wing with two minutes remaining in the opening quarter. Nine of the Lady Eagles’ 13 points in the first quarter came from Jackson, whose last bucket came at the buzzer to cut the Lady Raiders’ lead to 16-13 entering the second quarter.
Hart County opened up the second quarter with 6-0 run before Knox’s Haven Noble scored on a feed from Jackson to cut into the 22-13 deficit. After early turnovers, the Knox offense found balance with four players scoring in the second quarter. The Lady Eagles trailed 32-24 heading into halftime with Jackson hitting yet another shot at the buzzer. Jackson finished the first half with 13 points along with seven points from Bretches.
After halftime, Knox showed it wasn’t finished fighting as the team opened up third quarter play with a 6-0 run behind back-to-back baskets by Jackson and another from Bretches to pull within a score at 32-30. Empty trips plagued the Lady Raiders early, but the visitors regained their scoring touch minutes later to rebuild the lead out to a 39-30 lead by the 4:55 mark.
Hart County eventually outscored Knox 19-13 in the third quarter, but still didn’t have a way of slowing down Jackson, who added eight more points to give her a total of 21 points with a quarter still yet to play.
Down 51-37, the Lady Eagles put up shots with a short memory as they plugged away late. Knox turned to its perimeter game late to cut into Hart County’s lead. The Lady Eagles eventually fell 73-50, but were led with strong performances from Jackson with 23 points and four assists along with Bretches’ 16 points, four steals and two assists. Brianna Smith led Knox in rebounding with nine boards on the evening.
Knox returned to action the following evening against North Bullitt and Monday night against North Oldham, but fell in both games by scores of 69-39 and 66-42, respectively.
The Lady Eagles return to action tonight as the team travels to Portland Christian to take on another batch of Lady Eagles as the first game of a doubleheader with the boys’ team. Game time is set for 6 p.m. The Knox girls will round out the regular-season schedule hosting Whitfield Academy tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. before traveling to Washington County to take on the Lady Commanders Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.
The 17th District Tournament will begin Monday night at John Hardin High School with the Lady Eagles taking on the Central Hardin Lady Bruins in the opening round. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.

Staff photo by Seth Lamar

THE YOUNG LADY EAGLES FOUND THEMSELVES IN A BATTLE WITH a much more experienced Hart County team Friday night. The first quarter saw four ties and three lead changes.