Christian Fellowship’s Lady Eagles came into the CCA Christmas Tournament on Saturday with a 5-1 record. After losing their first game of the season to Fulton County, the Lady Eagles won three straight over Hickman County (60-40), Heritage Christian (50-14) and North Hardin Classical (45-26).
Playing Hickman County in their first game of the tournament and for the second time this season, beating the Lady Falcons 60-40 on December 5, the Lady Eagles saw a 16-point lead dwindle away and lost 59-55.
CFS pushed a 12-10 lead at the end of the first quarter out to 32-17 at halftime. Senior Gracie Howard who came in averaging just over 30 points per game, scored 21 in the first half. The Lady Eagles also got a boost from freshman Ava Ryan who had two 3-pointers in the half which included a final basket from behind the arc to send them into the halftime break up by 15.
Ryan hit her third 3-pointer of the game early in the third quarter that gave the Lady Eagles their largest lead of the game at 36-20. Hickman County began chipping away at the CFS lead behind 11 third quarter points from senior Justice Midyett but held a 10-point lead at 45-35 heading into the fourth quarter.
Ryan hit her fourth three of the night to open the fourth quarter on a 13-point lead. Fouls began adding up and became a factor for both teams. Howard picked up her fourth early in the quarter and Hickman County’s Macy Howell fouled out.
A basket from CFS freshman Jenna Neal maintained a 10-point lead but it was cut to seven on a 3-pointer by Brooklyn Naranjo. Two straight baskets from Howard out of a timeout held the CFS lead at nine points and with 4:15 remaining, she picked up her fifth foul after putting up 36 points.
Naranjo went to the line following a 3-point shooting foul and drained all three free throws to cut the lead down to eight. The Lady Falcons went on to outscore the Lady Eagles 14-2 to finish out the four-point win with Midyett scoring 12 to add to her total of 35.
“What we were the most disappointed about is we’re more than Gracie Howard”, Head Coach Trevor Jackson said “Gracie is a tremendous player for us. She’s one of the best players in the region but were more than just Gracie and had an opportunity to show that.”
Jackson felt the team did a good job limiting Naranjo’s 3-point opportunities in both games against Hickman County but added that Midgett’s just one they’ve had a hard time stopping.
“When we needed it down the stretch, nobody wanted the ball”, Jackson said. “The five girls on the floor at the end of the game didn’t want the ball. Made a few poor decisions in the third quarter instead of extending the lead but bottom line, we didn’t execute down the stretch.”
Jackson said the young, inexperienced group has started out well and overall is very pleased with where they are at with a favorable schedule going down the stretch.
CFS will play Ballard Memorial (5-3) on Monday at 8:30 in the Consolation Bracket. The Lady Bombers lost their first game of the tournament to Dresden, Tenn. 55-35.
CFS 12 19 14 10 – 55
Hickman 10 9 16 24 – 59
CFS (5-2): Gracie Howard 36, Ava Ryan 14, Jenna Neal 2, Kyndal Owen 2, Rylee Hudson 1
CFS: FG 19/48, 3PT 5/13 (Ryan 4), FT 12/23 (Howard 9/13), Reb 31 (Ryan 8)
Hickman (2-5): Justice Midyett 35, Brooklyn Naranjo 7, Macy Howell 7, Ann Marie White 5, Lakya Wilber 3, Bayleigh Childress 2
