Grit, determination drive Lady ‘Dogs to win over Cherokee
Published 1:36 am Friday, November 19, 2021
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Hampton's Madi McClain works hard to get past a Cherokee defender.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Linsey Jenkins goes in for a deuce with the left-handed layup.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Macy Henry puts up a tough shot between a pair of Lady Chief defenders.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Linsey Jenkins splits a pair of Cherokee defenders as she charges down the middle of the paint toward the rim.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Hampton's Macy Henry is surrounded by a host of Lady Chiefs as she battles toward the basket.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Hampton's Breanna Davis goes up for two points on a breakaway bucket.
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BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
The Hampton Lady Bulldogs wanted to make sure to give their new head coach a fitting welcome to the new season and despite having to battle through heavy foul trouble throughout the contest, the Lady ‘Dogs battled with everything they had to take the opening game of the 2021-2022 regular-season over the visiting Lady Chiefs of Cherokee.
With the 72-62 victory, head coach Brandon Carpenter opened his new era at the helm of the Lady Bulldogs.
In an opening first half that saw the Lady Bulldogs whistled 15 times for fouls, Hampton still managed to stay close and trail only 38-35 at the intermission.
Madi McClain netted 11 points in the half to keep the Lady ‘Dogs within firing range and had help from Macy Henry who totaled 10 in the first 16 minutes of action.
Carpenter’s team got a huge lift from Piper Helle off the bench as she scored nine points but it was her hustle plays that kept the ball alive on several trips down the floor.
Linsey Jenkins contributed five as well.
Emma Houck did most of the damage for the Lady Chiefs as she totaled 15 points including 7-of-10 from the free-throw line. Macy McDavid added 14 points in the half including 6-of-6 from the charity stripe.
Cherokee went to the line 29 times in the first half and converted on 18 of those opportunities.
Hampton came out of the locker room with a different bounce to their step and by the end of the third quarter, the Lady Bulldogs had worked themselves in front 55-49.
Henry added six more to her scoring log while Jenkins and Breanna Davis tallied five points each.
With the game hanging in the balance, it was the Lady Dogs whose grit on defense led to turnovers that allowed Hampton to extend their lead and grab the win.
Henry led the Lady Bulldogs in scoring with 19 points while Madi McClain was close behind with 18 points. Jenkins hit double figures as well with 17.
Macy McDavid was Cherokee’s leading scorer with a game-high 21 points. Houck finished with 17 points.
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Hampton, 72-62
Hampton (72)
Piper Helle 9, Madi McClain 18, Macy Henry 19, Breanna Davis 7, Linsey Jenkins 17, Taylor Berry 2.
Cherokee (62)
Olivia Sanders 5, Emma Mowell 2, Anna Houck 9, Kailey Gilliam 1, Bella Markham 1, Sam Tilson 4, Emma Houck 17, Macy McDavid 21, Carter Begley 2.
Hampton… 12 23 20 17 – 72
Cherokee…. 16 22 11 13 – 62
