Lady Bears lose to Hatch

Published 12:00 am Monday, December 13, 2004

ORRVILLE – On year after reaching the Class 2A Final Four, the R.C. Hatch High School Lady Bobcats look strong again.

The Lady Bobcats remained unbeaten Friday night with a 64-44 win over the Keith Lady Bears.

“We stress defense, playing a full court press at times or a 2-2-1,” Lady Bobcats coach Walter Abraham said. “We also try to mix it up with some 3-2 zones, 2-1-2 zone or a man to man. Overall we played well.”

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Hatch held Keith to six points in the first quarter while scoring 21 themselves.

The Lady Bobcats opened the game scoring the first eight points. Ahjah Mitchell established her dominance on the boards by grabbing nine rebounds in the first quarter. She finished the game with 19 rebounds.

The Lady Bears couldn’t close the gap in the second quarter as R.C. Hatch went into the half up 31-17.

“We came in a little timid, maybe a little stage fright because of the rivalry,”

Lady Bears coach Raymond Rucker said. “And we have a young team.”

In the third quarter, Keith’s offense begin to score with some consistency, as the Lady Bears were able to close the deficit to eight points before Hatch pulled away again to a 13-point lead.

The Lady Bobcats’ easy baskets and some offensive rebounding by the Lady Bears filled the closing quarter.

“The girls didn’t give up even though this was probably the worst game we’ve played all year,” Rucker said.

The Lady Bobcats (8-0) were led by Janita Essex, who dropped in a game-high 20 points. Mitchell added 17 points while Vinecia Dudley handed out 6 assists.

R.C. Hatch will take on Wilcox Central on Tuesday.

Shawmeka Gooden led the Lady Bears (4-2) with 18 points and eight rebounds

Keith will play the Southside Lady Panthers on Tuesday night.

In junior varsity action, Rodney Scott dropped in a game-high 28 points as R.C. Hatch beat Keith, 65-21.

– Staff reports