Lady Trojans come back to defeat Lady Eagles 40-36

Published 12:13 am Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Meadowview’s Claudia Kendrick (00) drives up the court during Tuesday’s game against Sumter Academy. -- Robert Hudson

The Meadowview Christian Lady Trojans lost their lead in the third quarter, but came back for a 40-36 home win over the Sumter Academy Lady Eagles on Tuesday.

Elyse McIntyre, head girls basketball coach of Meadowview Christian (2-6), said her team kept fighting and stayed positive in Tuesday’s win.

“I just think we just played together and relied on teamwork. We started making better decisions, hustled and, honestly, just never gave up,” McIntyre said. “We started making the easy shots, being more aggressive and hustling.”

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The Lady Trojans came out of halftime leading 21-16, but Sumter mounted a comeback in the third quarter, as they went on a 10-0 run that included 6 points by Katy Kelley and baskets by Elizabeth Waddell and Shelby Fast putting the Lady Eagles ahead 28-24 with 2:54 left in the third.

Meadowview cut the score to 30-28 going into the fourth quarter thanks to a pair of free throws by Claudia Kendrick and a mid-range shot by Mallory Freine.

Waddell hit a shot to open the fourth that extended Sumter’s lead to 32-28, but Heather Smith hit a shot to put it back at 32-30 with 6:50 left to play.

Waddell hit another shot to make it 34-30, but Kendrick hit a shot, and Smith hit two free throws to tie the game at 34-34 with 4:52 left.

Kendrick and Freine went 1 for 2 from the line, and Kendrick hit another shot to give Meadowview a 38-34 lead with 52 seconds left.

Fast cut the lead to 38-36 with 33 seconds left, but Lyndsey Patton hit two free throws to seal the victory for Meadowview.

Kendrick led the Lady Trojans with 16 points, while Smith had 10 points and Freine had 8 points for Meadowview.

The Lady Trojans will play again at home on Thursday against Autauga Academy starting at 4 p.m.