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Loretto girls, Summertown boys avenge early-season 10-2A losses





Loretto's Jenny Clifton and Summertown's Emily Brazier battle for a loose ball during Friday's District 10-2A contest.RIC BEU / MAIN STREET MAURY

Loretto’s Jenny Clifton and Summertown’s Emily Brazier battle for a loose ball during Friday’s District 10-2A contest.RIC BEU / MAIN STREET MAURY

Involvement up and down the roster was the difference, Loretto girls basketball coach Ashley Rutledge said, in her team’s 49-40 District 10-2A road win Friday night over Summertown and the previous meeting between the two.

“I feel like the last time we played, we didn’t have as many kids ‘show up’,” Rutledge said after the Lady Mustangs avenged a 63-44 loss at home on Jan. 10 and forced a tie atop the district standings.

“After the first four minutes (Friday), everybody was contributing. Kids came off the bench and played defense, rebounded, knocked a key shot down. It was just a big ‘team’ win.”

Loretto (14-7, 4-1) trailed 9-0 before Ally Weathers got the visitors on the scoreboard with a 3-pointer at the 2:48 mark of the opening period. Weathers scored another five points before the quarter ended, as her team cut the deficit to 15-12.

With a 7-0 spurt to open the second quarter, Summertown – the No. 7 team in the current Associated Press Class 2A statewide Top 10 – extended the margin to 10, and Loretto didn’t take its first lead until Weathers’ three-point play to open the second half.

Summertown's Ansley Burleson blocks a shot attempt by Loretto's Jenny Clifton during Friday's District 10-2A contest.RIC BEU / MAIN STREET MAURY

Summertown’s Ansley Burleson blocks a shot attempt by Loretto’s Jenny Clifton during Friday’s District 10-2A contest.RIC BEU / MAIN STREET MAURY

But a game-high 18 points from Weathers and a 19-of-25 effort from the free throw line ultimately swung the contest in the Lady Mustangs’ favor.

“We usually shoot 70, 75 percent (from the line),” Rutledge said after Loretto went 12-for-16 from the line in the fourth quarter, 9-for-10 in the final two minutes to hold off the hosts and win for the sixth straight time since that earlier loss. “We don’t usually shoot that volume.

“I’m just proud of how we knocked them down at the end.”

Laney Weathers scored another 10 points for Loretto, but Rutledge was particularly complimentary of Emily Cozart’s effort off the bench.

“Ally did what she does, but outside of Ally and Laney – everybody else contributed,” the coach said. “Emily’s rebounding was huge. If she didn’t rebound like that, we probably don’t win the game. She’s definitely capable of that, and she was a difference-maker in this game.

Loretto girls basketball coach Ashley Rutledge instructs her Lady Mustangs during a timeout in Friday's District 10-2A game at Summertown.RIC BEU / MAIN STREET MAURY

Loretto girls basketball coach Ashley Rutledge instructs her Lady Mustangs during a timeout in Friday’s District 10-2A game at Summertown.RIC BEU / MAIN STREET MAURY

“We did what it took to win the game. I’m really proud of them.”

Ansley Burleson’s 12 points paced Summertown (17-6, 4-1).

“We couldn’t score,” coach Jeremy Jean said. “We fouled way too much, which slowed the game down. We’re at our best when we’re not fouling and the game is up and down (the court).

“I thought we defended them well. But you can’t foul shooters. We sent them to the foul line way too much. We’ve got to get to loose balls and we’ve got to score to beat them; 40 (points) won’t do it.”

Eagles win ‘ugly’ affair: After his team lost nine times in a 10-game stretch earlier this season, ninth-year Summertown coach Wes Long isn’t too concerned with style points.

So a 51-50 win Friday over visiting Loretto – which wasn’t sealed until the Mustangs’ halfcourt heave was off the mark as the final horn sounded – was just fine.

Summertown's Karlie Campbell gets ahead of Loretto's Ally Weathers for a layup attempt during Friday's District 10-2A matchup.RIC BEU / MAIN STREET MAURY

Summertown’s Karlie Campbell gets ahead of Loretto’s Ally Weathers for a layup attempt during Friday’s District 10-2A matchup.RIC BEU / MAIN STREET MAURY

“The offense never was pretty, but we found a way,” Long said. “It wasn’t the prettiest game, but there’s been a lot of ugly basketball this year. I’m just glad we won.

“We returned one guy from a state quarterfinal team last year. Nine of our 12 guys are freshmen and sophomores. Our two seniors have little to no experience. So we’re trying to build a new team, and I’ve seen flashes when I think we can be dangerous.”

Most of those flashes involve sophomore Grayson Burleson, who scored 11 of his game-high 24 points in the fourth period as the Eagles (11-12, 3-2) went back and forth with their county rivals down the stretch.

Burleson scored nine straight points to push Summertown from a five-point deficit to a two-point advantage with two minutes remaining, before Cole Campbell’s three-point play created a margin Loretto (15-8, 3-2) couldn’t overcome.

“I want it in my hands. I want to help the team as much as possible,” Burleson said. “Loretto’s our big rival. You always want to beat them. This was a big win.”

Summertown's Grayson Burleson (25) scored a game-high 24 points Friday night as the host Eagles defeated Loretto 51-50.RIC BEU / MAIN STREET MAURY

Summertown’s Grayson Burleson (25) scored a game-high 24 points Friday night as the host Eagles defeated Loretto 51-50.RIC BEU / MAIN STREET MAURY

In the previous meeting, the host Mustangs won 68-64.

“We felt like we let one get away at their place,” Long said. “We were up six (points) with 2½ minutes to go. From 68 points at their place to 50 – our execution was better on defense.”

Kasen Buie, Loretto’s leading scorer, finished with just four points after scoring 29 in the earlier matchup.

“He was in foul trouble. I don’t know that he handled not getting into an offensive rhythm very well,” Mustangs coach Greg Tipps said. “But Grayson stepped up – blocking shots, rebounding, making difficult shots. Sometimes it comes down to making shots and missing shots. I thought he did a tremendous job.”

Cole Campbell added 13 points for Summertown. Jaxon Roberson and Mason Tidwell finished with 14 apiece, with Corben Reynolds scoring 13.

Summertown's Weston Pigg (11) contests a drive by Loretto's Jaxon Roberson during Friday's District 10-2A contest.RIC BEU / MAIN STREET MAURY

Summertown’s Weston Pigg (11) contests a drive by Loretto’s Jaxon Roberson during Friday’s District 10-2A contest.RIC BEU / MAIN STREET MAURY

“We’ve got all freshmen and sophomores. This is all new,” Tipps said. “This is the first time they’ve played in an environment like this.

“We’d be naive to think we’re not going to take some lumps.”

Loretto girls 49, Summertown 40

L 12 8 14 15 – 49

S 15 7 10 8 – 40

Loretto (49) – Jana Clifton 3, Emily Cozart 6, Jenny Clifton 6, Libby Sanders 6, Ally Weathers 18, Laney Weathers 10

Summertown (40) – Karlie Campbell 5, Emily Brazier 7, Ansley Burleson 12, Mia Dinwiddie 3, Alivia Riggs 6, Braley Burleson 1, Reese Wilson 6

3-pointers – Loretto 4 (Ja. Clifton, Sanders 2, A. Weathers), Summertown 5 (Cambpell, A. Burleson 2, Riggs 2)

Summertown boys 51, Loretto 50

L 8 9 13 20 – 50

S 8 10 10 23 – 51

Loretto (50) – Corben Reynolds 13, Jaxon Roberson 14, Mason Tidwell 14, Kasen Buie 4, Jayden Aaron 5

 

 

Summertown (51) – Weston Pigg 4, Cole Campbell 13, Grayson Burleson 24, Kurt Burleson 4, Lleyton Sherman 6

3-pointers – Loretto 6 (Reynolds 3, Tidwell 2, Aaron), Summertown 3 (Cambpell, Sherman 2)

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