Pickett County Holds Off Late Red Boiling Springs Rally, 65-62

By Michael Lindsay

 

The Pickett County Lady Bobcats locked up second overall in District 7A Thursday evening as they defeated league foe Red Boiling Springs, 65-62.

The Lady Bobcats (17-8, 5-3) led by 15 points in the second half before a furious Red Boiling Springs (15-11, 3-5) run cut the lead to 1 point late in the fourth quarter.

“We jumped out and I thought we played really well early, especially in the second quarter,” said Pickett County head coach Brent Smith. “We do this a lot; we get leads then play not to lose. They (RBS) made a good run and have some nice players, especially Clair Fleming. She’s a beast.”

Pickett County was led by junior Ella Kate Keisling, who posted 17 points in the victory. Also scoring double figures were sophomore Emmy Lowe, who had 11 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists, and freshman Zoey Nicholas, who recorded 11 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds.

Red Boiling Springs was led by 24 points from point guard Claire Fleming, 13 points by Bre Thompson and 12 from Bailey Massengill.

Pickett County opened the game on an 8-2 run before RBS answered to take a 14-9 lead with 2:33 left in the first period.

Red Boiling Springs held a narrow 18-17 lead after one quarter. Pickett County took over defensively and in transition in the second period, holding RBS to only 6 points in the frame while pouring in 18 of their own points to lead 35-24 at halftime.

“We like to get up and down the floor,” Smith said. “When you get transition points, you don’t have to do as much offensive coaching.”

Pickett County looked poised to run away with the game early in the second half as they held a 41-26 lead early in the third.

Red Boiling Springs wouldn’t go away quietly, however, as the Lady Bulldogs answered with a 21-11 run capped by back-to-back Chloe Powell three-pointers to cut Pickett County’s lead to 52-47 with 6:26 left.

The Lady Bulldogs would pull within one possession (52-49) with 5:47 remaining as Fleming converted an and-one jumper and the free throw.

“It comes down to rebounding; we got killed on the glass late,” Smith said. “This time of year they’ll let you play more physical, and I thought we had some opportunity to get some rebounds that they (RBS) got.”

Pickett County withstood Red Boiling Springs’ run and pushed their lead back to 5 (59-54) with less than 4 minutes to go via a pair of Lowe baskets.

A Callie Reeder putback with 1:49 remaining put Pickett County up 63-58 before the Lady Bulldogs quickly answered with a pair of Fleming free-throws and a Bailey Massengill steal and layup to trim Pickett’s lead to 1 point (63-62) with 1:10 left.

With Red Boiling Springs now within a single point, Pickett County freshman Zoey Nicholas stepped to the free-throw line and drained two free throws with 31.4 seconds left to put her team up 65-52.

RBS would get one more look at the basket, but Pickett County’s Callie Reeder blocked the Lady Bulldogs’ final shot with less than 10 seconds left to preserve the Lady Bobcats’ 65-62 victory.

Pickett County wrapped up regular season play with the victory while Red Boiling Springs hosts Monterey tonight.

Pickett County (65): Ella Kate Keisling 17, Emmy Lowe 11, Zoey Nicholas 11, Kaylee Tompkins 8, Callie Reeder 6, Addy Lowe 6, Allie Amonnett 6

Red Boiling Springs (62): Claire Fleming 24, Bailey Massengil 13, Bre Thompson 12, Chloe Powell 10, Josie Green 3

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