ST. PAULS — Monday was a homecoming of sorts for Lady Scots head coach Mallarie Snow, as her new team traveled back to her old stomping grounds.
Snow coached the St. Paul’s Lady Bulldogs for two years before accepting the position at Scotland. After the game students and parents stopped to greet her but during the game it was all business.
It was a much better showing for the Lady Scots than the week before — no one fouled out and their free throw shooting was on the up swing. The Lady Scots got off to a good start defensively as seniors Sasha Patterson-McLaurin and Mylasia Pratt came up with back-to-back steals. Pratt ended up at the line following her steal and split a pair of free throws to give the Lady Scots a 1-0 lead.
The Lady Scots were 5-0f-9 from the free-throw line in the first quarter, that along with scoring three baskets gave the girls an 11-3 lead over St. Pauls by the end of the quarter. The back and forth turnovers between the two teams continued in the second quarter as the Lady Bulldogs tried to close the gap with a steal and a trip to the free-throw line. St. Paul’s M. McCallister missed both shots, but a Lady Scots turnover allowed T. Lewis to score.
This time the Lady Scots didn’t panic and maintained their composure, staying with the plays and defences Snow was calling from the bench. It was still rough sledding through the rest of the first half as the Lady Scots managed to take an 11 point lead into the locker room, 28-17.
The Lady Scots defense shined in the third quarter as they held the Lady Bulldogs to just three points — one basket and one free throw. The rest of the quarter was all about Lady Scots senior Khasiya Sellers, who had her first double-double of the season. Sellers had six points to pace the Lady Scots in the third quarter and help them stretch their lead to 17 heading into the final eight minutes, 37-20. Sellers finished the night with 21 points, 12 rebounds and eight blocks.
The fourth quarter started with a technical foul on Sellers — because her shorts were rolled. One of the referees was a stickler when it came to uniforms and gave the Lady Scots a technical based on their shorts being rolled up.
St. Pauls missed both of their free throws and traveled on their ensuing possession, so the technical didn’t hurt the Lady Scots, it was just confusing to everyone why the rolled shorts were a problem. Sellers responded with a basket and a trip to the line. The Lady Scot senior missed her free throw, but the basket gave her team a 39-20 lead.
Sellers finished the game with two successful free throws to held the Lady Scots improve to 2-0 on the season with a 52-27 victory. Junior Amaya Pegues was the other member of the Lady Scots to finish the game in double figures with 15 points.
The Lady Scots are back in action after the Thanksgiving holiday with their first home game. The Lady Scots will host Douglas Byrd on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 6 p.m.
Amber Hatten can be reached at 910-506-3170.
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