Lady Yoe close out season

Rogers

In Cameron’s first matchup with the Lady Eagles, points came at a premium.  The Lady Yoe shot the ball 43 times, but only converted on four of those shots in a 60-14 loss. 

On Friday in the second round of district, it appeared as if we were headed down the same path.  Rogers led 10-2 after one period and Cameron was 0-2 from the floor.  Cameron finally broke through in the second quarter, pushing across 20 points to keep the game competitive at the half (33-22) before Rogers created some distance in the 63-39 win.

“I felt like our defense kept us in the game in the first quarter,” said head coach Corey Cunningham, who added that his team’s 10 turnovers led to the scoring opportunities for Rogers.   

The ladies shot 8-17 in that second period, with point guard Marquazia Workman leading the surge with 8 points.  Zabrian Sowders (5 points), Ashanti Brooks (4 points), Terryn Adams (2 points) and Lauryn Leftwich (2 points) all scored in the period. 

“Our offense came alive in that second quarter and allowed us to go in the second half with some confidence,” said Cunningham.  “We were playing with a top tier team in our district.”

Cameron only scored five points in the third, but Workman continue to stay hot with a three-point shot.  The junior finished with a trio of long-range shots on the night. 

“I feel like I have to score for the team,” said Workman.  “That means if I have to take the shot, I take the shot.”

Rogers had a strong second (22 points) and fourth period (21 points).  Brittany Hoff had 20 points in the first meeting and backed that up with 16 to get her team back on track after a loss to Jarrell on Tuesday.

“She has been one of our go-to players,” said Rogers coach Loyd Morgan.  “She is our number one outside shooter.  We tell her that she has to keep shooting.  She got a little warm, hit one, and gained some confidence.”

Hope Hoelscher led all scorers with 17 points for the Lady Eagles.

Cameron trailed 42-26 heading to the fourth.  Adams scored 6 in the period while Leftwich had the other 4.  Adams finished with 9 points while Leftwich had 8.  Workman finished with 12 and Brooks had 5.

Rockdale

For a majority of the Lady Yoe’s final game of the 2017 season, it was a back and forth affair with the Lady Tigers of Rockdale.  Cameron held an 8-7 lead after one and only trailed by just one at the half, 20-19. 

However, the start of the third proved to be the pivotal turning point in the game, as Cameron turned the ball over six times, allowing Rockdale to go on a 9-0 run.  That ended up being the difference in a 46-38 loss. 

“It was encouraging to be competitive but I saw that we had more in us,” said Cunningham after the loss.  “That is the discouraging thing in this.  I felt like we finished the game strong.  I look forward to good things in the future.”

Cameron jumped out to a 8-2 lead early in the first with Workman coming in with half of the points.  Workman later put her team up 19-17 late in the second before Rockdale’s Frances King hit a 3-pointer.  King finished with 21 of Rockdale’s 46 points.  

Cameron closed the third on a 6-0 scoring run, with Workman tallying seven points in the period.  Despite not pushing any closer than the 32-27 deficit after three, Lauryn Leftwich had a big fourth with four 4 free throws and one 3-pointer.  Workman had a team-high 13 points while Leftwich had 11. 

Ashanti Brooks (6 points, 3 rebounds) and Zabrian Sowders (1 point, 10 rebounds) played their final game for Cameron as seniors.

“I was kind of scared at first but coach kept pushing me,” said Brooks, who was called up during the middle of district play from the junior varsity.  “I will remember being on varsity.”

“The seniors stepped up when they had to,” added Cunningham.  “They stepped into some roles they weren't always used to, and they rose to the occasion, so I'm proud of them.”

Final 20-3A Standings: 1. Academy (14-0); 2. Franklin (12-2); 3. Jarrell (9-5); 3. Rogers (9-5); 5. Rockdale (5-9); 6. Lexington (3-11); 7. Cameron Yoe (2-12); 7. Hearne (2-12). 

Jarrell and Rogers will play a tiebreaker game to decide third and fourth place.  All-district teams will be released once all teams from the district have completed their playoff runs.