“It was not a pretty game, as someone told me on the way off the court,” Cumberland Gap coach Ron Vannoy said. “But with the way we press and try to pound the ball inside, it doesn't make for a pretty game.”
The Lady Pioneers turned the ball over on their first three possessions and CGHS took advantage.
They got baskets from forward Tracey Shackleford, point guard Kelsey Dean and two from center Jessica Weaver as they jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the game's first two and a half minutes.
It was 11-2 midway through the period, but the Lady Panthers went cold from there and Thomas Walker climbed back to within 11-6 by the end of the first.
“We started out real well, but I started subbing too early and too often for us to have any continuity,” Vannoy said.
In the second quarter, the Cumberland Gap press started to take its toll on the Lady Pioneers. Weaver scored eight of her game-high 21 points in the period as the Lady Panthers took control of the game and led 29-12 at the half.
“Turnovers is what killed us,” said Thomas Walker coach Janet Nelson in summing up the loss. “But we've only got two seniors and really we're a brand new team from last year. I'm still experimenting with the lineup and who plays with who.”
Still, the Lady Pioneers never quit in the game. Center Tiffany Gibson scored four of her 12 points in the third period and sophomore guard Courtney Moles' trey at the buzzer made the score 43-30 after three.
Ashley Hensley hit two free throws to start the fourth quarter and bring Thomas Walker to within 11, but that was as close as they got.
“Thomas Walker kept plugging away and they hit some big threes,” said Vannoy. “We shot 11-for-44 in the first half and I don't think we ever got our percentage up over 30. Some of our better players got frustrated, but as the year goes on we'll shoot better than that.”
With the Lady Pioneers staying within 11-15 points, Cumberland Gap never let up on their press. Dean hit six-of-six free throws in the fourth quarter - all after being fouled on breakaway drives to the basket. Shackleford added five points in the quarter as the Lady Panthers pulled away for the 62-45 win.
Thomas Walker turned the ball over 33 times in the game, but managed to hit some difficult shots in the third and fourth quarters to hang around.
“We played pretty even with them in the second half,” Nelson said. “I'm proud of them, they don't give up. And that will help us when we start playing in our district.”
Gibson led the Lady Pioneers with 12 points and Moles added 11.
“She's only a sophomore and she's my three-point shooter,” Nelson said of Moles. “I would say she's the baby, but we've got a lot of babies in the bunch. A lot of them are still getting used to playing with the varsity.”
Cumberland Gap (7-2) was led by Weaver's 21 points. Dean added 16 and Shackleford 11.
“Jessica is averaging 18.5 a night for us and she's capable of scoring 25 every night. She does a great job rebounding and she did a nice job passing the ball tonight,” Vannoy said. “Kelsey Dean had a tremendous game. She came through at the foul line and she's a very strong penetrator. She gets to the basket better than anyone I've seen.”
Cumberland Gap won the JV game 32-25.
The Lady Panthers are at Lee High on Thursday and will take part in a holiday tournament at Union County after Christmas.
- - -
Thomas Walker 6 6 18 15 - 45
Cumberland Gap 11 18 14 19 - 62
THOMAS WALKER (45): Tiffany Gibson 12, Courtney Moles 11, Jessica Burke 6, Ashley Hensley 4, Jennifer Burke 4, Nikki Taylor 3, Jennifer Brockman 2, Katrina Isaacs 2, Brandy Vass 1
CUMBERLAND GAP (62): Jessica Weaver 21, Kelsey Dean 16, Tracey Shackleford 11, Jennifer Pace 4, Allison Martin 2, Emily Ellison 2, Jonna Adkins 2, Courtney Crowder 2, Monica Cobb 2.
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