When Eastside’s Shelby Smartt hit a late-game 3-pointer, it was icing on the cake as the Lady Bulldogs took home the win, 44-24, and Smartt the MVP award, over Centertown’s Lady Warriors during the 5-6 grade preseason basketball championship Saturday night at Eastside.
Besides the all-net, late-game frosting, Smartt racked up 25 points, 19 before the half, as Eastside was up 26-11 at intermission.
“I didn’t know what I had coming in,” said Eastside head coach Shae Hodges. “We worked extra hard because we didn’t have a lot of athletic ability. We worked on speed, fast-break drills and defense.”
Lady Warrior Madison Johnson shot well in the fourth quarter, earning six of her seven points, as Centertown had its best showing late in the game. However, wasn’t enough to overcome the consistency of Eastside, which hit for double-digit scoring in three-out-of-four quarters.
Also posting a double-digit total for Eastside was Emeri Cummings with 13 points. In addition, points were added by Dallis Melton with four, and Kelly Bush with two.
Also scoring for Centertown girls were Jaylie Shehane and Krista Chisam with six points each, Alyssa Mosley and Addison Johnson had two points apiece, and Kennedi Pegg hit one from the line.