The Boyd Lady Broncos defeated the Daniel-1 Academy Lady Lions in a hard-fought matchup in Cookeville. The Lady Broncos fell behind early and remained behind until the fourth quarter. The Lady Broncos claimed the lead and the win by a final score of 55-41.
Rhiannon Hoover only scored two points in the first period. Over the next three quarters she led Boyd and unloaded 26 more and finished with a game-high 28 points.
As the fourth quarter began, Boyd trailed 37-35. Hoover exploded for 12 points in the final quarter and she led the Lady Bronco comeback. Mackenzie Pistole added a pair of shots in close for four of her nine points. Stephanie Mullins was a perfect 2-of-2 from the free-throw line as time wound down.
The story of the game was the relentless pursuit of the ball in the fourth quarter by Boyd. The Lady Bronco defense kept the Lady Lions on their heels. Daniel-1 Academy scored double digits in the three previous quarters and was held to only four points. Katie Heady drained a 3-point shot from way out and she added 1-of-2 from the free-throw line.
Boyd executed its defense to perfection down the stretch and once the Lady Broncos claimed the lead, they never let it go. Boyd went on to defeat Daniel-1 Academy, 55-41.
The Lady Broncos were down early in the first quarter. Madison Roberts and Heady combined for four 3-pointer.
Morgan DeWeese worked the ball inside and scored her first four points in the opening period. Pistole and Hoover added five points and closed out the quarter behind 14-9.
The second quarter was the most even quarter of the game. Each team matched the other on offense with 13. Hoover started to heat up and she added seven points in the second. Erin Cantrell got her first two of the game just before the half.
At the half, Daniel-1 led 27-22.
Daniel-1 Academy kept up the tempo of the game and Hannah Whitacre scored eight of the Lady Lions 10 points in the third quarter. She hit from beyond the 3-point line twice. Jae Jarrod was responsible for the other two.
The Lady Bronco offense won the quarter and outscored the Lady Lions 13-10 and by the end of the period Boyd trailed by two, 37-35. Hoover and DeWeese combined to lead the Lady Bronco charge back to the lead. Emma Rhoton scored her only two points in the third-quarter comeback.
The Lady Bronco defense closed the door on the Lady Lion offense and Boyd unleashed an assault like no other. The Lady Broncos outscored Daniel-1 20-4 in the final quarter to claim the lead and the win by a final score of 55-41.
The Lady Broncos will be in action Friday versus Covenant Academy with a tipoff scheduled for 6 p.m. at McMinnville Civic Center.
LADY BRONCO SCORING – Rhianon Hoover 28, Morgan DeWeese 10, Mackinzie Pistole 9, Erin Cantrell 4, Emma Rhoton 2, Stephanie Mullins 2
LADY LION SCORING – Hannah Whitacre 14, Katie Heady 12, Hannah Mueller 7, Madison Roberts 6, Jae Jarrod 2