The WCMS Lady Pioneers escaped the wrath of the Eastside Lady Bulldogs’ powerful bite in a 19-14 win in 5-6 grade basketball Tuesday.
WCMS was locked onto an 11-10 lead at the end of the third quarter and all the Lady Pioneers needed was one final quarter to close out the win.
In a low-scoring defensive battle, there was a three-way tie for leading scorer. Shelby Smartt, Emeri Cummings, and Katie Toney all scored six points.
It was clear early in the fourth WCMS was not going to let the game slip away if there was any way to save it. The Lady Pioneers started with a constant pursuit of the ball and the pressure was too much for the Lady Bulldogs.
The ball was thrown into the post and Cummings went to the free-throw line on both occasions and she connected on 2-of-4. Smartt was also able to get in close and she drew the contact from the intense defensive pressure. Smartt knocked down both free throws and Eastside scored all four of its fourth-quarter points from the charity stripe.
The Lady Pioneer offense, on the other hand, rallied the troops and Bella Cantrell scooped up four points after she collected loose balls and quickly put them back in the basket. Ebonie Ross and Toney were perfect from the line in the final period.
The Lady Pioneers were up by three points, 17-14, when Toney was fouled with just under a minute to play. She stepped to the line and put WCMS up by five, 19-14.
Time ran out on the Lady Bulldog offense despite the two chances to shoot in the final minute.
The shots were just off their intended target and the Lady Bulldogs were defeated 19-14.
It was a highly competitive first half and both teams traded baskets in the first two quarters. Neither team was able to gain a decisive advantage.
For WCMS, Toney had a pair of baskets in the first half. She received a little help from Emily Stoner who found the bottom of the net in the second.
For Eastside, Smartt knows if you go to the rim enough it will pay off and eventually she was successful in the first. Madelyn Powers and Emeri Cummings added points in the second and at the half the score was locked 6-6.
The third picked up right where the second left off and the two teams were not willing to budge. Each team put an all-or-nothing effort in the third quarter. WCMS outscored Eastside in the third by a single point and headed to the final period with an 11-10 lead.

LADY PIONEER SCORING – Katie Toney 6, Bella Cantrell 4, Ebonie Ross 3, Ena Yasungar 2, Halo Armstrong 2, Emily Stoner 2
LADY BULLDOG SCORING – Shelby Smartt 6, Emeri Cummings 6, Madelyn Powers 2