Pittman scores 17, but it's not enough to overcome Aubrey
By Robert Morgan | Published Sunday, February 22, 2009
With just two starters back from last season, as well as a new head coach, not many thought the Boyd High School girls' basketball team could get back to the playoffs. They kept the tradition alive by capturing the third and final playoff spot to advance for the fourth straight year.
However, the run was short as they ran up against an Aubrey team that tied for the District 10-2A championship. The Lady Yellowjackets struggled to get much going against a pressure defense that played a role in winning more than two dozen games so far this season as they lost a 55-38 decision Tuesday night at Northwest.
Turnovers riddled Boyd's upset attempt in the Class 2A, Region II bi-district game. The locals coughed the ball up 26 times, most of which came in the first half where BHS dug a hole it never escaped.
The loss ended Boyd's season and coach Lynn Cranfill's first year at the helm with a 17-15 record. Aubrey moved to 29-7 and was to face Honey Grove for the area title this weekend.
The Lady Yellowjackets got the start they needed as they traded baskets with Aubrey. Senior standout Jessie Pittman along with Jessica Drake did most of the scoring as BHS trailed 14-12.
It was just a two-point game early in the second quarter before Aubrey turned up the defensive heat to take command. The group outscored Boyd 16-6 in the second quarter thanks in part to an aggressive full-court defense that forced seven turnovers during that time.
The Chaparrals scored the final 10 points of the first half, eight of which were on turnovers, to take a 30-18 halftime lead. Boyd was held to a game-low six points in the second quarter.
Boyd made better use of its possessions in the second half. Emily Basting, Shelbi Tidwell and Pittman worked through the press defense to get better looks at the basket as they scored a game-high 13 in the third quarter.
The Lady Yellowjackets got more production offensively but could not slow Aubrey, which made 13 of its first 14 free throws of the game to protect the lead all night.
The momentum allowed Boyd to trim the deficit to nine points as it outscored the Chaps 13-10 in the third quarter.
The Wise girls never got any closer as Aubrey tightened its defensive grip in the fourth quarter to seal the deal. Boyd managed just seven points in the final quarter.
Pittman led the Lady Yellowjackets once again with 17 points. Drake finished with nine points, two more than Tidwell with seven. Basting pitched in five points.
Sammie Carmichael was tops for Aubrey with 17 points, four more than Melissa Reynolds with 13. Jennifer Robbins and Victoria Looper finished with six points each, while Presley Statsny had five, Sydney Karr had three and Jamie Teague added two.
