WCMessenger.com: Decatur squeaks by Vernon

WCMessenger.com Sports: Basketball Headlines

Decatur squeaks by Vernon

By Robert Morgan | Published Sunday, February 8, 2009

Not many victories are easy for the Decatur High School girls' basketball team. In fact, only one district game this year was out of reach by the fourth quarter.

The Lady Eagles stuck with the drama once again Tuesday night in Vernon. That saw a double-digit third quarter lead disappear before they held on for a 46-43 victory and a season sweep of the Lions.

Leading 43-30 in the third quarter, Decatur was manhandled in the paint where the Lions went to work. They controlled the boards and the pace of the game to outscore DHS by eight and trim the lead to five.

The Lady Eagles were not down for long. Kelsey Hayes, Mercy Staley and Cassie Partridge reclaimed control of the paint long enough for the team to hold on to the lead down the stretch.

"We don't like to make anything look easy," said DHS coach Billy Garner. "There in the second half we stopped rebounding, and as usual we struggled at the free-throw line and that let them hang around. The girls did a good job in the fourth quarter to take care of business."

The win allowed Decatur to remain in third place by two games over Iowa Park for the final playoff spot at 5-3 in league play and 16-11 overall. However, the locals' final two games are against the Hawks and district champion Bridgeport.

"We get into the playoffs by just winning one of those two games," said Garner. "It's as simple as that. One and we are in."

If Iowa Park wins its last two games and Decatur drops its last two games then DHS and Iowa Park will have a one-game playoff for the third and final playoff spot.

The Lady Eagles were impressive out of the gates. Candace Clayton, who has played at a much higher level since district play started, help carry the team to a 16-12 first quarter lead.

DHS stole the show in the second quarter where it held Vernon to a game-low seven points. Hayes, who had five steals and Clayton led a stingy effort that gave the Lions very little offensive room to breathe.

Morgan Rhine and Clayton took advantage of the situation by scoring on the other end of the floor. The tandem fueled an 11-7 run that put Decatur in front 27-19 at halftime.

The third quarter was all Vernon where it outscored DHS 17-9. Decatur did not help matters as it struggled from the free-throw line once again where it was 13 of 24 for the night.

The Lady Eagles were better away from the charity stripe where they shot 39 percent from the floor. That's what helped in the long run as they scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to hold off the stubborn Lions.

Clayton was the leading scorer for Decatur for the sixth time in district play with 23 points, three assists and three steals. Hayes finished with nine rebounds and eight points. Staley added five points and six boards, while Partridge tacked on two points and five rebounds.

Also scoring were Rhine with six points and Jaci Isham with two.