Lady Canes pressure way past Cedartown
by David Royal
Jan 26, 2011 | 494 views | 0 0 comments | 6 6 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Cartersville kept its firm grip on second place in Region 7B-AAA with a commanding 75-45 win over Cedartown in girls high school basketball Tuesday night.

The Lady Hurricanes (10-8, 4-1) were paced by Kea Garnigan, with 16, and Kaelyn Irby, with 12. Also in double figures was Natasha Robey, who sank 10 points during her evening's work.

"Our shooting has improved the past week -- we've played four games since the snow storm and hopefully have played ourselves back into shape," head coach Donna Enis said.

The coach played everyone on the team, with all 12 not only playing but registering on the scoreboard.

"I'm glad we have the depth where we can play 12," Enis added.

She said giving all the team members quality time is important as they begin zeroing in on the region tournament in a few weeks.

But just as important in the victory by the Lady Canes was the pressure they put on the Lady Bulldogs.

Cartersville tasted the fruits of that pressure early when Cedartown took one shot in six possessions in the first quarter, a stretch where the Lady Canes went up from 7-4 to 14-4. The visitors closed the score to less than 10 points just once the rest of the game while committing 17 turnovers.

Some of the key early blows in the game were provided by Garnigan and Adrienne Green.

Garnigan hit the game's first trey, hoisting Cartersville from a 2-all tie to a 5-2 lead. Green added her first bucket after grabbing a rebound and fighting through the traffic and putting it back up with two minutes barely gone in the game, for a 7-2 lead. She added a second bucket less than a minute later for a 9-2 differential.

Garner then dropped in a bucket and then her second trey for a 14-4 lead.

Cartersville stretched that lead to 19-6 by the end of the first quarter and added to it in all but the final quarter.

The Lady Canes were up 39-15 at the break, after outscoring the visitors 20-9.

Their biggest quarter, scoring-wise, was the third, when they torched the net for 23 points while allowing 12 by the Lady Bulldogs.

Cedartown outscored their hosts 18-13 in the final period.

Coach Enis said Cartersville is improving but must learn better ball-handling skills.

"We knew we would have this problem because we're playing so many freshmen," she said. "We just hoped we'd have it under control better by now."

Cartersville committed at least 14 turnovers for the evening.

The coach said her team must learn to be more patient.

"Some of these you expect because we move the ball quickly," she said. "That's the style of game we play."

She added the freshmen have made a lot of good things happen for the team.

"All five of our freshmen have played and are contributing," she said.

She added the team has come together and now needs to do the things required for winning basketball at tournament time.

"I think one of our biggest surprises has been the chemistry we have," she said. "Everybody has come back from last year and they have just meshed as a team."

Also contributing for the Lady Canes were April Gary, 3; Stefanie Will, 4; Katie O'Connor, 3; Kate Garner, 2; Carlee Bragg, 3; Andrianne Greene, 6; Maya Jones, 4, D'Yasmine Richards, 8; and Jazmine Baldwin, 4.

Cartersville next plays on Friday night, when it hosts Gilmer County.

The Lady Canes then visit Allatoona on Saturday with tipoff now set for 4:30 p.m.