Lady Mavs split pair; two games left in regular season
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Anderson County senior Lydia Meldrum fights her way to the basket for two points against Lenoir City. - Rick Williams
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Anderson County’s Macy Basford continues to get quality playing time as a deep threat for the Lady Mavericks. - Rick Williams
Anderson County High School’s girls basketball team split a pair of games last week and snapped a three-game losing streak in the process.
The Lady Mavericks (8-16) notched a 44-41 victory over Gibbs on Tuesday, Jan. 31, and the victory against the Lady Eagles avenged an earlier loss when the two teams met in Corryton, where the Lady Eagles prevailed 37-29 on Dec. 6.
“We pulled that one out,” ACHS Coach Mitch Cupples said. “We played pretty well in the first half and we were ahead (late in the second quarter) 25-13, and then we turned the ball over and were ahead 25-17 at halftime.
“We played a bad third quarter and they outscored us 16-8, and then we were tied 33-33.”
The Lady Mavs pulled things together, closing out the contest with a modest 11-8, which was enough to propel them into the win column and snap a three-game skid.
Lydia Meldrum led Anderson County with 20 points against the Lady Eagles.
ACHS, however, couldn’t keep the momentum going Friday night as it dropped a 45-36 decision to Lenoir City.
It was the Lady Mavericks’ third loss to the Lady Panthers this season. It was a slow start that doomed Anderson County this time around.
“We had a bad start. We only scored two points in the first quarter and we had six in the second quarter, so we were down 17-8 at halftime,” Cupples said.
“Our defense wasn’t bad, and if you give up 17 points in a half, most times I’ll take that, but you have to score yourself.”
The Lady Mavericks complicated their own plight as they were bitten by the turnover bug against Lenoir City.
“We’re shooting the ball better, but it was the same old story,” Cupples said. “We had 20 turnovers and they scored 17 points off our turnovers.
“That’s kind of been our M.O. lately. We’re taking possessions away from ourselves.”
Meldrum led the offensive attack with 15 points, including 13 after halftime.
“Lydia had a good week offensively for us,” Cupples said.
The Lady Mavericks hosted Powell Tuesday but results were not available at press time.
ACHS hosts Knoxville Central Thursday and travels to Seymour Friday.