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(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Kinzlee Sweat shoots a midrange jumpshot Tuesday, Dec. 2 against Gorman. Sweat scored six points on midrange jumpers in the Ladycats’ 48-25 loss to the Lady Panthers. -
(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Rae’Lyn Bennett drives past a defender Tuesday, Dec. 2 against Gorman. Bennett will continue to be a consistent presence for the Ladycats as the team goes deeper into the season. -
(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Camren Mallory dribbles the ball up the floor Tuesday, Dec. 2 against Gorman. Mallory scored six points in the Ladycats’ 48-25 loss to the Lady Panthers. -
(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Kinsey Hawkins puts the ball up for a layup attempt Tuesday, Dec. 2 against Gorman. The Ladycats fought hard but couldn’t pick up the victory, losing to the Lady Panthers 48-25.
The Newcastle Ladycats fought hard but lost their matchup to the Gorman Lady Panthers 48-25 earlier in the week.
The game took place Tuesday, Dec. 2, and despite the loss, the team was competitive throughout the game.
“I thought we played really well,” head coach Ryan Dollar said. “Our energy was really good. I think we are starting to figure that out.”
In the first quarter, things were close but the Ladycats trailed 8-5.
They played solid defense throughout much of the first half and were able to create scoring opportunities which kept them competitive.
Camren Mallory started things off with a two point bucket for Newcastle. Emma Hawkins then nailed a corner three pointer to account for the scoring total in the quarter.
The Ladycats rallied in the second quarter for 10 total points to even the score 15-15 going into halftime.
Hawkins took over in the second quarter with three midrange jumpers while Mallory and Jayden Ballard followed up behind her with their own two point shots.
In the third quarter though, the Lady Panthers started to pull away with 22 points, putting Newcastle in a 37-19 hole going into the final quarter of play.
Kinzlee Sweat accounted for all four points the Ladycats scored in the third quarter with two midrange jumpshot makes.
Newcastle then put up six more points on the board in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough to come back.
Those final points of the game came from Mallory, Sweat and Hawkins.
Both sank midrange shots while Mallory made a pair of free throws at the free throw line.
Dollar thought the effort and energy of the team was solid but they needed to improve on scoring in order to pick things up as the season goes on.
Dollar added that the team was going through an adjustment phase after losing key seniors last year but he had confidence the Ladycats would grow together.
After a weekend tournament, the Ladycats’ next matchup is at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9 against Nocona on the road.
