Newcastle Lady Cats survive against KC Houndettes

NEWCASTLE - Basketball is often a game full of second chances. Newcastle Lady Cats player K.C. Shields found this out at just the right time Friday afternoon. Moments after missing the front end of a 1-and-1, Shields gathered herself and sank two clutch free throws with 6.5 seconds left to help Newcastle escape 54-50 against Knox City. Newcastle was scheduled to be at home Tuesday night against Aspermont, and will open district play Friday night at 6 p.m. against Throckmorton on the road. As exciting as the finish was for Newcastle, it shouldn’t have ever come to be. Both teams had slow starts in the first quarter – they were tied at 7-7 with 2:16 left in the frame. Aaryn Eli hit a three-point basket at the buzzer to give the Lady Cats a 10-7 advantage going into the second. Newcastle was pulling away before halftime, leading 16-9 with just over six minutes left. But the Houndettes kept things close and eventually clawed their way back to make it 23-20. For the rest of this story, subscribe to our print or online edition.