Fillies lose heartbreaker in district opener to Lady Cats

The first game of the 38th District Championship was a nail biter from the start with time running out on the Harrison County Fillies in the end for a 49 to 48 loss to the Pendleton County Lady Cats.
Pendleton County jumped out to an early lead with sophomore McKayla Manor scoring eight of her 11 points in the first period.  
Manor scored half of the Pendleton County points in the quarter as her team jumped out to a 16-12 lead at the quarter’s end.  
Harrison County eighth grader Taylor Reffett scored six of her 10 points for the game in the first period to help keep the Fillies close.  
The first period set the stage for what would be a night of playing from behind for the Fillies.  
They managed to cut into the lead more in the second period and trailed only by 28-27 with one half left to play.  
Harrison County held a 15-10 rebounding edge in the first half which helped them stay close and also helped overcome eight first half turnovers.  
The Fillies continued to battle and took their first lead at 32 to 30 early in the second half.  
Pendleton County took advantage of shakier ball handling though to grab a 39-32 lead at the end of the third period.  
The Lady Cats used a nine-point run to grab the seven-point advantage going into the last period.  
The Fillies managed eight miscues in this period to help the Pendleton County cause.
The Fillies would not quit though and they battled back to tie the score at 40 each with just a little over three minutes left in the game.  
Junior center Jordan Doram scored eight of her game high 18 in the final stanza to propel the Fillies in making the comeback.  
After the score was tied Pendleton County went on a five-point run to make the score 45-40 with just under two minutes left to play.  
The Harrison County girls again battled back with sophomore Kassidy Cook driving in for a basket and also making a free throw to make the score 47 to 45 with less than a minute left.  
The Fillies were forced to foul and the Lady Cats made just enough of the charity tosses to hold on for the one point victory.  
Sophomore Chelsea Ingram buried a three from the corner to make it 49-48 and that is where the game ended.

Photos by Donald Richie

Kassidy Cook drives for the basket under defensive pressure from the Lady Wildcats Monday on the Hilltop.

Taylor Reffett moves toward the paint Monday in the opening game of the girls 38th District Basketball Tournament. The Fillies lost a heartbreaker to Pendleton County 49-48.

“We were not patient enough on offense and did not allow Jordan to get enough touches,” said Coach Kim Furnish. “In the long run their experience versus our inexperience was a big factor. Our girls fought from the tipoff to the final buzzer and I am so proud of that. Our heart and desire was never in doubt tonight.”
Doram led the Fillies with 18 points and 17 rebounds in another yeoman’s effort.  
Reffett added 10 while Cook, Ingram and Madison Philpot each scored six points.  
Senior Asten Wolfe led the Lady Cats with 15 points, 10 of them from the charity stripe.  
Fellow senior Bradi Bowen added 11 as did Manor for the other double figure scoring for Pendleton County.  
Harrison County bows out for the year with a 5-22 record while Pendleton County advances to Thursday’s championship with a 10-15 record.