Big Fourth Quarter lifts Lady Cougars to a Win

On a cold Wednesday night in Hillsville against the Carroll County Cavaliers, the Lady Cougars pulled it out in the fourth quarter, winning 44-39.

The Cougars trailed most of the game in this defensive struggle.

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Ally Fleanor scores the first of her 16 points. (Brian Bishop/PC Patriot)

Both teams struggled shooting the ball.  The Cougars were 13 of 61 from the field for 21 percent shooting.  Carroll was also 21 percent, hitting on 10 of 47 shots.

Every shot was contested by both teams and no one had fast break opportunities to score easy points.

The Cougars got down early in the first quarter and fought their way to the lead at 14-13 with 3:24 left in the half after a pair of Taryn Blankenship free throws.

The lead was short lived, however.

In the last seconds of the first half, Jaclyn Hagee made a free throw for the Cavilers and the Cougars found themselves down 21-16 at the half.

Ally Fleanor hit a 3-pointer in the third quarter to tie the game at 26.  Fleanor scored 6 of the Cougars’ 13 third quarter points.

Late in the third quarter Alyssa Ervin hit a 3-point shot for the Cavaliers to give them a 32-29 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Keslyn Secrest hit a 3 after a time out with 4:33 left in the game to tie the score at 34.  On the next Pulaski County possession Blankenship powered her way to the basket to give the Cougars a 36-35 lead.  Fleanor added two more points inside and the Cougars were now up 38-35 with 2:58 to play.

Kaylee Easter for the Cavaliers hit a 3-pointer with 25 seconds to play and cut the lead to 40-39.

They then fouled Fleanor who knocked down both free throws to give the Cougars a 3-point lead with 19 seconds to play.

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Jayden Lawson shoots a free throw late in the 4th quarter. (Brian Bishop/PC Patriot)

Jayden Lawson rebounded a Carroll miss and then got fouled.  She then drained both free throws to secure the win for Pulaski County.

Leading scorers for Pulaski County were Ally Fleanor with 16 and Tayrn Blankenship with 10.  For Carroll, Alyssa Ervin had 9 while Kaylee Easter and Jaelyn Hagee both had 8.

Pulaski County is now 6-0, while Carroll drops to 7-2.

Pulaski went on the road again to face Salem on Thursday and has a big home game with Patrick Henry on Friday.

By BRIAN BISHOP, The Patriot