Kennett girls prevail over Campbell despite injuries

CAMPBELL - The Kennett Lady Indians were on the warpath Tuesday and took no prisoners in their quest for a victory over the Lady Camels 68-31.

Although the Kennett team is down three players convalescing from an assortment of injuries, freshman phenom point guard Alyce Edwards scored nearly half of her team’s total, dropping 30 points with plenty of aerial juggling and solid assists from senior point guard Anekia Farmer and sophomore E’marriha Johnson.

Indians Head Coach Erika Cobb, in her debut season at the helm has guided her team to an 11-3 record.

Coach Cobb was both proud of her squad’s performance, and hesitant to crow too loudly about the win.

“There were a few good things,” Coach Cobb told The Delta Dunklin Democrat post-game. “Offensively we were okay.

“We need to be more aggressive on defense and communicate better,” she continued. “But, we did alright.”

Indeed. The Lady Indians led at the first period buzzer 22-8; 42-13 at the half and brought home the win 68-31.

Kennett started Alyce Edwards, Tayja Carter, Christi Tejeda, E’marriha Johnson and Jayla Ellis.

Campbell started Mabry Patrick, Kaitlyn Weidenbenner, Addison Schatz, Elyssa Schatz and Abby Correa.

The Lady Camels’ center Mabry Patrick sank two free throws in the opening minutes of the game to bring her team to within two points of the Lady Indians, 6-4. The Lady Camels soon tied the score 6-6.

But Kennett opened up, opened fire and led by 14 at the end of first period action, 22-8 behind a beautifully executed layup by Edwards and a quick, full-court fast-break goal levied by Johnson.

Edwards opened the second period firing a three-point projectile for the Lady Indians and the tribe extended its lead by an additional 12 points soon after, 34-8 with 4:22 remaining on the second period timer.

The Lady Indians led at the half, 42-13.

The contest progressed and found the score 42-15 with 5:34 left in the third, and 48-16 with 2:32 left to play in the third.

Although the Lady Camels had difficulties lighting its offense, its defensive game fared better and the team rebounded well during the entire game.

With 3:34 left in the game and the score 59-26 Kennett, Lady Camels center Mabry Patrick scored a nice layup, drew a foul in the process and sank that free-throw to bring the score to 59-29.

Kennett’s Edwards, on fire, scored back-to-back layups, threading her way beautifully from one end of the court to the other with just 60 seconds left, and the Lady Indians ran away with the game 68-31.

High scorers were Kennett’s Edwards with 30 and Johnson, who scored 18 points; and both Campbell’s Patrick and E. Schatz dropped 10 points each.

Placing third at both the SEMO Conference Tournament and at the Twin Rivers Christmas Tournament, the Lady Indians played like champs Tuesday and take on the Charleston Lady Bluejays Thursday on the road.