Terry throttles VicksburgBulldogs snap Gators’ home winning streak

Published 11:25 am Wednesday, January 18, 2012

It might have been the three-day holiday weekend. It might have been the January blahs. Whatever the reason, Vicksburg had a clunker Tuesday night.

The Terry Lady Bulldogs (13-8) did pretty much what they wanted, especially Caitlyn Spane. The center made 11 field goals and was a perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line for 33 points to pace the Lady Bulldogs to a 62-37 rout of the Missy Gators.

The loss for Vicksburg (9-10) comes just four nights after a key division win at Clinton. Vicksburg coach Barbara Hartzog was puzzled by her team’s lack of focus.

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“We weren’t here today,” Hartzog said. “Maybe it was the three-day weekend. We had a game like this earlier in the year, but tonight was a doozy. We couldn’t score, we didn’t rebound, we didn’t play defense and we missed our free throws.”

Terry coach Matthew Scott was pleased.

“This was a really good win for us,” Scott said. “We had lost our last couple in a row. It was good to see the ball get in the basket. Spane had her best performance of the season.”

As for Vicksburg’s best player, Ama Arkoful, the freshman hit her first shot, a 3-pointer, and missed her next six. By the time she made her next shot, Terry had a 19-8 lead.

Five straight points from Aleeshah Smith pulled VHS to within six at 19-13. Terry responded with a 16-0 run to put away the Missy Gators.

Arkoful finished with 20 points. Smith had 11. Two other players had three points each, and that was it. Vicksburg made just 12 of 54 field goal attempts, had 22 turnovers and missed 11 free throws.

Terry had 20 made field goals and hit 19-of-22 from the line.

(B) Terry 61,

Vicksburg 57

Vicksburg’s home-court winning streak, which dates to a 2010 home loss to Provine, was snapped by visiting Terry.

The rebuilding Gators had won all seven of their previous home games this season following last year’s run to the Class 6A finals. But against Terry, Vicksburg could not make a defensive stand in the fourth quarter.

Terry (8-9) went on a 12-1 run after Vicksburg (9-11) had taken a 41-37 lead two minutes into the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs went up 49-42 and then made free throws in the final 2 minutes. Terry point guard Alex Hopskins made his last six free throws to keep the Gators at bay. The closest Vicksburg could get was 55-53 with 37.5 seconds left after a driving basket by DeAndre King.

Vicksburg coach Dellie C. Robinson said his team could not stop Terry’s Will Sheriff, who led the Bulldogs with 16 points.

“We didn’t have an answer for No. 21 (Sheriff). We couldn’t get stops,” Robinson said. “Plus, we were coming off a hard-fought game at Lanier. We were down 16 and made a good comeback there. We came back and played hard again, but we have to play hard to have any chance to get a win.”

Edward Davis helped the Gators grab their fourth-quarter lead. He had 15 points before fouling out with 55.6 seconds left.

Romeo Carter had 14 points while King and DeAngelo Richardson had 11 each.

Terry also got 12 points from Hopskins and 11 from Clayton Tate.

(G) Bogue Chitto 75

St. Aloysius 45

Ann Garrison Thomas scored 15 points and Allie Willis added 11 for St. Aloysius, which fell to 5-10. St. Al will play against Porters Chapel at 10 a.m. in Saturday’s Red Carpet Classic at Warren Central.

(B) Bogue Chitto 70,

St. Aloysius 46

Kameron Reed scored 19 points and Max Loving added 10 for the Flashes (1-10).