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Portageville girls roll through Scott City
SCOTT CITY - The Portageville Lady Bulldogs basketball team opened up the 2006-07 season on Monday night with a 65-41 road win over the Scott City Lady Rams.
After a sluggish first quarter, Portageville opened up the second quarter on a 15-0 run to put the game away before halftime.
"Both teams were kind of sloppy out there tonight," said Portageville head coach Eric Ellerbrook. "That is to be expected with it being the first game of the year. I believe both teams were a little bit nervous."
Scott City had no answers in the second quarter on how to handle Portageville forward Kellye Penn. After scoring five points in the first quarter, Penn caught fire and had 14 points in the second as the Lady Bulldogs outscored the Lady Rams 25-8.
The telling stat for Scott City was the inability to take care of the basketball. The Lady Rams committed 16 turnovers in the first half and a total of 32 for the game.
"I am very proud of the girls," said Ellerbrook, "they hustled tonight on every play and hounded Scott City on defense. The girls gave full effort which reflected on the defensive end. We have been telling the girls to treat every game like a district final. Tonight, our intensity level was high and the girls played real well."
Portageville led 20-16 after one quarter of action and looked a bit out of sorts committing eight turnovers in the quarter.
In the second quarter the Lady Bulldogs were led by Penn and Mallory Bidewell who hit two key 3-pointers to launch the Lady Bulldogs. Portageville led 35-16 until Scott City scored with four minutes to play in the second.
The Lady Bulldogs were effective at the charity stripe in the first half going 11-for-13. Penn scored all of her 19 points in the half and senior Hannah Rone had six points and four assists, as Portageville enjoyed a 45-24 lead at the half.
"Our girls were hitting the open shot in the first half," said Ellerbrook. "It is a good way to begin the season and hopefully we can keep it going from here."
Portageville put it on cruise control in the second half and at one point in the fourth quarter, the turbo clock was enforced for the 30-point rule. The Lady Bulldogs salted away the 65-41 win.
Penn and Lauren Kellams led Portageville with six rebounds apiece. Rone ended her night with a solid 13 points and five assists. Bidewell ended with eight points and six-footer Jeleea Drake came off the bench for six points and five rebounds.
Scott City (0-1) was led by Nora Glasser who had eight points and seven rebounds off the bench for the Lady Rams.
In the junior varsity contest, Portageville rallied late in the fourth quarter to get past Scott City 41-35.
Portageville (1-0) returns to action today at home against the Malden Lady Green Wave. Tip is set for 6 p.m. for the junior varsity game.