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Run, run, run.
Southern Fulton eventually wore out the cold-shooting Tigers in the second half, securing a 55-35 Sideling Hill League girls basketball victory.
Led by guards Lacey Beatty and Chelsie Eader, who combined for 31 points, Southern Fulton turned a 22-17 halftime lead into a rout. Time after time, the duo beat the Tigers down the court and finished or got fouled.
"Our hustle was outstanding and they really got after it and played hard defense," SF coach Mark Mellott said. "We got buckets in transition and we've got to do that. We're small and we've got to get up and down the court.
"Fannett-Metal ran good with us in the first half and I didn't think they could do that again in the second half. I thought they got a little tired."
In the earlier meeting in Warfordsburg, Coral Parson and Blaire Lauthers each had 13 points for Fannett-Metal inside.
So the Indians played a swarming zone defense that pressured Fannett-Metal's guards and didn't allow the ball to get into the paint.
It didn't help the Tigers that they shot just 18.2 percent from the field (18.2 percent) and were as frosty as the weather from the foul line (9 of 27).
"It's been the same thing all year. Look at our shot chart, all the shots are in the key. They are doable shots," Tigers coach Jen Lauthers said. "They don't have
Southern Fulton scored 12 straight points spanning halftime to turn an 18-17 lead into a 30-17 advantage with 4:18 remaining in the third quarter.
Lauthers cut the deficit to 32-22 and was at the line trying to convert a 3-point play later in the period. She missed and Beatty raced down the court for a layup off the rebound.
The Indians closed out the quarter with a 36-22 lead after Taylor Leasure scored just before the buzzer. Southern Fulton outscored Fannett-Metal 30-11 in the middle two quarters.
"The main thing I told them (at halftime) was we had to come out in the third quarter and get started and we had to keep getting after it," Mellott said. "We had a good third quarter (14-5) and that helped us. But the big thing is we've got to run and we did that tonight."
Notes: Southern Fulton's largest lead of the game was 24 points ... Amy Bard added 8 points for the Indians and Jenna Hollenshead grabbed 12 boards ... Coral Parson topped Fannett-Metal with 9 points and 17 rebounds.
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Joel Rineer may be reached at 262-4819 or jrineer@publicopinionnews.com.
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Southern Fulton 55, Fannett-Metal 35
SOUTHERN FULTON
Lacey Beattey 5-11 4-6 16, Chelsie Eader 4-10 6-8 15, Morgan Mills 1-3 0-0 2, Jenna Hollenshead 1-6 4-7 6, Amy Bard 4-10 0-2 8, Kayla Chilcote 1-1 0-0 2, Kayla Wertz 0-1 0-0 0, Taelor Morton 0-3 2-2 2, Taylor Leasure 2-3 0-0 4, Bailey Elbin 0-1 0-0 0, Abby Hawkins 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-49 16-25 55.
FANNETT-METAL
Coral Parson 2-15 5-6 9, Kristie Horn 2-14 3-8 8, Kristie Crouse 1-5 0-1 3, Blaire Lauthers 3-14 0-3 6, Megan Dougherty 0-7 0-0 0, Nikki Relaford 2-4 1-5 5, Andi Starliper 0-3 0-0 0, Alex Beeler 1-3 0-2 2, Alyssa Gearhart 1-1 0-2 2, Laurie Ruby 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 12-66 9-27 35.
Southern Fulton 6 16 14 19 -- 55
Fannett-Metal 11 6 5 13 -- 35
3-point shots -- SF 3-13 (Beatty 2, Eader); F-M 2-10 (Horn, Crouse). Shooting -- SF 36.7%; F-M 18.2%. Rebounds -- SF 31 (Hollenshead 12); F-M 45 (Parson 17, Lauthers 10). Assists -- SF 11 (Beatty 3); F-M 9. Steals -- SF 10 (Bard 3); F-M 14 (Parson, Starliper 3). Turnovers -- SF 26; F-M 23. Blocked shots -- SF 1; F-M 1. Fouled out -- Parson.
So.Fulton 55, Fannett-Metal 35
Of note: Lacey Beatty (16 points) and Chelsie Eader (15) led the charge for Southern Fulton ... The Indians outscored Fannett-Metal 30-11 in the middle 2 quarters ... Coral Parson had 9 points and 17 rebounds to pace the Tigers.
Records: Fannett-Metal (9-10, 4-8 SHL) hosts Chestnut Ridge on Monday, 7:30 ... Southern Fulton (11-5, 7-5 SHL) travels to Tussey Mountain on Monday, 7:30.
