Calloway County was the last game for the Christian Fellowship Lady Eagles last season after losing to the Lady Lakers by five in the first round of the 4th District Tournament. The two teams split games during the 2021-2022 regular season.
Tuesday, the 12-4 Lady Eagles lost their district season opener 56-53 to the Lady Lakers who entered the game with a deceptive 2-12 record. Down by eight points at halftime, CFS went on to outscore Calloway County by five in the second half but fell just short.
“That’s what we were just talking to them about”, Head Coach Trevor Jackson said following the three-point loss. “Disappointed that we lost. District game…first district game you want to come out and win, especially at home, but when you’re down eight at the half and you lose by three…you won the second half.”
Calloway County’s leading scorer, freshman Sayler Lowe, scored the first two baskets of the game but it was followed by a 7-0 run, all from Lillian Burnett to put the Lady Eagles up 7-4. Jaiden Koch hit the first of four first half threes by Calloway County to tie the game up which was the start of a 9-0 Lady Laker run and they held a 13-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Opening the second quarter on 3-pointers from Koch and Addi Schumacher and basket by Lowe, the Lady Lakers stretched their lead out to 21-10, a lead CFS trimmed down to eight at 26-18 at halftime.
CFS leading scorer Gracie Howard was held to five first half points but scored the first four of the second half and 10 of their 16 points in the third quarter to cut into the Calloway County lead by two points, trailing 40-34.
Calloway County stretched their lead out to 10 points in the fourth quarter at 46-36 but the Lady Eagles chipped away at the deficit to make it a one-point game at 50-49 with 50 seconds remaining. The Lady Lakers would finish out the game 4-of-6 at the free throw line, enough to hold off the Lady Eagles by three.
“It never comes down to one shot, but a couple of things that we really emphasized after watching them, they do an outstanding job on the boards and I know three of their threes were off second chance shots where they got a rebound and kicked it out for a three and that’s just a killer”, Jackson said. “Then a missed free throw that went the same way, you’re talking about 11 points right there and you lose by three. You just check off on two of those and you may win the ballgame. It’s always a game of inches, it comes down to a small number of things.”
Burnett led the Lady Eagles with 28 points and 17 rebounds. Lowe led the Lady Lakers with 27 points.
“This district is so wide open”, Jackson said. “Someone could go 0-6 in the district and still make the regional tournament. It’s going to be fun. We go to Murray Friday and we’ve got Marshall next Tuesday so we’ve got several games to learn from our mistakes and get better.”
Christian Fellowship 10 8 16 19 – 53
Calloway County 13 13 14 16 – 56
Christian Fellowship: Lillian Burnett 28, Gracie Howard 17, Renee Shields 4, Alyssa Warren 4, Jayden Jackson 2
Calloway County: Sayler Lowe 27, Jaiden Koch 13, Jaycee Crouch 6, Addi Schumacher 6, Carson McReynolds 4
Christian Fellowship: FG 19/69, 3PT 1/10 (Howard), FT 16/21 (Howard 7/9, Burnett 5/5), REB 37 (Burnett 17), AST 10 (Jackson 5)
Calloway County: FG 22/59, 3PT 6/15, FT 6/10
