Lady Bulldogs fall short of win
By By Robby Atkinson/staff writer
February 7, 2004
The Clarkdale Lady Bulldogs made a valiant effort in the final three minutes of their game against Bassfield on Friday night, but that effort fell just short.
Bassfield held on in the final moments to spoil senior night for the Lady Bulldogs by taking a slim 68-64 win over Clarkdale (7-15, 1-5).
After a slow first quarter for both teams, the Lady Bulldogs found their rhythm and took a 17-12 lead with 5:27 left in the second quarter. Felicia Kirksey and Brooke Lundstrom combined for six points in the first couple of minutes of the second to give Clarkdale the five-point lead.
Bassfield fought back to take an 18-17 lead moments later on several big baskets LaTerrice Booth with 4:17 left in the second. The Lady Yellow Jackets took a 33-26 lead at the end of the first half and held Clarkdale to no field goals in the final three minutes to take the seven-point advantage.
Bassfield started to run away with the game at the end of the third quarter by taking a 53-38 lead over the Lady Bulldogs. The Lady Yellow Jackets went on an impressive 14-2 run to close out the third and hold the comfortable lead.
Clarkdale came storming back in the fourth quarter to trim the lead to 62-52 on 12 consecutive points from Kirksey. The Lady Bulldogs continued the incredible run to cut the lead to 66-59 on yet another basket by Kirksey, but time was not the friend of the Lady Bulldogs as Bassfield took the four-point win.
Kirksey led Clarkdale with a career-high, season-high, and game-high 42 points in the loss for the Lady Bulldogs. Jayme Hales added eight points in the loss for Clarkdale. Booth led the way with 17 points for Bassfield and Laquita Thompson chipped in with 16 points.
Bassfield (boys) 91
Clarkdale 71
The Yellow Jackets jumped out to a large lead in the second quarter and never looked back in taking the convincing win over the Bulldogs on the road to secure the sweep for Bassfield.
The Yellow Jackets led 23-12 at the end of the first quarter and pushed that lead to 39-27 at the half behind the great bench play Marcus Pitts. Pitts ended the game with 17 points.
Clarkdale was able to cut the lead to 12 points in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter, but Bassfield was able to fight off the Bulldogs to secure the win.
Marcus Fairley led Bassfield with a team-high 18 points in the win for the Yellow Jackets. Shannon Henley led Clarkdale with a game-high 22 points and senior Quinton Walker played in his final game at home and turned in another stellar performance with 20 points.
