Junior High Lady Jays split with Heights

For the 7th grade Lady Jays basketball team it was the first half and for the 8th grade girls it was the second half that proved to be the difference in their games.

The Lady Jays, who were playing in their second game of the season, hosted the Western Heights Lady Jets, inside the Junior High Gymnasium, Thursday evening. The 7th grade team improved to 2-0 with a 41-13 decision. The 8th grade team fell to 0-2 with a 28-15 setback.

The Lady Jays 8th grade team jumped out to a 7-4 first quarter lead and led for the majority of the second quarter, but once Western Heights captured their first lead at 10-8, just before the half, they never relinquished it.

After scoring seven first quarter points, including six points from Shelby Cremeens, Guthrie could manage just eight more in the next three-quarters. The Lady Jets made their push in the third with a 9-3 advantage and took an 8-point advantage in the fourth quarter.

Cremeens finished with a team high eight points. Kamber Smedley finished with four and Destiny Hardison had three points.

7th grade makes early statement

7th grade guard Micayla Haynes took all but five seconds to give her team a 2-0 lead. A few minutes later Heights tied the game at 2-all before Guthrie would go on an 11-0 run in the next 2:20. Jillian Chappell scored six of her nine first half points during the run.

Western Heights hit a shot to end the run just before the first quarter buzzer, but trailed 13-4 after one. In the second quarter, Guthrie simply put the Lady Jets away by outscoring them 16-0 in the next 6:00.

Aaliyah Allison scored the first and last bucket of the second quarter and finished with 10 first half points. Hayes chipped in with six in the frame, Chappell added four, and Brooke Black hit a field goal.

Head coach Stephanie Smith’s squad outscored Western Heights 12-9 in the second half and are 2-0 to begin conference play.

All four Guthrie Junior High teams will travel to Piedmont on Monday.