Queen City moves on

MARSHALL, Texas—For Queen City to be in uncharted territory, they sure made it look easy.

The Lady Bulldogs built a 24-point halftime lead and never looked back in a 57-34 Class 3A area-round playoff win Friday over Sabine at Maverick Gym.

“These girls have never been past one round of playoffs, and the heart that they put into it was tremendous. They came in energetic and

they came in it to have fun.

“My post girls did a tremendous job down low.We read Kristen Stuart, their best player, really well. They played smart and communicated well.”

It was the first time in school history that Queen City’s varsity girls made it past the first round a week ago, and they are now in the regional quarterfinals.

Jessica Jones finished with a game-high 23 points for Queen City, while teammate and fellow senior Jacie Lance poured in 22.

Queen City forced 17 turnovers, while turning over the ball just seven times.

Sabine connected on 16 of 49 shots for a 33 field goal percent, and the Bulldogs hit on 15 of 46 shots for a field goal percentage of 33.

Kristen Stuart paced the Cardinals with a team-high 10 points; teammate Sarah Davis pulled down 10 boards.

The third quarter was played evenly with Queen City head coach Janice McMellon decided to let off the gas and drain time off the clock. Sabine outscored the Bulldogs in the quarter, 8-6.

Lance scored nine points in the fourth quarter to put the game away for good. Queen City edged the Cardinals in the quarter, 13-12. CeCe Walker pulled down a teamhigh eight rebounds.

Queen City went into the locker room with a 38-14 lead. The Bulldogs’ tenacious defense caused 10 Sabine turnovers in the first half.

Lance paced QC with eight points in the second quarter, including going 6 for 6 from the charity stripe.

Lance did a great job of moving to her left, driving the lane, and drawing the foul.

Lance’s layup midway through the second quarter started the Bulldogs on a 11-0 run. The Cardinals’ Miranda Cook hit a putback just before halftime to stop the bleeding.

Jessica Jones scored Queen City’s first points of the game on a shot from downtown. Jones led all scorers in the first quarter with eight points, and the Bulldogs took a 17-5 lead after one.

QC shot 41 percent from the field in the first half on 11-of-27 shooting. Sabine (23-10) sank just six shots on 22 attempts for a field goal percentage of 27.

For the game, the Cardinals outrebounded the Bulldogs, 38-31.

Queen City (26-4) plays Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill in the Class 3A regional quarterfinals.