Turnovers key as Troy downs WC
Behind a strong defensive performance, Hot Springs took down Watson Chapel 3422 in the Hot Springs Invitational at Trojan Arena Thursday night.
The Lady Trojans and Lady Wildcats traded blows in the first quarter, and it looked like the contest would go down with the wire after Hot Springs emerged with a slim 12-11 lead after the game’s first eight minutes.
However, Watson Chapel turned the ball over numerous times in the second quarter including multiple passes right to the Lady Trojans. A 3-pointer from Praylin Jones sent Hot Springs into halftime with a 19-11 lead. Hot Springs head coach Josh Smith emphasized the importance of turnovers in the win.
“That’s part of what we’re working on,” he said. “We know we have to try to find a way to create some turnovers so we can turn them into points. Probably half court offense is not a strong suit for us right now. Working on that to get better everyday so we have to try to create some turnovers to get up and down the floor and try to speed the game up for us to help us score more.”
Watson Chapel head coach Leslie Henderson said turnovers have been a problem for her team all season.
“Well, it affects every game we play in,” she said. “We passed it right to the defense — I mean right to them. That’s something we’ve talked about over and over again. Fake passes, change up your passes and we just want to pass that right arm level.”
Henderson struggled to find answers for why her team turned the ball over so much during the game.
“I’d like to say youth,” she said. “But you know by the time you’re a ninth grader. We did play several sopho
mores, too, but I don’t know. I couldn’t tell you yet. That and horrible shooting.”
The Lady Wildcats also struggled with their shooting. Talisha Smith hit a 3-pointer in the first quarter for her only points of the game, and Kelis Kentle led Watson Chapel with 6 points on the night. Henderson described her team’s performance as simply, “not good.”
“It’s up to them to take anything from it,” Henderson said. “They could absolutely take nothing, and we could have a miserable year. We will watch tape, and we do every time so they can see what we see, and hopefully they’ll learn from it.”
Hot Springs added to its lead in the third quarter with a 3-pointer from Kyabra Lomax before the sophomore tacked on a layup in transition for a 25-16 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Lomax closed out the game with a nice move to the basket that she finished as she got fouled. Her ensuing free throw completed the 3-point play to give Hot Springs a 3418 lead late. Lomax and Gabby Erby led the Lady Trojans with 10 points.
“I think they’re trying to do the things we’re asking of in practice,” Smith said. “We’re working through stuff. It’s still so early in the year. We have a different combination of girls. We’re playing nine or 10 people which is a high number for me in my tenure as a coach. So it’s just trying to work through that. The effort’s there, and I thought they just found a way to make some things happen. Anytime you can get a win is a plus at this time of year. Just proud we found a way to get a win early in the season.”