Pottsville gets ahead early, stays ahead

POTTSVILLE 64, CLINTON 22

POTTSVILLE — Pottsville held Clinton without a field goal for the entire first quarter Tuesday night as the Lady Apaches coasted to a 64-22 victory.

Pottsville (15-8, 8-1 4A-4) also struggled early in the game, leading just 6-0 four minutes into the game before Allie Hensley finally put Clinton on the board with a free throw at the 3:12 mark.

Julia Baker then passed to Ashley Brannon for a Pottsville basket, and Katie Cormier zipped a pass to Baker for another easy basket. The Lady Apaches led 15-3 after one quarter, and Clinton pulled no closer than 11 the rest of the way.

“I thought we came out with a lot of energy,” Pottsville Coach Chance Johnson said. “I was very proud of the way we played defense tonight. We are a very unselfish team. We’re trying to get better with our transition passing. I just thought we did a really good job of getting the ball up the floor.”

Hensley had Clinton’s first nine points, but the Lady Jackets struggled to find more offense. Hensley’s three-pointer pulled Clinton (12-11, 6-4) to within 24-9, but Pottsville answered with six consecutive points. Haley Stanton scored in the paint and then in transition off a pass from Cormier. Brannon’s turn-around jumper made it 30-9.

Haley Hink made a free throw for Clinton, and Tori Johnson added a layup in the half’s final seconds, but Pottsville led 32-14 at halftime.

The Lady Apaches scored the first seven points to open the second half and led 43-18 after three quarters. Pottsville had runs of 10-0 and 11-0 in the fourth quarter as it extended its lead to as many as 44 points.

Baker led a balanced scoring attack for Pottsville with 11 points. Alyssa Williamson added 10, and Erica Lackey had nine. Hensley was the lone Lady Yellowjacket in double figures with 10.

Pottsville’s victory sets up a big matchup Friday when the Lady Apaches travel to Ozark. Ozark is undefeated in 4A-4 play and handed Pottsville its only league loss, 52-38, on Jan. 9.