Lady Cards lose to Watson Chapel
PINE BLUFF - After losing to the Watson Chapel Lady Wildcats in the third-place game of their own Holiday Classic tournament, the Camden Fairview Lady Cardinals were hoping that a week and a half of practice would give them a better chance in the rematch.
But turnovers, the Lady Cardinals’ biggest nemesis of the season, once again cost the team as they lost to Watson Chapel 49-31 in the season opener for both squads.
Camden Fairview didn’t score its first points - a jumper by Taylor Henderson - until midway through the first quarter, and started the second down 11-7. The Lady Cards had to play from behind for the rest of the night, trailing 23-11 at halftime after being outscored 12-4 in the second quarter.
Camden Fairview showed signs of life in the second half, however, switching to a full court press and cutting the lead down to 38-27 on a 3-pointer by Jalissa Avery early in the fourth period.
Chapel was able to score off the break a couple of times, but wasn’t able to pull away from the Lady Cards again until they got in the bonus situation with just under five minutes to play, and knocked down their free throws.
CF coach Ronald Rogers said after the Lady Wildcats handled the Lady Cardinals’ press well when the played in the Holiday Classic, he came up with a game plan to play halfcourt defense, rebound the ball well and not turn the ball over to try and limit Chapel’s chances of scoring in the open floor.
With the turnovers derailing the whole scheme, however, Rogers said he went to the full court press in the second half, and was happy with what he saw.
“That was our bright spot - they only outscored us 26-20 in the second half with us getting after them,” Rogers said. “I think we had them with something like 17 turnovers in the second half.
“So from now on, I don’t care who we are playing, from now on we they get off the bus, we’re going to be guarding them full court and getting after them.”
Taylor Henderson led the Lady Cardinals (2-10) with 12 points and six rebounds, while Tamaria Howard had 10 points and eight rebounds. Shomari Willis also pulled down 10 rebounds for Camden Fairview.
Watson Chapel was led by Morgan Monk’s 14 points, followed by Peyton Martin’s 12 and Kierra Cox’s 11.
The Lady Cardinals will next host DeQueen at home on Tuesday.